A Self-Reflection

I have a Bachelor of Law degree from Columbia University for a third year. When I was in my second year I was the class leader and am the department's coordinator now. The position requires me to ensure that the requirements of all students in law are met and that communication with the school administrators is effective. I'm a sibling besides being a student. I've got two younger siblings that I think look to me. Therefore, both at home and in school, I show leadership qualities.

Leadership Skills

I believe that values are some of the essential leadership skills that any person can possess and display. If an individual cannot lead himself or herself, then they do not have any ability of a leader. Values define the character of a person as they are the principles and standards that one judges as important in life. The ability of an individual to make these principles clear is what defines them as leaders. Other people can look up to them and emulate some character traits from them.
Effective stress management is also another critical leadership quality that I uphold. Life in its different capacities both as a student and a sibling brings some stressful conditions along the way. However, I believe that it is my position as a leader to maintain sanity in and around me during such times. Statistics taken by the American Psychological Association estimates that stress problems at the workplace cost more than $500 billion of the economy of the US (Whetten and Cameron 136). The figures also indicate that more than half of all adults suffer serious health issues due to stress and this number has been increasing as shown by studies conducted in 1985 (Whetten and Cameron 135). The number is sure to keep increasing over time. As such, I believe that proper stress management is an essential trait that one should develop from a young age so that it is also demonstrated in the place of work in future.
The ability to gain power and influence is also a very crucial leadership skill (Whetten and Cameron 279) as a student and a sibling. I believe that my younger brothers look up to me as a role model and besides inspiring them through my actions, I feel that it is important to have the ability to influence their decisions. I also feel that is vital to have some power over them as it will help them listen to me and consider me their elder brother. In the university, I need to display the ability of authority so that other students respect and listen to me. I also feel the need to be able to influence their decisions so that I make them believe in my leadership style. The ability to have power and control is essential as it will help me in my future parenting and management roles.

Exercising the Leadership Skills

The environment at home is very different from that one in school. Therefore, I emphasize the leadership skills differently depending on the context. When I am in school, I demonstrate a lot of influence and power as the student leader. I strive to create new ideas in our department and initiate new activities. For instance, when the year comes to an end, I always have a new idea of how we can celebrate it differently from the past one. Most of my peers always conquer with me, and we end up celebrating every end of year differently. As a student leader also, I have formed a broad network of relationships with the school administration, fellow student leaders, lectures and my colleagues. I believe that these links help me to get some influence in my position as people are more likely to follow an individual they are affiliated with as opposed to one they are not.
However, at home, I do not demonstrate the skill of power and influence much. My father is the head of the family, and although he asks how we would love to get things done such as celebrating a holiday, he is often the final decision maker. The only kind of influence that I offer is an inspiration to my younger brothers who look up to me. Therefore, I keep sharing my achievements with them and ensuring that I am a good example to them.
Effective stress management and values are the leadership skills that I can demonstrate equally both at home and in school. The responsibilities at home, school work and my position as a leader sometimes become stressful. I have a lot to do in a very short time. However, I understand that other individuals are looking up to me. I ensure that I maintain sanity and make sure that my peers know that it is also important for them. To make sure that I handle all these activities appropriately, I have become an excellent time manager. I try to do things in the best way at the most little time available. I also avoid postponing as I believe this wastes so much time. At home, I have impacted these skills in my younger brothers. Therefore, they do not get overwhelmed by their school work and responsibilities at home. They have seen the ability to manage stress, and they are slowly adopting it and making it a part of their life.
I believe that values define a person. Therefore, whether am at home or in school, I am keen to demonstrate what I consider to be right. I avoid activities such as drug abuse, late night parties, lying and irresponsible behavior. When I am with both my peers and brothers, I keep telling them the importance of being truthful, reliable, accountable and friendly with other people. As such, they can observe these values in me, and they also make them a part of their lives. Continuous development of character brings out a great person.

Lessons from the Successful Parts

I believe that I am more successful in stress management and demonstration of values. Most of my peers can easily describe my kind of personality which means that I openly demonstrate the values I uphold. They also look up to me in stressful days and often come for my advice when things are not working in their lives or at home. At home, my parents believe that I am that child who knows how to maintain sanity regardless of the activities going on. They openly ask me to help my brothers retain their calm during tough times. They also keep congratulating my good behavior and often tell my siblings to emulate my values and personality. Therefore, I feel that I have openly demonstrated and managed these two leadership skills.
However, there is the need to put more effort in learning how to gain power and influence, especially at home. My parents stayed for nearly six months without knowing that I had been elected student leader. Upon their realization, my mother was extremely devastated that I had any power to influence people to vote for me. She said that she always thought I was a quiet individual who did not form any lasting networks with friends. Therefore, I realize that there is a need for me to improve on this and openly bring out this trait at home.

A New Understanding of Myself

As I was reflecting on the skills that I demonstrate both as a student and a sibling, I understood that I could be an entirely different individual in various environments. When I am around elder people like at home, I am more of an introvert. I tend to comply with all suggestions given to me and show no intention to come up with my ideas. When I am around my peers, I feel the need to be better than them, and this leads me to demonstrate a mature character which they can admire.
I feel that there is a need to create a balance between these two personalities and be able to prove all leadership abilities equally. I also feel that there is the need to develop some confidence which will make me appear as a leader even before seniors. I need to learn how to demonstrate power and influence without appearing forceful so that I can give my suggestions to people who are older than me. I believe that this ability will help me in my future family where I aim to be an understanding husband who does not force compliance.

Works Cited

Whetten, David, and Kim Cameron. Developing Management Skills. 8th. Prentice Hall: Pearson Inc, 2011. Print.