Flashback to freshman year, there I was sitting alongside people who would become my closest friends and leaders I look up to. Jimmie, Becca and Dr. Matthews posed the question, “What is leadership?” This question has been a recurring theme throughout my time at VCU. As I’ve moved through the VCU LEAD and mass communication curriculums, I’ve noticed that my idea of leadership has grown and transformed with me.
In the Spring 2019 semester, I wrote “Leadership is the ability to empower and guide followers in the context of a situation or cause as a way to provide an example of how different situations may be handled.” This definition holds true, still, but my definition of leadership has transformed. I’ve spent this semester at an internship that focuses on leadership, specifically to the event and communications industry.
Today, my definition of leadership is focused more on my field of study, but the wonderful thing about my field is that it is so flexible and can be used in life as well. “Leadership is the ability to empower and guide others, solve problems, set an example and be able to see the end goal in view with preparation to create change.”
One of my frames of leadership is the human resources frame. I wake up thinking “What can I do to make someone’s life easier?” My ultimate goal in life is to be kind and resourceful to others, so I want that to be exhibited through my leadership. I’ve also changed the definition from including “followers” because I see it as a moment to transfer information between people indirectly in order to motivate others to become their own leaders. The best leaders, I’ve learned, are those who empower leadership in others.
Leadership unfolds bit by bit each day and I believe that is what makes me remove the idea of a “leader” and “follower” into something that is more collaborative.
wessam hazaymeh 