Leadership and Reflection
			The pinnacle of interdisciplinary achievement is effective leadership.  Leadership is the ability to harness the collective power of a team, and to drive that team towards your common goal.  While each person brings to a project their own individual expertise, it is usually necessary for one or more people in a group to assume leadership and to coordinate the activities of all of its members. Colin Powell has provided the clearest definition of leadership that I have ever heard.  He says, "A good leader is someone whose troops will follow him, if only out of curiosity.  Why would you follow somebody around a corner?  Up a hill?  Into a dark room?  The reason is trust." Trust is the glue that holds a team together, and a leader is responsible for fostering and increasing that trust.  A leader's mission is to constantly be aware of the progress of his group and by constantly evaluating and reevaluating his group's goals. These are the techniques that I have used to increase my efficacy as a leader.  While leadership may be the pinnacle of the interdisciplinary skills pyramid, trust forms the base, and holds the pyramid together.  Without trust, a leader cannot collectively join and guide  a team's efforts.
							Perhaps as important as leadership itself is the ability to reflect on your own leadership and the leadership of others.  No one leader is perfect, as no one leadership style is appropriate for all situations.  To truly become an effective leader requires a look back on successes (and failures) to determine how to be a better leader in future situations. In order to accomplish this, I have invested a large part of my time in studying different leadership techniques, and adapting them to my own personal style.  It is my belief that true leaders are made, not born.  While there is some innate ability involved in leadership, there is always room for development and improvement. I am a strong advocate in reflection and evaluation in the workplace.  Through these methods, and an objective look at your own work, your productivity and quality will improve.  By reflecting often on my own abilities, I can quickly spot areas that need improvement. Return to Transferable Skills Return to Homepage Email: [email protected]