ELPS 419: Leadership in Higher Education

"Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself."

-Rumi

Reflective Leadership

          In our ELPS 419 Leadership in Higher Education course, Dr. Pierre covered the history of theories and approaches to leadership that have been researched and written about in the US. higher education system. These theories and approaches have a history of being overly generalized applied to populations of people that they do not reflect. In my Leadership Philosophy paper, I explore the ways that leadership has presented in my experiences to reflect my understanding of them. However, I also discuss that I will need to have an open mind and ability to listen to others perspectives about leadership because there are such vast differences in opinions on what ‘good, true, leadership’ really entails. A commitment to learning about and validating others experiences with leadership will expand my ability to teach about and incorporate new leadership ideas into my practice. 

Having critical discussions about leadership could be challenging for me if my students or co-workers have vastly different perspectives. I have been doing my best to identify ways that I can become a better and stronger listener-such as stopping myself from coming up with a response as someone is starting to speak, asking questions to understand a perspective but trying to avoid using accusatory or inflammatory words, and seeking to understand the ways that people define the somewhat ambiguous terms we use when discussing leadership, such as ‘authentic.’. All of this sounds nice in theory, but in practice I will have to be aware that some words I use could be accusatory or inflammatory to some and not others. I tend to be someone that also likes to get it out if something feels uncomfortable, but that is something that some students may not like or want to do when they are sharing how they feel about a leadership style or theory. Showing students that I am vulnerable, sharing my challenging experiences and being able to apologize and admit my mistakes has helped me establish trust with others in the past. I plan to try my best to do this with my students and co-workers and believe that storytelling can be one tool that will assist in building rapport.

          Considering leadership conversations in an international study abroad context, means conversations will look different and we need to consider how that will impact where and when we have certain conversations. I wish we had more discussions about the Vietnamese ‘socialist democratic’ economy prior to arriving in country, mainly because I was uncomfortable having those conversations in that location. I would have preferred to have them where we wouldn’t possibly offend someone local. It is imperative to understand leadership structures to understand how systems work, and it would have provided a deeper knowledge for our cohort if we had more discussions about government and the role the political environment plays in shaping higher education prior to our trip. Unpacking the colonial history and capitalistic theories that inform many of the leadership theories and philosophies we hold in the United States will allow me to make room for different ways of approaching leadership and leadership philosophy. 

Communication Skills

         “My philosophy on leadership would be that there is no one version of leadership that will fit all. Certain contexts will require specific styles of leadership, whether they are more authoritarian or democratic. There are a variety of leadership styles. The ambiguity of the definition and practices of leadership can be a strength when considering how to dismantle the power structures that influence an individual’s relationship with leadership.” 

          This statement reflects my ability and passion for continuing to learn about the ways people know and experience leadership. It also reflects my awareness that students varied experiences, abilities, and access will have provided them with different experiences with leadership. Some will have had mostly positive experiences and have been encouraged to be leaders, others will feel uncomfortable with the idea of being considered a leader. When communicating with students, I will need to reflect on how these varied experiences will require me to listen and reflect on how I can empower students to become socially aware leaders. I think it will be extremely challenging to reach some students considering the current debates about things like Critical Race Theory, whether or not Trump lost the election (HE DID!), or there was an insurrection at the capital on January 6, 2021. My opinions about these things will mean I will feel internal conflict when confronted with those that do not believe in what I see as ‘facts.’ I plan to enact my best listening skills, but know that having a plan to deal with that conflict, such as de-escalating the conversation and returning to the topic at another time and following university protocols, will shift my focus to listening and making sure I am allowing students to share their experiences.