Leading Change

Question One

My mom used to be the Young Women's president in our ward. She was put in the calling when there was change in the ward. There was a huge number of girls in the ward due to the change, and each of them had their own needs. There was a huge learning curve for her as she found out what her calling included, but she learned everything quickly. There were few things that helped her lead the change successfully. One of these things was prayer. Heavenly Father knew the needs of her girls and through Him, she could find that out. She also learned that she couldn't do it alone. She received help from Heavenly Father and also from her counselors. Another big thing that contributed to her success was learning patience, especially with herself. It is important to realize that we aren't going to do everything perfectly, and to be patient with ourselves. I think both these things, along with others, were important for her success.

Question Two

Discovery Statement 1: Switching the hand I wrote with slowed me down, but I slowly started to adapt (kinda). It made me appreciative that I don't have to do it more often.

Discovery Statement 2: Over the weekend I went to the optometrist. On the wall was written a quote by Helen Keller that said, "The most pathetic thing in the world is a man who has sight, but no vision."

Discovery Statement 3: It was hard not to run into things and I was scared that I was going to fall down the stairs.

I think these activities taught important lessons. The first activity made me think about how we need to be adaptable in order to successfully lead change. Things are rarely going to go according to plan, and so we need to be able to adjust accordingly. The second activity taught me about how we need vision. We can't ever reach goals that we don't set! We need to have a vision in order to successfully do what we are responsible for. The third activity made me think about how we need to be willing to take risks sometime to get things done. I was really scared that I was going to fall down the stairs, and so I had to take a risk to accomplish the task.

Teamwork and Collaboration

1. One experience I had with successful teamwork was when my high school NHS Council worked to put on our first event. It was the Induction Ceremony for about two hundred new members, and to us as new officers, it was a daunting task. We had to plan the program, schedule a speaker, find entertainment, get food, send out invitations, and figure out all the details. On the scale of events that BYUSA does, this would have been very simple, but this was a huge task to me at the time. We had many meetings beforehand to plan, and then tasks were delegated. We all filled our responsibilities and the program was able to move forward successfully.

I think there were several keys that made us successful. The first application I can draw is that we made a plan. We have a established action plan template for our events and programs in BYUSA and if we can use it effectively we will be better off. Planning is essential to everything we do. Another thing that I think is important to mention is that we divided up the tasks. It is impossible for one person to do everything, and there is no reason that anyone should! Planning goes a lot more smoothly when there are many minds working on it. The last thing that I want to address is that in NHS, we capitalized on each others’ strengths. A few of the girls are very creative, so they were in charge of decorations. Another boy knew a good public speaker, so he was in charge of asking that man to speak at the program. A few other officers were very articulate, so they conducted the program. We were able to put on a better event because we were all doing what we were good at.

2. In Communications this year we have talked about how all of us girls are very competitive with each other. The analogy of “crabs in a bucket” has been used. This is a little bit easier said than done, but we just need to cut it out. My responsibilities and relationships with people are very different than Olivia’s or Karen’s or Sarah’s and so it is silly to compare. I think we can start to fix this program by being aware of each others’ strengths. This is so we aren’t comparing our weaknesses to someone else’s strengths. I think it is also important to celebrate each other’s victories. If we can rejoice in a job well done by another member of our team, we become closer as a team and can lift each other up. All of us have so much potential, and I think that potential is untapped for as long as we continue competing with each other. I also think it is important for all of us to be working on this, because together we can do much more than any of us can do alone. If not everyone is on board, nothing is going to change.

Interpersonal Skills (Communication)

1. I think that there are several ways to build trust with my team. One way that I have found effective is just spending time with one another. We all have a lot going on, and so spending time is difficult, but the sacrifice makes the time more meaningful. Spending time with each other allows me to find out different things about the team that I wouldn't be able to find out during office hours.

Another way to build trust is to follow through. If I don't follow through and do what I said I would on the small things, why would anyone trust me on the big things? I try hard to complete assignments on time and go above and beyond when I am able. I have also been trying lately to be innovative  and help where I can. I think that this innovation builds trust. I know that when I was struggling with Service Squad and the team stayed after to help me brainstorm my respect for and trust in them grew.

2. I think that communicating is the best way to make sure the team is in agreement. None of us can read each other's minds. There is no way that the team will know what I'm thinking unless I speak up. I think one place that this can happen is in area meeting, especially now that we have decided to move to two hour meetings. :) I think that area meeting has a lot of potential to be a place where we can bounce ideas off each other and also get approval and thoughts on projects that we are working on.

3. I think that the presentation is the most effective way to communicate new ideas. I have really come to enjoy the time that our team has together because I know that I will get five (or six if McKinnley is there) good, well thought-out opinions when I propose an idea. I think that a creative idea lends itself well to creative presentation. With this particular team, I guess one creative way would be to tweet it. :) I can also see the benefit of making up a song/dance to present an idea. Maybe we can get the creative advertising team working on it...

Drive for Results Reflection (11/7)

I was so excited when I saw the title of this lesson! This was my leadership plan in a nutshell. I think there are many different behaviors that could work well to increase results, but there are three that I have chosen to work on. One of them is "establishing stretch goals." For me, this is making the jump from good to great on my programs. Establishing stretch goals can also include things like volunteering for a difficult task so you can improve and grow. Another behavior is "inspiring and motivating others to high performance." Part of being a good leader is helping other people grow. When I can inspire someone who I work with to do better, we both are happy. The last behavior is "collaboration and teamwork." No one can do this alone! I strongly believe in the power of groups. When the team works together, then we can do things that no one person could have dreamed of alone.

I have had a few opportunities to practice this so far. The first example of "stretch goals" that came to my mind was the BBQ. I feel like I have maybe beat this topic to death, but it just keeps coming up. :) I am more and more grateful all the time that I was given that responsibility. When I first was asked to do the BBQ I was very overwhelmed, but after working through it my confidence in my abilities grew extremely stronger.

A few weeks ago at Service Squad I had the opportunity to "motivate [someone] to high performance." I asked Ashley to give the spiritual thought. She was very nervous, because there were a lot of people there, but I talked her through it and she did it. Her voice was shaking at the beginning and I could tell that she was nervous, but her voice grew stronger and she did a great job. I helped motivate her to a level of higher performance than she thought she could reach.

Right before Service Squad when the whole office came I was struggling to think of how to make it a great night. Olivia, Sarah, and Karen stayed after office hours and we brainstormed for a while on how to make it better. We came up with a lot of good ideas, none of which I could have done on my own. We were working well as a team that night.

Some of my personal strengths include: taking initiative, building relationships, and helping others succeed. I think that these strengths can come in handy as I strive to "drive for results." Taking initiative is important because someone needs to! As a leader, especially since there is constant turnover in our organization there needs to be someone who takes the lead. I also think that building relationships is important because you are better able to work with people when you know and love them. I think that when you build relationships it is also easier for you to help others succeed. When you really love and respect people, you can share their successes and be happy for them. I feel like there is a lessened element of competition and the group is able to focus and work together more effectively.

Reflection from 10/31

1. During summer term my practicum was to plan the campus-wide Welcome Back Week Barbecue. As part of the planning I learned how to fill out an Action Plan and I established connections with campus scheduling and grounds. I learned how to deal with Food-to-Go and I learned improvisation skills when we didn't have enough volunteers the day of the event. That experience helped me navigate the steep learning curve of BYUSA and prepared me well for all the programs I am over currently. The fact that I knew how to place orders and make reservations helped me better help my PDs as they do the same thing. Because of my prior experience I had the technical expertise to give tips such as "Food-to-Go says they have the account code, but they often don't have the whole thing. Have them read it back to you after you place the order" or "Grounds will charge you a lot more than they originally tell you, so budget accordingly." I was able to help Emily fill out her first EAF, and tell Ben that if all the cubicles in the office were reserved he could go to Campus Scheduling and get a conference room in a different part of the Wilk. Because I had technical knowledge that they don't yet have, I am better able to help them succeed.

2. Sometimes my PDs and I have different opinions on how to best manage issues. :) There was one True Blue Tuesdays event when the men's basketball team was supposed to come. We had hurried to get a basketball signed so we could give it away as a prize that day, and then the team cancelled on us an hour before TBT. My PDs told me that they were still going to raffle it off even though the team was not there, and I put my foot down and said that we were going to wait. This was a problem, because it made me the bad guy of the day and they were frustrated with me. I waited until things were a little calmer and then talked to them. In this situation I had to analyze the issues (including: the team didn't come, the replacement team left early, we had a basketball ready to give away, my PDs had their minds made up, etc.) and solve those problems. It was difficult for me to tell them that I was in charge and we were going to do this thing my way, but I think that was an important call to make. The issues were solved by me making a decision and then talking to my PDs to let them know why I did what I did. 

3. I have a unique opportunity to use innovation in my programs. Most of the things I am doing have been done before and so in most cases I don't struggle with building a program up from the ground. My challenge arises in taking the programs from "good" to "great." Right now everything is going well, but there is always room to improve and make it bigger and better than it was before. This doesn't come easily though, because everyone has their own idea of what is best for the program.

I try and support innovation in others by accepting their ideas. When one of my PDs proposes an idea that isn't quite full developed I try to help them work through the kinks instead of just shooting it down. Doing that is a lot more effective than just pushing my ideas onto them. 

Character

1. I think that character is the center pole for several reasons. The first is a result of the quote that was shared at the very beginning of class which reads,  “Our research shows that a person who receives low marks on character has absolutely no chance of being perceived as a good leader.” If a leader has no character, then their other strengths are difficult to see and it ends up being very detrimental to the leader and those they lead.

A leader in my life who demonstrated character is the former mayor of Rexburg. I was on the Mayor's Youth Advisory Board all through high school and so I had a unique opportunity to work closely with him and some of the other city officials. I was on the board during election season one year, and there was a group of people in the city who started to slander him and make some heavy accusations. I can't imagine it was easy for him to have to continue serving as mayor through all the harsh words, but he continued to do his job to the best of his ability. Eventually he and his family made the decision to move because of the current situation. What impressed me about him was that he continued to serve diligently and to the best of his ability for several months after he knew he would be leaving Rexburg. Obviously he had no choice but to keep working, but the level at which he executed his duties was beyond what was required. This experience taught me to always do my best and to persevere through rough times. Those you lead won't always like what you're doing, but sometimes you just have to keep going.

2. I loved the Mormon Message video that we watched. It's always good to get a reminder about our "true identity" every now and then. I've been struggling a little bit with my PDs lately, but after getting that reminder from the lesson I felt more able to handle everything. I loved the quote at the end too. It's so true! Who are we not to be fabulous and wonderful? We are all children of God. When we think about our divine heritage it makes it easier to go through "growing pains" as we grow and develop here on earth, and especially right now while serving in BYUSA. I want to share that video and quote with my PDs now.

As funny as it sounds, I also thought it was good advice when we were told to "focus on [ourselves]." We need to focus on our divine self and understand our identity before we are able to help others. My mom gives me this same advice sometimes. She tells me, "There's a reason that the airplane safety videos tell you to put on your own mask before helping others." You aren't able to help others until you understand your role first. Sometimes we need to be a little selfish. :) 

Servant Leadership

  1. Servant leadership goes very closely with divine centered leadership in my opinion. I really liked the quote by President Monson that said, "Remember that the mantle of leadership is not the cloak of comfort but rather the robe of responsibility." Servant leadership is not easy, and like President Monson said, it's not always comfortable. Servant leadership is not asking those who work under you to do things that you won't do, and leading with humility and respect.

2. To me, my grandma is an excellent example of servant leadership. There many aspects of her life that exemplify servant leadership, but I can't discuss all of them here. One that really sticks out to me is sacrifice. My grandma is very considerate of those around her and often sacrifices her comfort to help others. She also is not afraid to admit her weaknesses. I think this is important, because none of us are absolutely incredible at everything we do. In a book I was reading recently, the chapter discussed how sometimes the really good leaders aren't the ones that know everything, but they surround themselves with people who specialize in those areas and together they are stronger than anyone was alone. With these two characteristics comes another one that I think fits hand in hand. Although my grandma doesn't pretend to know everything and she sacrifices for those around her, she takes the time to build herself as a person. You can't help others until you have helped yourself, and I think that personal development is essential to being a good servant leader as well as the specific leadership attributes.

3. I love the quote by Stephen R. Covey that is at the front of the office, “You’ll find that as you care less about what others think of you, you will care more about what others think of themselves and their worlds, including their relationship with you.” I was talking to Karen about this last night. We were talking about how to get volunteers to be accountable and to take action proactively. She told me that maybe I need to think more about the development of my volunteers than the success of the programs. In Sarah's lesson for our retreat she used a quote by Barbara Johnson that teaches us that "a problem to be solved is never more important than a person to be loved." If we love those we work with, we will be more willing to help them, and they will be more willing to do what we ask of them. Good businesses and work relationships (and relationships in general) are based on trust and respect.

Divine Centered Leadership/Motive

1. There are many things that motivate me to volunteer as a leader in BYUSA. My motives have definitely changed since June though. At first I was in it for somewhat selfish reasons. I liked the way that volunteering made me feel and I felt like I was growing as a leader. Since fall has started and we have really got things going though, my motive has shifted away from myself a little bit and shifted onto how I can help my PDs and committee members. I absolutely love seeing them grow and learn. A few days ago I was talking to one of my PDs (Emily) and she told me that she was going to head up to the office for a little bit to fill out EAFs. I asked her if she needed any help, and she said that she was good to go. I was so excited! Not necessarily because I was the one that taught her how to do all that, but because she had started to grow as a leader and fit in to her role.

 2. I don't feel like I have any glaring problems of unrighteousness in my leadership, but there are definitely ways that I can improve. This is maybe a strange way to look at it, but I think that one of my struggles has been with self-confidence here at BYUSA. When I first came into the office I was very intimidated by those around me and I sometimes "hid my light under a bushel" as the Savior told us not to do. Sometimes I have struggled "letting my light so shine" because I don't want to be perceived as cocky or arrogant. But I think that there is a careful balance between being overbearing and being under confident. I have learned a lot so far this year and semester, and there is nothing wrong with letting that light shine through as long as it is done tactfully.

3. This might contradict what I said above, but in high school I loved the spotlight. I ran for student body president my senior year and made it pretty far. I lost the election, but everyone told me that I should run for senior class president. Usually the person who lost the student body president position won senior class, and I was excited to try it out. Through a series of events, I felt like I shouldn't run for president because of another position that had been offered to me as a member of the seminary council. I was torn, because I knew that I should accept the calling to be on the seminary council, but I had planned on doing student council for years. It was a big sacrifice to give up popularity for a calling, but I knew it was the best choice. 

This made a huge impact on my life that year. Through seminary council I learned things that I would not have been able to learn as senior class president, and I still improved as a leader. One of the most important things this experience taught me was to rely on Heavenly Father and to be guided by the Spirit in my decisions.

Empowerment

Self-efficacy: I will become knowledgeable about my job here in BYUSA. I will know the details of my programs and the basic advertising process that those programs will go through.

How I'll do it: I will read the histories of the programs (if those histories exist) and talk to those individuals who know more about it than I do. This list of people could include VPs, coordinators, past program directors, etc. I can follow up on this with my team because once I am prepared with the information I can share it with others.

Self-determination: According to the source of all knowledge (google) self-determination is "the process by which a person controls their own life." The talk I read for the conflict blog post has been on my mind lately and I have been thinking about how to make my life more balanced. I tend to work really hard and not leave a lot of time for relaxing, and so I want my life to be more balanced.

How I'll do it: I am better able to deal with things if I know what is coming and can plan ahead. I will be more consistent at writing down and prioritizing my assignments and responsibilities and make specific time in my schedule to unwind and relax. :) I don't really feel like I need to inform the Comms team on how I'm doing with this, but I will know if I am or am not following the schedule I have made.

Personal Consequences: I want to be a effective leader of leaders and make an impact on my program directors and their committee. However, at the end of the year I don't want them to say, "Mallory was a good ED because she did..." I want them to say, "Mallory trusted me enough to let me make my own decisions and lead the program in the direction of my vision. She was helpful, but allowed personal responsibility."

How I'll do it: I had a great conversation with Tamara about stretching our volunteers to become their better selves. I think that the points we talked about in the lesson (vision and values, provide support, provide information and resources, etc.) are a great start. If I can practice those principles then I can teach those principles to my PDs and it can go down the chain.

Meaningfulness: As part of the Communications Vision that we established, we talked about making every person who comes into the office feel valued. This idea really hit home to me. If we can make all the volunteers feel welcome then our organization will be more successful.

How I'll do it: I will get back to all the volunteers that call or e-mail me, as well as greeting everyone that I talk to or give a tour to a warm welcome and a smile (as cliche as that sounds).

Trust: I want all my PDs and their committees to feel like they can trust me with the struggles they are having with the programs. I want them to know that I will listen and help them however I can.

How I'll do it: Trust is something that is built up over a long period of time. I will build that trust by replying to their e-mails and phone calls promptly, and by listening to them whenever they come to me with questions. 

Conflict

The conflict resolution skill that I chose to work on this week was managing emotions. I tend to get really emotionally involved in what I'm doing and sometimes that becomes a problem. So for the past little while I have been trying to work on maintaining balance and not let my stress take over. And since this is the end of the term, we all have lots going on, so this was a perfect time to practice this skill. :)

I read a really great talk on lds.org that was given by Robert K. Wagstaff titled "Preparing Emotionally for Missionary Service." I'm not serving a mission anytime in the very soon future, but I hope to someday and so this talk seemed to fit well with that goal and also my goal of maintaining balance. The talk gave eight suggestions on how to be emotionally prepared for a mission, but I think it can also be applied to life in general, and it definitely helped me.

Seeing as I can't post the whole wonderful talk here, I'll just go through a few highlights. The first point I want to address is to "practice living a balanced life." College can make this easier, and also harder. It's easier to be balanced because for the most part, the only person you have to worry about taking care of is yourself. College is a great time to do new things, and learn a lot about yourself. However, it is also hard to be balanced because we are all being pulled in a million directions. One thing that I liked about the article is that it said, "Using a day-planning system and taking part in extracurricular activities can help young people learn to manage time and meet deadlines. Examples include holding a job or participating in activities such as sports, drama, clubs, student government, or community service." Participate in student government and service? Hmm... :) I think that this has some merit to it. When I am involved and spending my time becoming better, I feel better about what is going on in my life.

Another part that I really liked was the part that said, "They may feel distressed when the demands of being a missionary show them weaknesses they had never encountered before. But, as the prophet Ether taught, recognizing our weaknesses can teach us humility and reliance on the Lord and success in overcoming our weaknesses (see Ether 12:27)." Although this is talking about missionaries, I think it can apply to me. I have learned a lot about myself during this short term, but I also can relate to the idea that I have been shown weaknesses that I didn't know I had. And what a great opportunity I have to make those weaknesses strengths.

I had a great conversation with Sarah today about this article and what I have learned this week. We talked about how we've been commanded to be perfect, but we don't have to be perfect right now. Perfection right now for us is a journey. I still have a long way to go, but I feel like this week was a good learning experience for me.

The Honor Code

I think that the Lord has required an honor code at BYU because He has required standards for us. It wouldn't make sense to have a Church based university and not expect the same standards at that university that are expected of members other places. I also think that a reason we have the Honor Code is that it creates a much better learning environment. I think most people automatically think of the Dress and Grooming Standards first, and that does contribute to a better learning environment definitely. Another aspect of the honor code that I think contributes to a better educational experience is the fact that we have visiting hours. As a result of the visiting hours, my roommates can only have boys until a certain time, and that means that we can all get sleep and be able to stay awake and focus in class. This is a simple rule, but it makes a huge difference.

I have noticed several blessings that have come into my life because of the honor code. The benefits to my education have already been addressed, but I have seen other blessings as well. As a result of my obedience to the honor code I have been able to have the Spirit with me more in my life and I find that I am better able to handle the pressures that life brings. And that is a great thing. :) Along with having the Spirit with me, I have just felt better overall. There are aspects of the honor code that keep us in good physical health, and we are better able to handle life when we feel good.

Being a Leader of Leaders

I am a leader of leaders in several ways. The most obvious in the BYUSA sense is that I am an Executive Director and I lead my Program Directors, who lead their committees. Last year when I was the FHE mom of my group I was a leader of leaders because I lead my FHE family, who then led within their callings. I think that we are all leaders of leaders in one way or another.

I can be a more divine-centered leader of leaders by following the principles outlined in the lesson. There were a lot of great thoughts that were brought up, but I'm just going to address two. The first one is "thy mind, o man, must stretch." I really enjoyed this because of a conversation I had about a volunteer I was working with. This volunteer had worked in the area before, and felt like she knew exactly what was best for the program. Tamara and I talked about how to help her grow as a leader. We talked about how to help her stretch and always be striving to be better. Christ commanded us to be perfect, and right now none of us are. But eventually we can be, if we are constantly stretching and trying to improve right now.

The other point that I liked was about unity. One of our goals here is to create Zion communities which are of "one heart and one mind." Unity starts from the top and goes down, as we discussed. Once all of us as EDs are united with our coordinator and VP, then we can become united with out PDs and then the committees. So much more can be accomplished when people feel valued and feel like they have a place. Christ loved and served everyone, especially those who were not likely candidates for other people's attention. I really like the "spatula" analogy that has been used in class, where we scrape the edges of the bowl (figuratively speaking) and try to get everyone involved.

The BYUSA Brand

Having a consistent brand in BYUSA is important for several reasons. When the brand is consistent people know what to expect of the organization. I thought it was interesting that Brandon shared that Coca-Cola has the goal for every person to see their logo every day. I've been paying attention, and I have seen it every day since Monday. When we are consistent we establish trust with those who see our brand and they can expect certain things of us. BYUSA puts on a lot of great events, and if we have a consistent brand then people can always associate our activities with the good feelings they felt. We will develop a pattern and have a good reputation.

From the manual I learned all the different ways in the Wilk that you can advertise as well as the details you must follow when you use the BYUSA logo.

Group Development

Right now I think Comms is in the "storming/norming" stage. We formed in April and continued to do so in June. I don't think we have had any huge explosions, but I will admit that I have learned some things about others the hard way. :) We all have different senses of humor. I accidentally said something to one of the girls and it offended her a little bit. It was something that I would be okay if someone said it to me, but I had to learn that it wasn't okay with her. And that is just fine. We are a stronger group because of our differences, and can achieve more by relying on each other's strengths. I think we are also in the "norming" phase. We have more inside jokes than I can count, and it has been a constant party (a constant hardworking party, of course) to work with Brandon, Sarah, Olivia, Karen, and of course, you Tamara. We are learning the working styles of each other and there are expectations that we all are creating for each other.

I don't think there is one way for our areas to maintain the "performing" stage of the group development model. Like we talked about in class, the dynamics of a group are constantly changing. Just like the dynamics of a family change every time a new child is born, the dynamics of our areas will change as we get new volunteers and work with different people. The trick is to get us to be in the performing stage more than the storming. :) We talked in class about conflict and how it isn't always a bad thing. It can't be a totally bad thing, because "storming" is a normal phase. I think that our individual areas can stay in the performing stage for the majority of the time if we are willing to accept each other's differences. We need to realize that our ideas are not always going to be the best and support the best idea even if it isn't ours. 

Volunteers

I volunteer because I love the feeling that I get when I serve someone. Today in class Phil talked about how he wasn't sure if what Usher and Elmo said was totally true. Usher and Elmo defined a volunteer as someone who helps someone without getting anything in return. I think that this isn't completely accurate. I know that when I serve I feel like I get more out of the experience than the person I'm serving. I guess it's a little selfish that I volunteer sometimes to feel that feeling, but that is one reason that I do.

I also volunteer because I appreciate the friendship that I gain from serving with people. There is a special relationship that is formed from serving that cannot be formed any other way. I also volunteer because I feel a responsibility to serve. I'm glad that Phil brought up the fact that over 70% of our tuition is subsidized. I love the fact that BYUSA was established as a "gift office." I feel like BYUSA is a wonderful way for students to give back, because we are all about giving back. I haven't met anyone in the office whose whole purpose is to build a resume. We all are here because we love it.

I contribute to the culture of the office by trying to exemplify the BYUSA vision and also the vision that Communications has established. We all try to make the office professional, but I also think it is important for us to be personable. I came into the BYUSA office once and I was welcomed and felt valued, but the people I talked to told me that they would contact me again and never did. I understand that they probably got very busy, but I haven't forgotten that. I want every volunteer that I talk to to feel valued and welcomed, and then I don't want to lose contact. I want everyone to have a chance to get involved and really catch the vision of what we're trying to do. If we all act as we know Christ would act, then we will go after "the one lost sheep" and make sure that everyone who comes into the office leaves a better person.

I think that we as individuals can make a bigger difference when we talk to individuals than we could if we try to do campus-wide activities. Campus events are extremely important, but I think that we can make a bigger difference when we work with individuals. We talked in class about how sometimes we can be walking on campus or at an event and still feel alone. But when we take the time to talk to individuals, we can change that. I think it is sometimes so easy to go to class, walk to the next building, attend the next class, etc. and just get caught up in our own routine. It's not that we're trying to keep to ourselves, it just is easier. But when we extend ourselves we can make a difference. I am so excited to be leading the redefine service campaigns because I believe in it. Service does not need to be huge things. Small things like smiling, holding a door, sending a nice text, etc. can be just as effective and take a lot less time. If we all engage in these small acts of service then I think that we will be building Zion here at BYU.

Finances

I think it is so important for all our volunteers to be trained on the BYUSA financial procedures. If everyone is trained and aware, then we can avoid a lot of mistakes and headaches. When I came into the office to interview to be an ED, there was a girl talking to the front desk receptionist, and she was obviously very upset. As I sat in the chairs waiting for my interview I listened and found out why she was upset. I think she was an EL or PD, and she had just purchased over $500 of t-shirts with her personal credit card, which (as we learned) you can't do. It turned into a nightmare for the staff who tried to help her.

I think the certification training was very helpful in teaching us what was necessary to know in order to perform financial procedures correctly. Our program directors will be certified, but obviously not everyone is required to certify. I think that the tutorials that we saw in order to prepare for the certification test were very effective, and could be used as a review. I also think that our binder is helpful. If the volunteers correctly certify and have access to these resources, training could be effective. I think that once everyone is properly trained, then there is no reason that they cannot be held accountable. Yesterday in the Activities area training that I attended Angela told us that there are high expectations placed on us, but we will never be asked to do something we aren't trained or won't be trained to do. And once we are trained, then we are accountable. I think that the best way for us to be able to hold our volunteers accountable is by making sure we train them properly.

I think a way that the financial procedures can help me in my personal finances is the lesson we learn to always plan ahead. I've always been taught to keep money in savings. You never know when something unexpected will happen, whether it be a big thing like a health emergency or a smaller thing like a textbook you didn't know you needed. In BYUSA we plan ahead financially and make sure our plan is viable. Another lesson we learn is to budget carefully. I've never worked in a situation before with "zero balance budgeting," but I see the value in it. This forces us to be a little more creative with our plans and I think ultimately it will lead to a better program. Planning budgets creatively also can help us with our personal finances. Things don't always go as planned, and sometimes we have to work differently.

Professionalism and Protocol

Professionalism creates credibility in several ways. I really like the quote that was brought up Wednesday that read, "You only have one chance to make a great first impression." This is so true! When we are professional, we are proving ourselves worthy of the trust and credibility that we want. When we dress and act professionally (avoiding sloppy dress, slang, etc.) we show those with whom we are communicating that we take the opportunity seriously. Anytime you behave unprofessionally, your credibility goes way down because if you can't act the part, how can you perform? Another aspect of professionalism we talked about in class is knowledge. If you aren't knowledgeable about what you are doing, then that gives the other people involved less reason to trust your decision. Also, when you take the time to research and find out information prior to a meeting, it shows those involved that you are willing to put forth the necessary effort and that you are serious about what you are doing.

One time that I experienced protocol was when I met Supreme Court Justice Sotomayor. There were many things about this experience that were true to the lessons we learned on Wednesday. First, we all were asked to dress in business professional attire. This showed our respect for her position and the time she took out of her busy schedule to talk to us. When she walked in, we all stood and were seated when she invited us to be seated. Also, when we were allowed a question and answer period there was a very specific way for us to ask questions. We said something to the effect of "Justice Sotomayor, thank you for taking the time to come and speak to us. My name is Mallory Brugger and I'm from Idaho. My question is..." This protocol made things very organized and professional. She is an important person in our country's justice system, and this protocol helped us to give her the respect that her title deserves.

Divine Centered Leadership

My motive for service is to make sure that all students at BYU have the good experience that I have been blessed to have. When I found out how much of our tuition as students is subsidized by the Church, I was amazed! I also felt a little silly for complaining about how much tuition was. :) One of the first times our Comms are was talking Brandon told us that that knowledge about tuition got him serving because he wanted to “pay it forward.” I have adopted that mentality as well. How wonderful to have an outlet like BYUSA where we can “pay it forward” and thank those who came before us for the sacrifices they have made. I would feel selfish if I came to BYU, got a fabulous education, and then left without making my mark on the students here. There is no other time in our life that will be like this, so we need to make the most of it. My mom sometimes tells me that college is a time when you’re allowed to be a little bit selfish, because it’s a time where a lot of personal growth needs to occur. And what better way to grow than to serve? I already feel like I have grown and changed for the better, even with my short BYUSA experience.

Becoming like the Savior is another motive for my service. The Lord spent His mortal ministry serving and leading people to the truth. I can’t really dedicate my whole life to formally preaching the gospel, but I can spend my life sharing my testimony through service. Most of my friends are on missions right now, and I think it’s interesting that when someone won’t let them in the door they ask if they can perform any service for the individual. Often the people say yes, and as they serve they often get to share their message anyway. It’s a different approach than most the world would try, but it makes perfect sense. I always want my life to be full of service and share my testimony. I love the quote by Sister Hinckley that reads, “I don’t want to show ……” I too want the Lord to know that “I was really here and that I really lived.”

Last night I had a sleepover with Kelsey Page and a few other mutual friends. It was such a great night. In different trainings we’ve talked about how you can’t serve effectively with someone until you know their heart and you have their trust. Last night we covered all the standard “sleepover topics” and laughed and had fun, but what impressed me the most was what happened right before bed. We had all settled in and the light was off when all of sudden Kelsey said, “Oh, we forgot!” We were all trying to figure out what we forgot when Kelsey told us. She said, “We forgot to read scriptures! I can’t break my streak!” I smiled to myself, but I was impressed too. Someone suggested that we all recite our favorite scriptures and tell why they were our favorite. We did and it was a really neat experience. I saw Kelsey’s heart through that little experience and I saw someone who is very committed to the gospel, which I think is a very admirable characteristic.

And yes, I read the DCL section in the book. :)

RACE

A scripture that kept coming to my mind when we were talking about RACE is D&C 132:8, which reads, "Behold, mine house is a house of order, saith the Lord God, and not a house of confusion." The BYUSA mission teaches us that we are trying to build Zion communities, and Zion is a place that is done the way the Lord would have it. Through this scripture we learn that the Lord wants a house of order, and in order to keep things that way, we need to have planned ahead.

RACE helps us accomplish just that. I think that RACE is a tool that is as useful as we make it. I personally think it's a great idea because it forces us to plan ahead and seek out all options before we create our action plan. I rarely have my best ideas the first time around, and RACE helps me to create an organized plan so I can do my best in my programs. I also think that by understanding RACE, I can be more effective as a leader because once I understand it I can help others to understand it. If everyone is planning ahead and uses this tool then I think that it will save everyone a lot of stress and headaches down the road. :)

I plan to use RACE in my programs (True Blue Tuesdays, the "Redefine Service" campaigns, Service Squad, and the Brigham Awards). I am excited to get all my PDs on board and going. I sat in on the basecamp training with the Activities area today and got excited about that program. I think that basecamp and RACE together will make for some very effective programs! I like basecamp because we all can be on the same page, and I think that if we use RACE to its full capacity it could work the same way. I liked the way that Activities set up the RACE sheet as a Google Doc so everyone can see the edits. I'm going to be working with Dallin in the next few days to get that template set up on my programs as well because I think that will be very useful. I'm glad that we got the RACE lesson so early in the term so we can implement it.

BYUSA Vision and Mission

This week I had the amazing opportunity to attend Adventure Experience for BYUSA. While there I was thinking about the challenge we were issued in class on Monday to consider how I can best implement the BYUSA vision in my role as an ED and also to study the mission statement. I think that the last few days have given me a lot of food for thought and I am excited to implement the ideas this coming year.

As cliche as this sounds, I love the vision of BYUSA. The vision says: As a part of a BYU education, the Student Service Association's vision is to be leaders centered on Jesus Christ, who contribute to the building of Zion communities which are united in heart and mind that there be no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us. I feel like all of us serving in BYUSA have a unique opportunity to implement this in our leadership. In order to be "leaders centered in Jesus Christ" we need to understand His attributes. Christ was the ultimate example of the "servant leader" that we talked about. In my New Testament class last term we talked about when Christ washed the feet of His disciples, a task usually reserved for the servant. If Christ, the Son of God, was willing to adopt that mentality, then we need to do the same.

The next part of the vision that I want to address talks about building Zion communities. I think that we got a glimpse of what a Zion community can be like these last few days.  I have felt like we have become "of one heart and one mind." We have laughed, struggled through difficult hikes, played games, served, and talked together for the last few days and we became closer. Even though I won't be able to take my PDs to Park City, I think that those experiences can be recreated and that same feeling can permeate our office. I loved what Brother Cox told us this morning about how to make this experience great. I think that his suggestions can help us make sure that "there are no intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, or physically poor among us." If we are careful to include everyone, to listen effectively, and to serve with love we can make a difference. I think that each of us can make a difference in the world. Our difference won't be recognized nationally, but it will be recognized by individuals. And by making a difference in the lives of individuals, we are making a huge impact. Service starts a chain; once someone is served they serve someone who serves someone else. And if that goes around long enough, we can change the world.

The mission of BYUSA is wonderful as well. I think the mission captures what all of us are searching for in this organization. A few of the points mentioned in the mission really resonated with me and I'd like to discuss them. The first point is "a sense of belonging." Hearing our leaders talk about the students who sit at home alone on Friday nights made me want to reach as many students as I can. I think that BYU has so much more than academics to offer (even though the academics are great) and if we can get just one more student to have a good experience, then we have made a positive change.

The next point I want to discuss is "divine-centered leadership." I feel like when I am serving God's children, I become closer to Heavenly Father and His Son. Christ is the perfect example of service and I am striving to emulate Him. Christ loved everyone that He came in contact with, and made everyone feel valued. Can you imagine what would happen if every single person who walked into the office next year was greeted with a smile and found a leader who wants to get to know them and who loves them for who they are? BYU is a very diverse school. The students come from all kinds of backgrounds and have unique experiences that have affected personalities and opinions. I am excited to find PDs and get to know them because I know that I become smarter by listening to others. I'm the first to admit that my ideas are not always the best, and I feel like different personalities make the organization stronger. When we emulate Christ and His love for all people, our jobs become more enjoyable and we learn from those we are different from.

The last topic I want to address is a "commitment to future service." As I sat listening to our many inspirational speakers I couldn't help but look around at those around me. I felt like I was seeing future
Relief Society, Elders Quorum, Young Women, and even government leaders. BYUSA has inspired me and I plan to serve in the Church and my community long into the future. I think that once people catch the "service bug" as I sometimes call it, there is no going back. The feeling of love for those you serve and the knowledge that you are making a difference is too strong to resist. I know that many of the past BYUSA leaders have gone on to serve in many different capacities and I don't think it's a coincidence. I love the fact that here at BYU the majority of the students are LDS and we are all striving to become more like God. I love the quote by President Kimball that says "we cannot have spirituality without service." I know that is true. I have a testimony of the power of service and I am looking forward to a wonderful year serving with my fellow students.

DanceSport!

 

I haven't posted in a while, and this was a big event this semester, so I figured it was a perfect time to start up again. I wanted to try something new this semester, so I decided to take a ballroom dance class. As part of the class, we were required to compete in or attend the DanceSport National Championships. I chose to compete, and I'm so glad I did! I competed in the quickstep and my partner was Erik Lovell. It was a wonderful experience... once I got there. :) We had to be there at 7:45 all lined up and ready to dance. I was going to get up nice and early and be all ready to go before we needed to meet up. I woke up at 7:30 to the sound of a text on my phone. It was Erik. He told me that he was outside the Marriott ready to go. I jumped out of bed and starting putting my contacts in while I called him. When he answered I told him I had bad news. He said, "You broke your leg." I told him no, and explained the situation. He started laughing and told me not to worry and to just get there as soon as I could. I brushed my teeth while I got dressed and I threw my shoes in a bag. I finished putting my hair in a ponytail as I slipped my black flats on and started to sprint to the Marriott. I arrived there at 7:50 and out of breath. Erik started to go in and I was hunting around in my bag for my wallet (that had my entry ticket in it). I realized that I had forgotten it back at Heritage! I was starting to panic when Erik ran back to his stuff and got his wallet to buy me a ticket. He bought it, we went in, and I changed my shoes while he ran my flats and jacket up to where his stuff was. We lined up, he grabbed my hand to escort me onto the floor and we danced. The first round was a bit of a mess. :) We both messed up the routine (at the same place and in the same way, thank goodness) and in the middle my heel interlocked with the heel of the girl next to me. I didn't fall down (I got that out of my system Thursday in class when I fell flat on my back. Erik tried to pull me up before I fell but it was too late and we both landed on our backs in the middle of the ballroom.) but we definitely had some difficulty. By some miracle we made it the second round, and I credit that to the fact that we were both smiling. We danced the second and third rounds, and then got eliminated right before quarter-finals. It was a little disappointing, but DanceSport was still a great experience. There is such a rush to performing! You just step out on the floor and give it all you have. I loved hearing people yelling our number cheering us on and just dancing. I'd love to do it again, but next time, my alarm had better go off! :)

Love Always,

Mallory