Values ~ Levels 2-3
My experience in Guatemala allowed me to observe more than just verbal cues involved in leadership. Even in my third year attending MSU and abroad I continue to learn more about those I lead and thoroughly contemplate decisions I make that affect a group in my deliberate nature. I volunteered in an orphanage for two months while in Guatemala and contributed to their daily child care as well as observe the leadership within the organization. My willingness to make others feel comfortable led the girls to include me despite my language skills (Level 2). I was able to support the girls similarly to the regular staff. Each day I helped care for their own children and tutored some in English. This experience also exposed me to feeling set apart in a group setting that my future group members may experience.
My thirst for learning in this experience led to using my daily observations to determine the best approach for becoming a leader in the nursery. I also observed the director’s leadership style with the rest of the staff throughout my stay. She used mostly an autocratic style of leadership since the roles of staff were very structured in expectations. Her leadership style provided a safe and clean home for the girls living there because of the thoroughly articulated expectations of each individual (Level 3). For this same style of leadership to be enacted in the US where there is a large expectation of the leader to account for multiple inputs multiple voices, autocratic leadership would be less favored because the group members or staff do not have much input. My ability to observe my surroundings and interact with the girls in a low-risk environment allowed me to reflect on why the director’s leadership was successful and how my tendencies to lean towards learning and planning made my experience a positive one.
Guatemala Journal Week 3 ~ Leadership Critique
For this experience, I also maintained a blog throughout my time abroad and wrote weekly reflections. Links to each of these are located below.
Guatemala Blog
Service Learning Journals and Summary Page
My experience in Guatemala allowed me to observe more than just verbal cues involved in leadership. Even in my third year attending MSU and abroad I continue to learn more about those I lead and thoroughly contemplate decisions I make that affect a group in my deliberate nature. I volunteered in an orphanage for two months while in Guatemala and contributed to their daily child care as well as observe the leadership within the organization. My willingness to make others feel comfortable led the girls to include me despite my language skills (Level 2). I was able to support the girls similarly to the regular staff. Each day I helped care for their own children and tutored some in English. This experience also exposed me to feeling set apart in a group setting that my future group members may experience.
My thirst for learning in this experience led to using my daily observations to determine the best approach for becoming a leader in the nursery. I also observed the director’s leadership style with the rest of the staff throughout my stay. She used mostly an autocratic style of leadership since the roles of staff were very structured in expectations. Her leadership style provided a safe and clean home for the girls living there because of the thoroughly articulated expectations of each individual (Level 3). For this same style of leadership to be enacted in the US where there is a large expectation of the leader to account for multiple inputs multiple voices, autocratic leadership would be less favored because the group members or staff do not have much input. My ability to observe my surroundings and interact with the girls in a low-risk environment allowed me to reflect on why the director’s leadership was successful and how my tendencies to lean towards learning and planning made my experience a positive one.
Guatemala Journal Week 3 ~ Leadership Critique
For this experience, I also maintained a blog throughout my time abroad and wrote weekly reflections. Links to each of these are located below.
Guatemala Blog
Service Learning Journals and Summary Page