Leadership Reflections: How feedforward applies to leadership.

Being a leader is not an easy task. There are so many things that you have to take into consideration. Sometimes, you have to make decisions that do not sit well with others but is for the greater good of the collective whole. On Thursday, March 6, we will have our social studies district assessment, and I am the hall captain. There is so much pressure to make sure I cover all the essential details with my hallway team. Since this is being run as a mock STAAR trail, I must ensure all my ducks are in a row as if it were the real test.

For my leadership style, I was a transformational leader. That skill set is to focus on inspiring change, have a vision-driven approach, emphasize motivation and growth, and be innovation-oriented. These are all skill sets that empower a growth mindset. If you are to have a fixed mindset, then you will not be an effective leader. These skills embody what the growth mindset means. You constantly have to learn and adapt to situations, and if you have a fixed mindset, then you will not be able to be an effective leader. Leaders need to be challenged. We need to adapt and change. If you have a fixed mindset, you might give up quickly in a challenging situation, and then how can you expect others to follow your leadership?

I love the process of feedforward. To me, it is a way to help others understand where growth lies and where we can make changes to become better versions of ourselves. Having a growth mindset means we are moving in a forward direction to grow and better ourselves. We take opportunities to expound on our knowledge, and by receiving feedforward, we are able to adjust our projects or papers before final submission.

Multipeer feedforward is an excellent way to get different viewpoints regarding the same topic. One of the great things about our class this semester has been the opportunity to work in groups for our discussion boards. While it is easier to post our thoughts on the discussion board and then respond to two other people and their topics, in our group collaborations, we have been able to get deep into our discussions and talk about content, learn, and get feedforward on our assignments.

People have lived such different lives. We all come from various backgrounds and walks of faith and are raised in a certain way. Even how we think is different. That’s what makes humanity beautiful. We are not robots. We do not produce the same thoughts, concepts, or outcomes/answers. However, we can share these in a feedforward style and allow others to see things differently due to our differences. We can maximize that growth mindset to unlock our greater potential by looking at the viewpoints. The process of receiving feedforward has taught me to embrace what is being brought to my attention and to learn from it. When we had peer-reviewed our literature review for class, I was worried about what others had to say regarding my paper. Getting feedforward isn’t easy to accept, and you’re afraid others will be harsh, but the process was pleasant. People had great comments and showed where improvement was needed. I appreciate them taking the time to read my work and help me improve my paper. 

When I think about my leadership style, I try to be fair. I have worked with all different types of leaders, and yet, after our simulation, the consensus is that a great leader embodies the qualities of each of them. They are not just one type but one that is flexible. They need to be able to wear different hats. I think I do that pretty well when I lead. I have been asked to come back and be a hall captain more this year during testing, and I believe it’s because I’m a good leader, and others who serve under me can do their job efficiently. I listen to what my team has to say and try to make fair decisions based on what needs to happen. I know there is more I need or can learn to be a great leader, and I hope I will get opportunities to shadow those who lead great and see their examples over time.