Reflection on Four Leadership Competencies

Communication

My communication has greatly improved over the past couple of months. The ILC workshops all improved my communication with my peers. From sharing our past to creating skits to perform. One leadership lab that greatly helped me grow this competency was the strength-based leadership lab. During one of the activities of this lab, we all had to communicate our strengths to create a poster on a topic that needs improvement at UIUC. We worked well and created a poster that we were proud of. Another big help was talking more with members of RSO’s that I am in, specifically the Illinois Space Society. Simply chatting with them naturally improves my communication. Developing this competency has been a thrilling experience.

Relationship Management

Relationship management has been one of my biggest weaknesses as an individual and a leader. The activities that greatly helped me with this competency were the ILC workshops, mainly the Addressing Conflict in Teams one. This workshop taught me that conflicts are natural and that each conflict may have its own unique way of being solved. By improving how well I manage conflicts, I then foster better relationships and do better at keeping the relationships I already have. Another activity was the Leading with Integrity lab. This lab showed me my morals and what defines me as a person. By sticking with my values, I will be better at showing people who I am. This result will allow others to communicate better with me and foster a better relationship.

Empathy

A leader needs to understand their members and teammates to be an effective leader. Empathy is a great skill to understand and master. My development in this competency has been good. The biggest help was from the ILC workshop Leading with Empathy and Compassion. This workshop taught me how to better understand individuals and enlightened me on some things that I need to improve on, such as providing encouraging statements and asking open-ended questions. Another help to this competency was watching Brene Browns TED-Ed talk. This talk showed me embrace my vulnerabilities to better communicate and empathize with others on their vulnerabilities.

Cultural Competency

A good leader can understand different people's opinions and beliefs. So, I sought to improve my cultural competency. The biggest help to this skill was the Navigating Multicultural Organizations workshop. I talked to different people from different cultures and did activities with them. This workshop taught me how to understand different cultures and ideas from my own. My cultural competency was also improved by simply talking to diverse groups of people. Getting an idea of all these different cultures at UIUC helps me grow as a leader since I will be able to cooperate with others with different backgrounds than mine.

Reflection On Overall Leadership Certificate Experience

My experience in the Leadership Certificate Program was both engaging and transformative. The leadership workshops and labs were enjoyable and interactive, making it easy to stay motivated and involved. I especially appreciated the hands-on nature of the sessions, which allowed me to practice leadership concepts rather than just learn about them. Additionally, the ENG 177 course was a meaningful experience because it encouraged deep self-reflection. Through assignments and discussions, I learned more about my strengths, weaknesses, values, and how they shape my leadership style.

One of the main challenges I overcame during this program was learning to speak up for myself and others. At the beginning of my journey, I often hesitated to share my thoughts or assert my ideas in group settings. Through workshops, labs, and team experiences, I gradually became more comfortable voicing my opinions and advocating for fairness and respect within teams. Another important challenge involved my growth in cultural understanding. While I was always tolerant of people from different backgrounds, this program helped me move beyond tolerance toward appreciation. I learned to value diverse cultures, perspectives, and experiences as strengths rather than differences to simply accept.

One of the most surprising experiences was the Navigating Multicultural Organizations workshop. I was surprised to learn that individuals who grew up near my hometown sometimes held values very different from mine, while people from entirely different countries shared similar ideals. This experience challenged my assumptions and showed me that culture and values are far more complex than geographic proximity.

Through this program, I have grown significantly as a leader. I am now more confident in standing up for others, making thoughtful, independent decisions, guiding groups through tasks, and addressing challenges within a team. I better understand how to manage conflict, communicate effectively, and lead with empathy and integrity.

My definition of leadership has also evolved. Initially, I viewed leadership as listening, communicating clearly, being respectful, and acting confidently. While these values remain central, I now believe leadership also requires the ability to address and resolve conflict and to understand and appreciate cultural differences. Effective leaders must foster inclusive environments where problems are addressed openly and respectfully.

An item that represents my Leadership Certificate experience is a deck of cards. Each card, from the lowest value to the highest, represents a stage of growth. With each accession of the card, I gained new skills, insights, and confidence. By the end of the program, I feel more prepared, capable, and confident in my leadership journey.