A641.9.3.RB - Becoming A Resonant Leader

In this reflection blog, I am supposed to write a letter to myself about starting to turn my desires from awareness into action. In the letter, I will be stating my personal vision and list three learning goals, three milestones for each goal, actions steps for each milestone. Here is my letter to myself, the way I would like to be spoken to.

Hello Terrance, you are still working toward your goals. Don’t give up you are close to one, finishing your pursuit of a Master’s degree In Leadership Development through Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Remember the reason you are pursuing this advanced degree. This is one of your personal first milestone to reach. Once that is reached you then can look to move up into leadership roles in the workplace. Throughout this journey, you need to soak in everything you possibly can. Each of your experiences are what guides you and molds you into the man you will be in the future. If you do not learn and develop over this time you will simply remain in the same position as you are now. This would be a great disservice to you and those around you. However, none of this could be done without having the right people around you.

As you continue your life long journey, I would like to provide you some advice to help you along the way. Practicing and incorporating the Intentional Change Theory (ICT). (McKee, Boyatzis, & Johnston, 2008) This is ideal for someone like yourself, this will provide a structure and foundation to help keep you on track. ICT can help you reach your specific goals by breaking your large goals in to smaller ones. In a personal vision statement, you wrote, one of the main themes you listed was about how you wanted to serve as a leader, live a balanced life, and to help people within and outside of your organization.

One thing that was reinforced throughout this course is how important it is to surround yourself with resonant individuals and relationships. This course has helped me to realize which relationships I need to help foster and which ones I need to let go off because of the dissonance that is being created. The exercises in our Becoming a resonant leader workbook allowed me to create a round table of individuals I see as people who would help reinforce my vision and ensure I stay on the right path. I am fortunate to have a family who helps to keep me level headed and ensures that I always stay grounded. I feel both my parents and sisters are relationships that will positively affect me. While I think the individuals, I have in my close inner circle will help me, I feel I need to expand my circle of friends. I could look to expand this to my coworkers in the workplace or other individuals I meet along the way. This will allow me to become better-rounded.

Overcome your dissonance. You stated that you have found yourself becoming more dissonant over the last few months. Changes coming in your life may help you with this goal, by removing yourself from the environment you are currently in. One important step for you to day is to find a mentor. You should also work on engaging in a cycle of renewal and finally, find something you enjoy doing, such as playing golf more.

Improve emotional intelligence, by focusing and learning to use your ability to reduce negative emotions, your ability to stay cool and manage stress, 

ability to be assertive and express difficult emotions when necessary, ability to stay proactive, not reactive in the face of a difficult person, ability to bounce back from adversity, and your ability to express intimate emotions in close personal relationships.

Finally, and possibly your greatest challenge is overcoming your own dissonance. Your current move will possibly go a long way to helping you by removing you from the environment that has caused you so much stress, driving much of your current dissonance. Joining a mentoring program, where you can find someone to help you, giving you an ear to vent to, and guiding you through this process.  In addition, making sure you complete the ICT process to change your current frame of mind is critical to your success. Finding something you like to do will be a big help. You like to play golf, though you’re not the best golfer. It is a great physical activity and because you must focus on the game, it can help steer you away from the thoughts and pressures that lead to dissonance.

Reference

McKee, A., Boyatzis, R., & Johnston, F. (2008). Becoming A Resonant Leader. Boston: Harvard Business Review.