Leadership Aptitude

Leadership is an art, not an exact science. While there are many beliefs and studies about what constitutes good leadership, each individual still has to develop his own personal philosophy of leadership. It is only when you have defined your leadership style and approach, can this approach be applied through both a formal leadership position in an organization, or through serving as a member of a group. Finally, just like any other skill, leadership takes practice to refine and advance your leadership aptitude.

The best way to formulate and refine your own leadership style is through a four step process:

• Evaluate
• Discover
• Develop
• Practice

The activities within this Area of Mastery are designed so that you can take full advantage of this process. Although this is by no means where the investigation into your own leadership style should finish, it will provide you with a guideline for future development and give you an introduction to your leadership potential.

To achieve mastery over this area, complete the following four activities. Below each activity you are provided with sample options that you may utilize to fulfill the activity. Remember, these are only sample options, you may choose to come up with your own options that may better suit you or your chapter's needs. Follow up your accomplishments in your Learning Journal. Finally, once you have completed all activities within this Area of Mastery, finish the area by answering the concluding Critical Reflection questions within your Learning Journal.

Evaluate and understand your personal leadership style.

• Take the Keirsey-Bates Temperament Sorter on the World Wide Web. This is a personal leadership work style assessment that can be taken and scored online from almost any Web browser. Record your score and the information you received from it. Include with this record your "temperament" and what it means.
• Take the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, the DISC, the BEST, or another leadership/work style assessment. The student activities or counseling centers on your campus may offer the opportunity to take any of these instruments, or you might be able to take one of them by participating in a leadership workshop or class being offered on campus. Record the result of this assessment and what it says about you.
• Interview 3-4 individuals you consider to be successful leaders in an effort to compare their philosophies on leadership with your own. In these interviews ask about what they believe the actions that good leaders take, and how they personally manage the challenges of being a leader.

Discover and learn about leadership theory, as well as, the leadership philosophies of others.

• Read a book on leadership. Possible books include: Stewardship by Pete Block, Servant Leadership by Robert Greenleaf, Leaders by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus, Visionary Leadership by Burt Nanus, or The Leadership Challenge by James Kouzes and Barry Posner. Then write an evaluation of the book. Include a summary of what you found interesting about the information.
• Read and react to various quotes about leadership. Some can be found in the Leadership Quotes Bank. Indicate your agreement or disagreement with each statement. Take some time alone to record and reflect on your feelings about the statements.
• Attend a campus, community, or Delta Chi leadership workshop or program in which you talk about leadership styles and philosophies. You may even choose to organize a chapter program in which 3-5 leaders from your alumni ranks, the campus and the community come and discuss their personal philosophies of leadership. Record what you did and learned in the workshop.

Develop a personal philosophy of leadership.

• Using the I Believe... worksheet, note in detail the beliefs you hold about effective leadership. Share this philosophy with other people and ask for their reactions. Revise your statements as desired after receiving their feedback. Keep track of your conversations and revisions.
• Organize and participate in a leadership retreat for the chapter or attend and participate in a Delta Chi regional or international leadership conference, campus leadership conference, or a campus leadership class. The Delta Chi Headquarters and your campus student activities office can provide you with resources for designing retreats if you select that option. Record the details of this experience.
• Using a legal pad, sketch out some of your own ideas on leadership. Drawing upon different resources, try to put together a statement on what qualities of leadership you have and how you can use these qualities as a leader.

Practice your leadership skills, and use them as a catalyst for change.

• Assume a leadership position in a campus or community organization, then fulfill the responsibilities of the position as described in the job description and as the situation warrants. Write down your job description and how you fulfilled the responsibilities of the position.
• Assume a leadership position within the chapter (officer, committee head, or project chairman), then fulfill the responsibilities of the position as described in the job description and as the chapter's situation warrants. Write down your job description and how you fulfilled the responsibilities of the position.
• Identify a change or effort that would have a meaningful, positive impact on your chapter. Regardless of your role in the chapter, take the appropriate steps necessary to introduce, implement, and complete the change or effort. in the Learning Journal, define this change or effort and the steps you took.
• Identify a change or effort that would have a meaningful, positive impact on campus or within an organization which you are a member. Regardless of your role in the organization, take the appropriate steps necessary to introduce, implement, and complete the change or effort. In you Learning Journal, define this change or effort and the steps you took.