The All Powerful D

I consider myself to be a pretty strong leader. There is an innate sense in me to take action, to take charge, to organize, to better myself, to inspire others, to listen, to make change - to lead. I've been at it for more than a few years now whether it be during my undergrad years, at work or now attending NYU for my Masters. The beauty is that I've already noticed how much I've grown and evolved in my habits, my style and how I harness the power within me, to become a better leader.

In my new class, the C-Suite Perspective, we're learning about what makes a leader, how does the C-Suite get to where they are, how do they sustain the position, and how have they evolved from their humble beginnings in order to lead an entire organization. First up is power and how the appropriate use of it gets the job done. There are quite a few defined types of power such as positional, referred, expert, and ideological power. I hold the belief that a great leader, one that really can inspire an organization, a class group, or co-workers to achieve goals and visions, holds a combination of these powers.

For myself, I see the following:

1. Expert Power - defined as coming from wisdom or knowledge. Granted I'm only 25 years old and have only been in the industry for about 4 years now, I consider myself to have a strong foundation in what I currently do. Colleagues come to me because they respect my skills as a planner, buyer, and organizer. They know that I can help lead them in the right direction. I'm also pursuing a deeper knowledge in a field that I find fascinating and that fact alone shows those around me that I have a passion for this.
2. Personal Power - I have a very strong sense of self and a positive aura that I try to exude to others. I'm the one smiling in class and in meetings, listening attentively, taking notes, and contributing because I genuinely have an interest.  I pride myself in knowing how to read the room - if the air is full of tension, a well placed joke can magically make it dissipate. Everyone's having a good time? It's because I'm there helping involve everyone in the conversation. 
3. Co-Powering - the idea of working to support others' personal power. Although my experience in the field is only just starting to blossom, I make a conscious effort to support those around me whether they are an assistant/intern or even my manager or boss. I try to see the best in people to help them achieve their goals. I think, regardless of the position I am trying to help, it's not only about listening and giving the outsider POV but also acting as an example. 

You might say - "Wow D, way to be full of yourself." I would reply that I just know myself really well and can't wait to add more to the list with the more experience I get. 

There's a meme I found on Computing Education Blog. It does a pretty good job of showcasing how I see the difference between a boss and a leader:

And with that, I challenge you to think about what makes you all powerful - I'm already well on my way!

-D