1. Practice 2
1.1. Dream of Becoming an Effective Leader
1.1.1. I want to be a voice on the forefront for pharmacy rights and provider status. I envision meetings with doctors and politicians explaining why this is necessary and valuable to patients and the entire healthcare field. To advocate for patient's rights, especially autonomy in choosing where they wish to fill prescriptions or which medicines to take.
1.1.2. I have to learn more about the politics surrounding provider status and preferred pharmacies and drugs on insurance plans. Is this something that can legally be pursued? What are the legalities surrounding change?
1.1.3. I will have to sacrifice taking the simple easy path. Most importantly sacrifice time committed to learning and acting.
1.1.4. I have to risk failure. What if I put in all this time and effort and nothing comes of it? What if I think I'm leading the change well and I make a decision, misstep, that costs others? I risk aversion from others who do not agree with my charge.
1.1.5. I will need mentors and established pharmacists currently fighting for the same cause to help in my dream. I will also need to connect now with my peers so they will trust me in the future. Fellow Colleagues in other fields, such as business, law, doctors, and nurses can help see other sides of conflict, and come up with a solution that pleases everyone.
1.1.6. I also need to look for opportunities now to learn about these topics and track changes that are happening now. Understand and learn business principles as well as pharmacy ones so I can propose a solution that helps everyone and to better understand others viewpoints regarding these topics.
2. Part 1: Consciousness of Self
2.1. Personal SWOT
2.1.1. Emotional Self-Perception
2.1.1.1. Strengths:I am able to describe and name my emotions.
2.1.1.2. Weaknesses: I struggle some with understanding exactly why I'm feeling a certain way at times.
2.1.1.3. Opportunities: Luckily, I am a girl and have a rather stressful life so there is a lot of opportunity to try and identify and understand emotions I may be feeling.
2.1.1.4. Threats: Feeling overwhelmed can get in the way of me taking the time to sit down and try to fully understand my emotions. It can sometimes just feel easier to let the meltdown happen rather than understand why it is happening.
2.1.2. Emotional Self-Control
2.1.2.1. Strengths: I think my acknowledgement and acceptance that I am not great in this aspect, but am willing to work to get better is a strength!
2.1.2.2. Weaknesses: I struggle with controlling my emotions at times. Especially when I am feeling sad. Sometimes the tears just start flowing and it can be hard to stop.
2.1.2.3. Opportunities: I have currently been trying to keep from having crying outbursts, especially in social situations.
2.1.2.4. Threats: Once again, just becoming overwhelmed will be the biggest threat to controlling my emotions.
2.1.3. Authenticity
2.1.3.1. Strengths: I think I am very transparent. This is likely due to being so outgoing. I hold honesty high and I don't get embarrassed easily, so it is easy to be authentic.
2.1.3.2. Weaknesses: My weakness comes from being too authentic and coming across in a negative way.
2.1.3.3. Opportunities: I want to continue being authentic, while displaying control in situations where it may be more appropriate to be more reserved.
2.1.3.4. Threats: When others mispercieve my authenticity, it makes me feel like it would be easier to simply tell them what they want to hear rather than being completely honest.
2.1.4. Healthy Self-Esteem
2.1.4.1. Strengths: I am very self-aware, so I am confident in the things that I know I excel in.
2.1.4.2. Weaknesses: Because of my self-awareness, I am also aware of the things I am not very good at, which can hurt my self-esteem.
2.1.4.3. Opportunities: Every day there are opportunities to step outside of my comfort zone and try new activities. Each new thing I try helps build self-esteem.
2.1.4.4. Threats: "Comparison is the thief of joy." It is hard to remain confident when constantly surrounded by high achievers like in the College of Pharmacy.
2.1.5. Flexibility
2.1.5.1. Strengths:I am really flexible. I am not very picky about details, so I can be flexible around others wants and needs.
2.1.5.2. Weaknesses: If I'm not careful being flexible with everyone can cause me stress. It can also make decision-making more difficult when you are so easy-going.
2.1.5.3. Opportunities: Within my, or any, organization there are daily opportunities to be flexible with the other members' needs.
2.1.5.4. Threats: If people take advantage of my easy-going attitude, that can be discouraging and threaten my future willingness to be flexible with them.
2.1.6. Optimism
2.1.6.1. Strengths: I like to think I am an optimist! I try to always be cheerful and have fun.
2.1.6.2. Weaknesses: I like to overanalyze most situations and plans for the future, so for every optimistic option, I can also see the not so great outcomes.
2.1.6.3. Opportunities: When planning for the future I can try and be more optimistic with Garrett, and not look so into what can go wrong, rather what is going right.
2.1.6.4. Threats: When I have a plan set in my mind of how something should go, and then it doesn't go that way, I can get caught up in the idea that it is just ruined rather than see the possible positive outcomes.
2.1.7. Initiative
2.1.7.1. Strengths: I am always ready and willing to be the first one up and ready to take action.
2.1.7.2. Weaknesses: Being so ready and willing to step up to the plate can make me impatient when waiting for others to be ready to do the same.
2.1.7.3. Opportunities: In class, work, and organizations there are always opportunities to step up and serve. Someone has to do it, and I am usually the one willing, regardless of what it is.
2.1.7.4. Threats: Sometimes stepping up first when maybe someone else would have been better, can make me feel discouraged from stepping up again.
2.1.8. Achievement
2.1.8.1. Strengths: I like to think I am constantly striving for excellence. I love to make others proud and to feel pride in myself when I accomplish big things.
2.1.8.2. Weaknesses: Sometimes I just want to take the easy road, which is not necessarily the high achieving road.
2.1.8.3. Opportunities: I should take more advantage of the opportunity to achieve higher grades in my classes.
2.1.8.4. Threats: Becoming really busy with school, organizations, and outside responsibilities can threaten my ability to perform to my best abilities in everything.
3. Practice 4
3.1. Discusion on a leader's responsibility for respecting and valuing everyone in the group versus liking everyone in the group.
3.1.1. A leader should respect everyone's ability to contribute to the group and listen to their opinions as such. Liking someone is an emotional response, respecting them is a mental one. A leader needs to ensure that the team is working as one effective unit. It is their responsibility to foster respectful relationships between members. The leader essentially models the expected relationship with all team members.
3.2. To become a better listener, I will:
3.2.1. Will put down the phone.
3.2.2. Look directly at the person speaking.
3.2.3. Ask questions.
3.3. Cooperation vs. Competitiveness in the group setting.
3.3.1. I believe a group should be in cooperation within itself, not competition. Competition can be helpful when competing against other groups, but never within your own group. A little healthy competition between two separate groups can be motivation for both as well as foster teamwork and build moral within each individual group. To build a cooperative environment everyone must understand that they are working towards one common goal and that they each play a vital role towards this success. I am naturally not competitive, so as a leader I can model that attitude, as well as, remind members of the group that competition is not our goal.
4. Practice 1
4.1. Five Most Important Values
4.1.1. Open-mindedness; accepting people where they are & helping them get to where they want to be. Be able to see all points of view in situations.
4.1.2. Success; To be in a position to guide others and make a difference. I want to be able to have a large family without worrying about how I will afford soccer or dance lessons.
4.1.3. Joy that comes from a job I feel I am impacting people through and raising lots of adopted babies
4.1.4. Compassion to see patients as people and help take care of their needs first and foremost.
4.1.5. Relationships; taking time and effort to foster good relationships with friends and family.
5. Practice 5
5.1. The Importance of Appreciation
5.1.1. Leaders take pride in the group's accomplishments and like to show appreciation publicly for contributions made. Acknowledging someone's accomplishment in front of the group fosters confidence along with collaboration. By rewarding members of the group, everyone sees that each person is a vital part in accomplishing the vision. I believe for a group to succeed they need to be shown appreciation for their time and their ability to complete tasks. Thanking them for insight in future endeavors and gratitude for being willing to step outside of their comfort zones to lead will create confident forward-minded team members.
5.2. When to Recognize Someone
5.2.1. Comes up with a good idea
5.2.2. Completes a task
5.2.3. Helps another classmate
5.2.4. Solves a problem
5.2.5. Spots a problem and shares it with the group
5.2.6. Takes on extra responsibility
5.2.7. Answers a question
5.2.8. Performs good research
5.2.9. Works quickly
5.2.10. Is friendly to other team members
5.2.11. Brings insight to a problem solving session
5.2.12. Offers to write/record things
5.2.13. Asks a good question
5.2.14. Encourages other members of the group
5.2.15. Follows directions well
5.3. How to recognize someone
5.3.1. Thank them privately
5.3.2. Thank-you card
5.3.3. Make a public announcement
5.3.4. Take them to ice cream
5.3.5. Recognize them at an awards ceremony
5.3.6. Give them extra points
5.3.7. Monetary thanks
5.3.8. Prime parking spot
5.3.9. Name or picture publicly displayed
5.3.10. Recognized on social media
5.3.11. Give them a day off
5.3.12. Let them choose lunch location
5.3.13. Name a venture after them
5.3.14. Pampering
5.3.15. Special clothing item
5.3.16. Pin for their badge/badge holder
5.3.17. Trophy
5.3.18. Free flight or 1st grade upgrade on next business trip
5.3.19. Promotion
5.3.20. Sign for office space
5.3.21. Giftcard
5.3.22. Bigger office space
5.3.23. Paid vacation
5.3.24. A gift.
6. Practice 3
6.1. Three skills or abilities that I want to develop to become a better leader.
6.1.1. Organization; determine hierarchies and organize my time and resources better.
6.1.2. Keep from getting overwhelmed by learning when to say "no" or when innovation is not necessarily appropriate
6.1.3. Learn to handle ignorance. This likely will come from efforts to become more patient and understanding.
6.2. Three lessons learned to put into play at my next opportunity to lead.
6.2.1. I will talk to groups face to face about important details.
6.2.2. I will get information earlier so I can make plans earlier.
6.2.3. I will be more detailed in my instructions and/or description of plan.
7. Part 2 : Consciousness of Others
7.1. Empathy
7.1.1. Sam Richards defines empathy as putting yourself in the shoes of someone else to feel how they feel.
7.1.2. It is hard to understand how others may feel when you think your way is right, but to be able to effectively lead others we must be able to understand or at least appreciate their perspectives and feelings. I for one could certainly empathize more with Garrett about struggles with school. It's tough to understand how something that comes so easy to you can be such a problem for someone else, but that doesn't mean that their struggle is any less relevant.
7.2. The "Why"
7.2.1. Simon Sinek explains the what, the how, and the why in his Ted Talk. The what being the physical outcome, literally "what you have". The how being how you got what you have, the emotions that drive you to do things a certain way. And the why is what you believe in, what inspires you to create your what and how you do it.
7.2.2. The why is key. People may buy a product, or join an initiative based on just the outside appearance of what it is, but people continue buying, or stick with a movement because of the how. And finally people become emotionally tied to something because of the why. When they believe in the same things as the creator of a product, or leader of a cause, they will too become committed to it. To evoke successful transformational change it is important to connect with followers here, at the why, so that they will be as committed to the change as you are.
7.3. Resistance
7.3.1. Resistance requires us to take a closer look at how the change we are trying to inspire, and potentially find flaws we didn't know existed. Each level of resistance can have a positive affect on change, for example level 1 resistance, "I don't get it." gives you the chance to clarify which in turn test your knowledge and challenges you to think of things you may have not previously thought of. Level 2 resistance, "I don't like it". This resistance gives you a golden opportunity to encourage the heart and gain respect and trust from colleagues you helped go from fear of to embracing the change. In level 3 "I don't like you." resistance, the positive is the that your ideas is potentially still well-received, you just may need to swallow your pride and allow someone else to present it. Level 3 resistance can sometimes be the hardest to confront because you as a leader must be aware of your shortcomings within relationships with others. I personally like to think I am always up for change, but I am often guilty of level 1 resistance because I like to know all of the details before making a final decision. Because of this, I always try and think of all of the questions people may have before presenting an idea for change so I am able to answer any and all questions that arise.
8. Part 3. Consciousness of Context
8.1. The Group
8.1.1. The elements
8.1.1.1. People Say; "Go Dawgs!" "Once a Bulldog, Always a Bulldog.
8.1.1.2. People read about the college of pharmacy's accomplishments, organizational accomplishments, the building of new dorms.
8.1.1.3. Everyone admires 4th year pharmacy students, because they have accomplished what seems to many like the impossible.
8.1.1.3.1. I feel like students in the University as a whole look up to pharmacy students as leaders.
8.1.1.4. Students within the college of pharmacy are expected to achieve under high levels of stress while maintaining high levels of involvement.
8.1.1.5. Employees are expected to put students first, remain up to date on all the latest drugs and developments.
8.1.1.5.1. Even though the standards are high, employees and students typically perform as expected.