What Is the Most Valuable Lesson You Have Learned in a Leadership Role?

Caleb Ruffin

5/9/16

2016-2017 Meinig Application

Question: What is the most valuable lesson you have learned in a leadership role?

A recent leadership role that I possessed that has taught me a very valuable lesson was being the “Student Administrative Assistant” for Upward Bound this year. Upward Bound is a program that provides fundamental support to students in their preparation for college and higher education. The program provides opportunities for participants to succeed in their precollege performance and ultimately in their higher education pursuits. Upward Bound focuses on high school students from low-income families; and students whose parents have little to no formal higher education. The goal of Upward Bound is to increase the rate at which participants complete secondary education and enroll in college. While working as the Student Administrative Assistant, I had a lot of responsibilities including helping oversee other student employees and working hand and hand with the Director of the program. The main lesson that I took away from my experience working there was when my boss sat me down and told me that being a normal leader was respected but not necessary laudable, the true accomplishment comes when you are the best the leader you can be. She said being the best leader comes down to four main questions and that I had to ask myself in order to gage whether or not I was in the or best state of leadership that I could possibly be in. Those four questions were: “Am I results centered?”; “Am I other focused?”; “Am I internally directed?”; and “Am I externally open?” This inspired me and got me thinking. I soon realized that answering these questions reveals a lot about who you are as a person and your state of leadership.

When I say, “Am I results centered?” I am referring to the fact that If you reach your goals easily they aren’t set high enough. With high goals comes infectious high aspirations and ambition. People tend to live in their comfort zone because it is comfortable and easy. However, these people are not good leaders. When you are results centered you become more proactive, persistent and optimistic. This is important to access in order to make sure we are always improving, and it pushed me to always strive to get better at whatever I do because there is always room for improvement.

When I say, “Am I other focused?” I reflect on the reality that sacrificing things for yourself to help others will help you more in the long run. It’s hard to admit, but most of us, put our own needs above those of the whole. But when our own interests controls our relationships, we erode others’ trust in us. Great leaders can sacrifice their own interests at time for others in order build a relationship on trust and have others value and respect their authority. This is very important because to me you really do get what you give in everything you do.