Values are critical to leadership.  They behave as a spine; it’s a crucial component that is hard to live without.  We use our values to make important decisions about priorities in our personal and professional life.  Values define who we are.  Values mean success; they are a subconscious mind thought process.  Values are one of the most important hidden factors which control our ambitions, dreams, and drive in our daily life.  They help focus and align our life choices.  Our goals and life purpose are grounded in our personal and professional values.  When we honor those values that we have set, life is delightful.

As leaders, we are exposed to so many challenges.  Some of these challenges are making the right decisions and confronting members if they are drifting away from a specific task.  As a leader, people expect a lot from you; they look up to you, come to you for guidance, and share personal and work related matters with you.  I believe this is because you are like a role model to them.  That is why, as leaders, we are pressured to set such high standards when it comes to values.  When leaders adopt such essential values, it becomes easier for them to handle complex situations.

In almost all cases, leaders often like to develop a connection with their teammates to make a task more enjoyable.  They become friends; and in those cases, it would be very difficult for leaders to confront their teams’ about something that is not right.  That is why values are so important.  A leader with high moral standards would confront the issue while showing respect at the same time.  He or she would be honest about how they felt while showing their sense of humor to make the situation less stressful.  That way, a leader will grow in the eyes of his or her team.  They will be more approachable.

Honesty is one of the most important values someone could have.  It is something that I abide by every single day.  Honesty reflects who you are; as a person, leader, father, mother; the list can go on.  If you are not honest, life has no meaning to you.  Commitment is another one that I highly value.  A leader expect his or her team to work hard; he or she must lead by example and work just as hard.  A member of a team would look at a leader for motivation; if a leader is not contributing, why should a member show effort?  Positive attitude is also an important value.  A leader should develop personal connections with his or her team to keep the energy level up.  Anything from providing personal advice to grabbing coffee with someone and talking about random things will balance the mood between work and fun.

I registered for this class for multiple reasons.  Leadership is a very important skill to acquire; it is a tool that I have desired for many years to excel in my personal life and professional career.  Although it is not an easy skill to develop, I believe that with hard work, dedication, and practice, I can master any skill I put my mind into.

I registered for this class mainly because of my major.  I’m currently pursuing a degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering.  To give you an idea of what engineering is all about, let me briefly explain what engineering is and how it has to be infused with leadership to accomplish greatness.

Engineering, in general, is about solving problems.  I have always been fascinated by the art of mathematics and science, and how I can apply these demanding subjects to the real world to solve complex problems.  Engineering is not just about applied math and science; it also requires great communication skills and lead-taking roles.  So what if you can solve every problem life throws at you; so what if you can implement great ideas and pioneering innovation to the world; the question is:  Would you be able to explain your thoughts and ideas clearly to a mass of people?  Would you be able to stand up in front of a large crowd to present something that you are very passionate about?

“People ask the difference between a leader and a boss.  The leader leads, and the boss drives.”  This quote, by Theodore Roosevelt, has inspired me to become the person I am today; a person that is willing to put his fears aside and lead a team of brilliant individuals.  In addition, Steve Jobs once said, “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”  This exponential quote had made me realize that the desired profession and leadership are key to succeed.

Leadership is an abstract word that can be applied into so many things.  According to dictionary.com, leadership is a person who can guide or direct a group.  This means that this person must put his differences aside, respect every member of the team, and most importantly, be open-minded to ideas that are absurd and different.  This is how I view leadership; and it has proven to work.  Every major cellphone company thought the idea of building a phone without a QWERTY keyboard was ludicrous; not until Apple came out with their first generation iPhone that had no QWERTY keyboard.  You have to be willing to think outside the box once in a while.

Prior to this leadership course, I expect myself to become a better leader.  I want to have control over my fears, and be able to express my thoughts and ideas effectively to colleagues, and possibly, professional individuals.  I want to improve on how to handle certain situations, or maybe even people, the right way without insulting or disrespecting anyone’s beliefs and values.  I want to become a better role model for my teammates and family so they can have someone to be inspired by.