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. :)