Module 1 Two-Way Street

Reflect on the following questions in a well-written post on your Reflection Blog. Do not simply list and answer the prompts. Instead, write your blog, incorporating your thoughts into your reflection. Make certain to incorporate your own experiences into your reflection.

Northouse indicated that leadership is a process and leaders affect and are affected by followers. Northouse stated that leadership involves influence. Think about a leader you have worked for, whom you have influenced. In what ways did you influence the leader? How did the relationship develop? What was one important way in which you were impacted by your relationship with that leader?

Write your blog using the guidance on completing this assignment and using Canvas ePortfolio on the Reflection Blog Assignments page. Then, submit the link/URL to your blog.  

Two-Way Street

Think about a leader you have worked for, whom you have influenced. In what ways did you influence the leader? How did the relationship develop? What was one important way in which you were impacted by your relationship with that leader?

Brand new to the U.S. Air Force, I was rough around the edges. I was underdeveloped and embarrassed to call myself a leader. Bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, I was still eager to make an impact, despite my limited experiences as a fresh twenty-two year old. At my first assignment, I was assigned to a position in charge of over thirty people, most of them ages 45+. Several of these individuals were seasoned senior enlisted members who have seen a thing or two. I often wondered - why are these old guys looking for me to make decisions and tell them what to do? Aren't they the ones with experience?

It was no matter, I still had my position and authority, but I did not know how to use it effectively. My first working year was under a government civilian who had more work experience years than I had even spent on Earth (over 38 years!). He pretty much ignored me and went about his daily work. I vividly remember the first time meeting him, Mr. DeBerry...I knocked on his door and the first words out of his mouth were, "I don't like lieutenants, I like captains." He eventually allowed me inside to sit down. I then asked him what his expectations were of me and his reply was one word - "learn." Although I was annoyed at the time, I understand that he knew that I was young, dumb, and impressionable. He did have my best interest at heart, but I am not so sure it was the most effective way of influencing me.

Reflecting back on my years at my first job, I realize that I was very immature. The interesting part about this was that I did not know it at the time. It took others' influence on me to come to this epiphany. Eventually, Mr. DeBerry retired, and I actually planned and orchestrated his retirement ceremony. We still keep in touch here and there. Regardless, it was his replacement, Lieutenant Colonel Murray, who had such a profound impact on me and vice versa.

See, Lieutenant Colonel Murray had been in the U.S. Air Force for over twenty years at this point as he was prior-enlisted before commissioning as an officer. To me, and to him, his level of maturity and emotional intelligence were so elite that they were nearly infallible. However, a few times I recall his body language being quite negative when situations did not go his way or he received some bad news; this included eye-rolling, shrugging, and sighing in disgust. We would butt heads on all kinds of topics, and even I was unnerved by this behavior which led to even my own displays of irrational behavior. Eventually, I confronted him about his behavior - it turns out that he was completely unaware, just totally oblivious, that he was doing that. He claimed that he did not intend to ridicule anyone with those actions and apologized for the negative influences he imposed upon me. He thanked me for bringing it to his attention, and from this point forward we began a fresh new journey to a deep relationship.

Lieutenant Colonel Murray gained a lot of respect for me that day because it is quite uncomfortable to call one's boss out on something. He said that with me being a straight shooter, I had his back which helped him become more self-aware, and ultimately, a more effective leader to others in the unit. Moreover, Lieutenant Colonel Murray impacted me in more ways than one. He encouraged me to be more confident when speaking, more organized when leading others, and more energetic when at work. He respectfully pointed out my weaknesses and helped me strengthen them. I owe a lot of my initial leadership-style roots to him for lighting the pathway and guiding me to success. While we did not really get along at first, this leader and I formed a mutually-beneficial relationship with each other where we both pinpointed each others weaknesses and turned them into strengths.

From this experience, I have realized that leadership is a two-way street. Followers are not the only people who grow in this type of relationship, leaders do, too. In the end, leaders know they are good leaders when they receive positive 360-degree feedback. They hear from the followers' mouths that they have learned and grown so much with the help of the leader. More often than not, followers want tough love - they want an engaged leader who cares about their followers' development. Nebenzahl (2019) writes, "employees are engaged by leaders who inspire confidence in the future; managers who respect and appreciate their employees." A true leader can influence and inspire others. In turn, the growth of the followers and the respect they gain for the leader, all reciprocate that influence ten-fold. See this on display in Chadwick Boseman's speech thanking a leader in his life, Denzel Washington. Their relationship is a great example of how leadership is a two-way street.

From the two-way streets,

Chad

References: 

Boseman, C. (2019, June 21). Chadwick Boseman Tribute to Denzel Washington | AFI 2019 | TNT [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/LUoKRScpaVs

Nebenzahl, D. (2008, November 1). Confidence in business leadership is a two-way street. The Vancouver Sun. http://ezproxy.libproxy.db.erau.edu/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/newspapers/confidence-business-leadership-is-two-way-street/docview/243822667/se-2?accountid=27203