Thursday, April 13, 2017
Thursday, April 6, 2017
Citizenship
PowerPoint Definition: Citizenship occurs when one becomes responsibly connected to the community/society in which one resides by actively working towards change to benefit others through care, service, social responsibility, and community involvement.
My Definition: Citizenship is a sense of belonging to a community. This community could be a literal place or an intangible friend group or company. Citizenship is having a sense of invested involvement to drive the community in the way of positive social change.
So What? My experience... Here I can provide two examples both within the same organization as an observation of leadership. Within the Big Event my sophomore year, the leaders were fantastic. They ensured that all of us on committee were there for a common purpose. Not only that, but they created an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship where we felt like we were working toward a common goal. That year I was so incredibly motivated to work toward this goal and won committee member of the year.
The following year, leadership was too results driven and not enough people driven. When leaders don't value people, they lose respect. No community is able to be built when I felt like I was on constant defense mode. What used to be a positive organization felt like a complete change of face to become a negative leadership style. As a result, I felt less motivated and disconnected from the organizations mission.
Now What? My reflection...Whenever I start working with a new team, I first try to have us all get to know one another better. When friendships form, people become accountable to each other and feel welcomed in. This belonging, or citizenship, is not only fun to create but leads to an easier team to manage. When people belong, they belong to a common purpose, and they move as a functional unit toward accomplishing a goal.
My Definition: Citizenship is a sense of belonging to a community. This community could be a literal place or an intangible friend group or company. Citizenship is having a sense of invested involvement to drive the community in the way of positive social change.
So What? My experience... Here I can provide two examples both within the same organization as an observation of leadership. Within the Big Event my sophomore year, the leaders were fantastic. They ensured that all of us on committee were there for a common purpose. Not only that, but they created an atmosphere of mutual respect and friendship where we felt like we were working toward a common goal. That year I was so incredibly motivated to work toward this goal and won committee member of the year.
The following year, leadership was too results driven and not enough people driven. When leaders don't value people, they lose respect. No community is able to be built when I felt like I was on constant defense mode. What used to be a positive organization felt like a complete change of face to become a negative leadership style. As a result, I felt less motivated and disconnected from the organizations mission.
Now What? My reflection...Whenever I start working with a new team, I first try to have us all get to know one another better. When friendships form, people become accountable to each other and feel welcomed in. This belonging, or citizenship, is not only fun to create but leads to an easier team to manage. When people belong, they belong to a common purpose, and they move as a functional unit toward accomplishing a goal.
Controversy with Civility
Microfluidics:
PowerPoint Definition: Within a diverse group, it is inevitable that differing viewpoints will exist. In order for a group to work towards positive social change, open, critical, and civil discourse can lead to new, creative solutions and is an integral component of the leadership process
My Definition: The ability to work with others knowing that everyone comes from a different background. And ultimately, being able to voice differing opinions in a healthy manner so that others are able to see your point of view. Using this diversity to solve complex problems in unique ways.
So What? My experience... Science is about discovery and the laboratory is full of people from very diverse backgrounds. The lab I work in, as an example, uses microfluidic devices to track neutrophil and eosinophil migration. This technology allows us to see the phenotype of the cells at the single cell level and can be applied to diagnose disease rapidly and for less cost than traditional methods. This technology is so interdisciplinary. Our primary investigator is a Biological Systems Engineer with a background in immunology. Our lab is housed in Biological Sciences. And we've got me (a biologist), a biochemist, a pharmacist, a mathematical modeler, and someone who is interested in veterinary medicine. So many different disciplines lead to several VERY different thought processes and we often butt heads. To keep discovery happening though, we listen to each other and learn from each other's experience. Usually this helps us get even more done by working processes differently and more efficiently.
Now What? My reflection... You can discover so much about yourself by getting out of your comfort zone. Sure, limit what you know and never talk to someone different. But, challenge yourself and talk to someone different than you and your ability to learn is limitless. By working with others, even if it gets tense, you can appreciate and implement other's ideas. This is the thinking gray concept: observe a problem, take a step back, think of all possible solutions, and implement the best one regardless of bias. Leadership can sometimes be a coexisting role and does not necessarily mean you're in charge.
PowerPoint Definition: Within a diverse group, it is inevitable that differing viewpoints will exist. In order for a group to work towards positive social change, open, critical, and civil discourse can lead to new, creative solutions and is an integral component of the leadership process
My Definition: The ability to work with others knowing that everyone comes from a different background. And ultimately, being able to voice differing opinions in a healthy manner so that others are able to see your point of view. Using this diversity to solve complex problems in unique ways.
So What? My experience... Science is about discovery and the laboratory is full of people from very diverse backgrounds. The lab I work in, as an example, uses microfluidic devices to track neutrophil and eosinophil migration. This technology allows us to see the phenotype of the cells at the single cell level and can be applied to diagnose disease rapidly and for less cost than traditional methods. This technology is so interdisciplinary. Our primary investigator is a Biological Systems Engineer with a background in immunology. Our lab is housed in Biological Sciences. And we've got me (a biologist), a biochemist, a pharmacist, a mathematical modeler, and someone who is interested in veterinary medicine. So many different disciplines lead to several VERY different thought processes and we often butt heads. To keep discovery happening though, we listen to each other and learn from each other's experience. Usually this helps us get even more done by working processes differently and more efficiently.
Now What? My reflection... You can discover so much about yourself by getting out of your comfort zone. Sure, limit what you know and never talk to someone different. But, challenge yourself and talk to someone different than you and your ability to learn is limitless. By working with others, even if it gets tense, you can appreciate and implement other's ideas. This is the thinking gray concept: observe a problem, take a step back, think of all possible solutions, and implement the best one regardless of bias. Leadership can sometimes be a coexisting role and does not necessarily mean you're in charge.
Common Purpose
PowerPoint Definition: Common purpose necessitates and contributes to a high level of group trust involving all participants in shared responsibility towards collective aims, values, and vision.
My Definition: Common purpose is the movement toward a unified goal. It takes time to "norm and storm" with those around you to get to know your followers. Only then can a goal be identified to come towards. The goal is unified so that everyone feels a sense of purpose and belonging as they work toward that goal.
So What? My experience... The first thing I did last year when I was elected president of my ASDA chapter was to sit down with my cabinet and write a mission statement. This was a wild task. I was asking everyone to agree on one simple goal "to prepare our members to become the most compeditive applicants to dental school." It had to be simple for us all to agree. In this way, in whatever we did, we worked toward that common goal. Every meeting, every group text message, every email. They all had a purpose because we established it together. Everyone truly cared and had belonging within the goal. It was our goal, not just my goal.
Now What? My reflection... When working together, you have the ability to work bigger. But, it's impossible to reach lofty goals alone. Reach high and aim even bigger. But, without your team, you limit what you can do. When rallying your team though, you have to have them buy in. The easiest way to do this is by working together on a goal so that everyone feels invested. Then, the team will work together towards a common purpose, a goal they have bought into.
My Definition: Common purpose is the movement toward a unified goal. It takes time to "norm and storm" with those around you to get to know your followers. Only then can a goal be identified to come towards. The goal is unified so that everyone feels a sense of purpose and belonging as they work toward that goal.
So What? My experience... The first thing I did last year when I was elected president of my ASDA chapter was to sit down with my cabinet and write a mission statement. This was a wild task. I was asking everyone to agree on one simple goal "to prepare our members to become the most compeditive applicants to dental school." It had to be simple for us all to agree. In this way, in whatever we did, we worked toward that common goal. Every meeting, every group text message, every email. They all had a purpose because we established it together. Everyone truly cared and had belonging within the goal. It was our goal, not just my goal.
Now What? My reflection... When working together, you have the ability to work bigger. But, it's impossible to reach lofty goals alone. Reach high and aim even bigger. But, without your team, you limit what you can do. When rallying your team though, you have to have them buy in. The easiest way to do this is by working together on a goal so that everyone feels invested. Then, the team will work together towards a common purpose, a goal they have bought into.
Thursday, March 30, 2017
Collaboration
PowerPoint Definition: Collaboration assumes that a group is working towards a Common Purpose, with mutually beneficial goals and serves to generate creative solutions as a result of group diversity, requiring participants to engage across difference and share authority, responsibility, and accountability for its success.
My Definition: The ability to work together towards a common positive goal to create collective positive social change. The use of individuals strengths to synergize and solve problems collectivly.
So What? My experience... When working with other national ASDA leaders, we are all there with a common purpose: the Association. The association priorities are our own priorities and we must keep them in mind in everything that we do. As there is much to accomplish, we must collaborate with people so that we can accomplish tasks individually according to strengths and then bring them together for the greater accomplishments of the Association.
Now What? My reflection... I used to be the person that would just do it myself so I knew it got done. But, I'm really not good at everything. In fact, I'm really bad at a lot of things. By collaborating with others, you are getting the best product possible. Not only that, but you're providing meaning and ownership for others in the team. This creates a sense of caring and belonging to the common goal.
My Definition: The ability to work together towards a common positive goal to create collective positive social change. The use of individuals strengths to synergize and solve problems collectivly.
So What? My experience... When working with other national ASDA leaders, we are all there with a common purpose: the Association. The association priorities are our own priorities and we must keep them in mind in everything that we do. As there is much to accomplish, we must collaborate with people so that we can accomplish tasks individually according to strengths and then bring them together for the greater accomplishments of the Association.
Now What? My reflection... I used to be the person that would just do it myself so I knew it got done. But, I'm really not good at everything. In fact, I'm really bad at a lot of things. By collaborating with others, you are getting the best product possible. Not only that, but you're providing meaning and ownership for others in the team. This creates a sense of caring and belonging to the common goal.
Commitment
PowerPoint Definition: Commitment requires an intrinsic passion, energy, and purposeful investment towards action. Follow-through and willing involvement through commitment lead to positive social change.
My Definition: Commitment is the ability to be loyal to a group or organization and stay with them over a long period of time. It's a long term or fixed term contract where you are constantly contributing for the good of the group.
So What? My experiences... I first learned what commitment was back in third grade. I went to an IB elementary school and one of the PYP (Primary Years Programme) words was commitment. I broke by arm in third grade and received the award for commitment. My peers and teachers recognized me for commitment because, even though I broke my arm, I remained loyal to the classroom community and completed all assignments and never used it as an excuse. In general I also tend to crave long term commitments. In middle and high school I volunteered at the same community center for six years. I've been singing for 16 years. In high school I was involved and committed to three ensembles over four years. And, I've been working as a choral scholar for over six years. I've committed myself to the American Student Dental Association for the past four years and plan to stay involved the next four years. I commit to a life time in the ADA and as an outstanding dentist.
Now What? My reflection... Commitment is certainly one of my strengths and I value it in others. To me, it is one of the most important quality someone can have. When I am looking to assemble a team, I look for people who are committed. I want to ensure consistency and the way you do that is through having the same people work on a project from start to finish. It is inefficient to have to replace team members repetitively. When commitment is lost, production is lost. The goal is lost.
My Definition: Commitment is the ability to be loyal to a group or organization and stay with them over a long period of time. It's a long term or fixed term contract where you are constantly contributing for the good of the group.
So What? My experiences... I first learned what commitment was back in third grade. I went to an IB elementary school and one of the PYP (Primary Years Programme) words was commitment. I broke by arm in third grade and received the award for commitment. My peers and teachers recognized me for commitment because, even though I broke my arm, I remained loyal to the classroom community and completed all assignments and never used it as an excuse. In general I also tend to crave long term commitments. In middle and high school I volunteered at the same community center for six years. I've been singing for 16 years. In high school I was involved and committed to three ensembles over four years. And, I've been working as a choral scholar for over six years. I've committed myself to the American Student Dental Association for the past four years and plan to stay involved the next four years. I commit to a life time in the ADA and as an outstanding dentist.
Now What? My reflection... Commitment is certainly one of my strengths and I value it in others. To me, it is one of the most important quality someone can have. When I am looking to assemble a team, I look for people who are committed. I want to ensure consistency and the way you do that is through having the same people work on a project from start to finish. It is inefficient to have to replace team members repetitively. When commitment is lost, production is lost. The goal is lost.
Congruence
PowerPoint Definition: Congruence requires that one has identified personal values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions and acts consistently with those values, beliefs, attitudes, and emotions. A congruent individual is genuine and honest and “walks the talk.”
My Definition: Congruence is when a person is well rounded in the sense that their morals match their actions. Actions and morals coexist in harmony with each other. It's when someone says or proclaims something and then their actions reflect their words. They're the complete opposite of the "do as I say, not as I do" person.
So What? My experience.... Again, it's easy to say one thing and do another. It takes the investment of energy to stay consistent. Within my leadership of the predental club, I lead the exec but I am also a member of the exec. I set standards such as attending all predental meetings, asking questions during guest speakers presentations, completing duties on time, etc. Honestly, I didn't even really have to formally set these expectations. I just did them as president of the club and all exec sort of just followed and knew this was expected of them.
Now What? My reflection.... Leading by example is key. But, to lead by example, as a leader you must create a goal of what that example will be. Now, whenever I go into a new leadership role, I ask myself what I want to accomplish. I set my own set of goals and actively work toward them and I'll find that others will do the same.
My Definition: Congruence is when a person is well rounded in the sense that their morals match their actions. Actions and morals coexist in harmony with each other. It's when someone says or proclaims something and then their actions reflect their words. They're the complete opposite of the "do as I say, not as I do" person.
So What? My experience.... Again, it's easy to say one thing and do another. It takes the investment of energy to stay consistent. Within my leadership of the predental club, I lead the exec but I am also a member of the exec. I set standards such as attending all predental meetings, asking questions during guest speakers presentations, completing duties on time, etc. Honestly, I didn't even really have to formally set these expectations. I just did them as president of the club and all exec sort of just followed and knew this was expected of them.
Now What? My reflection.... Leading by example is key. But, to lead by example, as a leader you must create a goal of what that example will be. Now, whenever I go into a new leadership role, I ask myself what I want to accomplish. I set my own set of goals and actively work toward them and I'll find that others will do the same.
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