Now that we’re at the end of our challenge, we will go over some suggestions for practice. But first, I want to take a moment to tie the loop and talk about Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (EIL). This leadership development model combines two bodies of literature: emotional intelligence and leadership. 

At the most basic levels: Emotional intelligenceis about recognizing and regulating emotions in ourselves and others.Leadershipis about influencing others to engage in a purpose or cause. EIL consists of focusing on self, others, and context— using these facets helped create the Online Leadership Challenge topics; self-awareness & reflection, social identities, leader identity, values, groups & teams, partnerships, and social change. The following suggestions for practice will touch on all the topics we went over together throughout the challenge: 

For Challenge Day 7 we are going to focus on what happens when we combine the values, skills, and efforts that we all hold. This challenge made it a point to highlight an inclusive approach to leadership, rather than solely a positional one. The reason being to bust common misconceptions as it relates to leadership, while enriching the development of leadership qualities in all aspects that it appears— especially within your collegiate journey. 

As we previously touched on earlier in the challenge, leadership work is done within groups of people with a common goal and a shared vision. And the process of leadership is typically in response to the needs of our community. Social responsibility and positive change for the betterment of others, the community, and society is at the core of the social change concept and essential when becoming a change agent in your community.

According to the Social Change Model of Leadership Development: 

• Leadership is concerned with effecting change on behalf of others and society

• Leadership is collaborative

• Leadership is a process rather than a position

• Leadership is values-based

• All students (not just those in formal positions) are potential leaders

• Community service is a powerful vehicle for developing leadership skills

Day 7 Challenge Questions:

What is your reaction to these ideas? How does this differ from the ways leaders and those learning how to become better leaders (the process of leadership learning) are portrayed on the news? 

BONUS Question:

In what other ways does (or can) this model show up in the current state our society is facing? What are your roles and responsibilities in the UMBC community as it relates to the Social Change Model?

Today we focus on building and maintaining groups and teams. “Teamwork makes the dream work!” is a saying you’re probably familiar with. Leadership exists through powerful relationships; no one can be a leader alone. Often the greatest leaders have reliable teammates who can see their true selves and can challenge the leader’s thinking for the betterment of the cause or group efforts. A key characteristic in building teams lies within shared purpose and committing to shared goals.

It is also important to note that one should strive to make connections and build relationships in an authentic manner. Connections and relationships should be forged with good intentions, not through manipulation or deceit. One of the best ways to nurture partnerships and teams is to listen and be present. Being a great leader requires creating a shared vision and developing rapport with your teammates, in order to ensure the group’s success. Take a moment to reflect on the list and quote below.

Five Commitments for an Effective Team:

1. Opening up and building trust within the team

2. Engaging in respectful discourse and conflict

3. Committing to the team’s purpose

4. Holding oneself and others accountable for their performance

5. Focusing on collective results

“All change, even very large and powerful change, begins when a few people start talking with one another.” Margaret Wheatley

Day 6 Challenge Questions:

What groups/teams are you a part of and how does each of these groups/teams impact your life? 

BONUS Question:

Do you fall into a specific role or take on similar responsibilities within these groups?

For Challenge Day 4, we are going to focus on values. You may be wondering why values are important, or how do they connect back to leadership? The values that we each hold are important because they help us grow, develop, and create the future we want to experience. The decisions that are made on an individual and group level, are actually a reflection of our values and beliefs, and they are typically always directed towards a specific purpose or need. Think of values as a compass, that weighs in on inner judgments or beliefs, which then helps determine decisions and behaviors while navigating the life or reality an individual or group wishes to live. 

Let’s take a moment to reflect on your own personal values. Individual values reflect how you show up in your life, your specific needs, the principles you live by and what you consider important for your self-interest. Below is a sample list of values, take a minute or so to go over each one.

• Achievement
• Adventure
• Connectedness 
• Courage
• Creativity
• Dependability
• Determination
• Empathy
• Empowerment
• Family
• Friendship
• Fun
• Happiness
• Health
• Honesty
• Independence
• Individuality
• Integrity
• Intelligence
• Justice
• Kindness
• Learning
• Love
• Peace
• Perfection
• Relationships
• Religion
• Security
• Simplicity
• Sincerity
• Spirituality
• Spontaneity
• Success
• Understanding
• Wealth

After reviewing the terms above, post your top 5 values along with your response to the following questions.

Day 4 Challenge Questions:

What are your UMBC goals? 

And how are these goals related to your values determined on your top 5?

BONUS Question: 

Looking at the groups to which you belong (or are looking to join), how do the groups’ purpose/vision align with your values and interests?

For Challenge Day 3, we will focus on leader identity. Describing leader identity is integral to how we behave, show up and it can be the driving force for motivating development. Your self-concept influences your engagement in the activity of leadership. Therefore, when discovering yourself and practicing self-awareness, you are in turn discovering the kind of leader you want to be. 

Leader identity is promoted through rituals, celebrations, relationships, mentoring, self-assessment, new experiences and reflections. Although not required when engaging in the activity of leadership, leader identity is a building block that creates meaning and organizes new leadership knowledge (Guthrie et al., 2016). With that being said, there are a myriad of different kinds of leadership styles out there that could be part of your leader identity. Below are some leadership styles for you to look up and consider:   

• Autocratic leadership
• Bureaucratic leadership
• Servant leadership
• Transactional leadership
• Transformational leadership

Day 3 Challenge Questions:

What type of leadership style do you identify with? How does this leader identity show up on your day to day?

BONUS Question:

In what ways do you believe this can connect back to your UMBC experience?

To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 3 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.

For Challenge Guidelines, click "Download Image" below.

Today’s challenge is all about YOU! Mainly, we’ll be focusing on the identities that make up who you are as an individual, leader, and person in the world. Identity is an ever evolving self-portrait; the ongoing take, retake and update of “who am I”. It changes overtime, and something important to note about identities is that some may be visible and some are not. Identity is also known to be a socially constructed concept grounded in: historical, political, cultural norms, and lived experiences. Ultimately, our identities result from our own navigation and meaning making of self, context, and relationships. Take a moment, and simply think about all the pieces that make up the complex being of you. Using a physical sheet of paper or a virtual blank document, write or type the following: Age, Sex, Gender Expression, Ethnicity, Race, Physical/Emotional/Cognitive Capability, Socio-Economic Class, Sexual Orientation, Religion/Spirituality, Geographical Origin 

Reflect on the identities and descriptors mentioned above. On your personal paper or document, note the following: 

• Which are most central to how you define yourself? Mark them with a star *  
• Which are central to how others define you? Mark them with an arrow ->
• Which brings you the most joy? Or proud of? Mark them with a smiley face :) 
• Which would you like to understand further? Mark them with a question mark (?) 

Challenge Day 2 Questions:  As you look at your words and markings-- what stands out to you?  Which of these identities empower your voice as a leader?

To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 2 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.

For Challenge Guidelines, click "Download Image" below.

To kick-off the Online Leadership Challenge we will focus on leadership from the perspective of individual growth. 

If you were to stop for a minute and reflect on your life until this point you would probably note moments of great achievement, overcoming obstacles, as well as lessons being learned. I’m willing to bet that you’ve even grown and developed in many ways in the last two years alone! At UMBC we believe leadership is a process of knowing yourself, what you contribute, and how you can best work with others to make a change in your community. The leadership learning process is about inner work and self-development just as much as it is about learning how to work with others. A pivotal tool for continual and ongoing self-development is: self-awareness and reflection. Far too often we are busy or dwell on situations rather than seek to learn from them. When you take the time to reflect on your actions, behaviors, thoughts and feelings you give yourself the opportunity to enhance your self-understanding and further propel your own individual growth.

These opportunities for reflection are occasions to learn more about ourselves, enhancing our self-understanding-- however, like stated before, we often miss these moments. Reflection can be an interactive process. In all forms, it can become a habit and a pivotal tool for continual and ongoing development. When you capitalize on these opportunities for reflection, you replenish your own resources. By reflecting on what has happened, you take time to think through your actions, think about how your actions may have affected others (even in your team), see links or connections that you may have not realized, or identify ways in which you could have shown up differently. For leaders to be effective, it is critical they must know themselves.

“Leadership development is self development.” - Barry Posner

Day 1 Challenge Questions:
What is your reaction to these ideas? What does self-awareness mean to you?

BONUS QUESTION:

What are some ways you practice self-reflection?

Now that we’re at the end of our challenge, we will go over some suggestions for practice. But first, I want to take a moment to tie the loop and talk about Emotionally Intelligent Leadership (EIL). This leadership development model combines two bodies of literature: emotional intelligence and leadership. At the most basic levels: Emotional intelligence is about recognizing and regulating emotions in ourselves and others. Leadership is about influencing others to engage in a purpose or cause.

EIL consists of focusing on self, others, and context— using these facets helped create the Online Leadership Challenge topics; self-development, feedback, identity, values, followership, partnerships and teams, and creating change. The following suggestions for practice will touch on all the topics we went over together throughout the challenge: 

1. Get to know YOU: Be known as someone who seeks out, and is open to, feedback. Exist in a continuous state of reflection.

2. Seek out challenge and support:Associate with people who challenge and support you. Seek out environments that will help you grow and that help you become your best self.

3. Nurture your relationships: Once you create a connection, you must continue to nurture the relationship so that it strengthens. The best way to do this is by listening and being present.

4. Communication is key: Consider the ways you communicate within a group or team. Do you voice your ideas? Do you build on or add to others? Do you take time to listen? Are you comfortable with silence?

5. Know that we all have a part in the leadership process:Active group members are committed to the organization and its purpose. Not only do they do what is expected of them, but are proactive and willing to fill gaps. 

6. You have the capacity to be an agent of change: It requires embracing creative problem solving, risk taking and courage. Facilitating change requires all that you do, think, feel and believe.

Day 8 Challenge Questions:

• Reflecting back on the challenge, what are three things you learned about yourself or your ability to work with others to make change at UMBC?

Reminder: The deadline to submit all answers is 11:59pm Friday, August 14th! The winner of the challenge will be announced on Monday, August 17th!

Interested in continuing your leadership learning process with Campus Life and being added to our mailing-list to receive leadership development updates and opportunities? Contact Coordinator for Leadership, Beatriz Gutierrez-Malagon at bgutierrez@umbc.edu

To access the Challenge Guidelines click on the "Download Image" button below. To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 8 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.