“Describe how your level of self-awareness has changed since you began your MSLD program with respect to the “Five Core Aspects of Self-Awareness” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). Furthermore, discuss how others have acted or reacted to the changes you have experienced.“
Since being in the MSLD program, I’ve gained awareness that I am an authentic leader. I’m now aware that I have an internal locus of control and that I have a “creating” cognitive style, and what I believed about leadership has changed, so how I view myself as a leader has changed too. I would not have known these things about myself prior to this program. These new areas of my self-awareness are related to the five aspects of self-awareness: emotional Intelligence, personal values, cognitive style, orientation toward change, and core self-evaluation (Whetten & Cameron, 2016).
My initial understanding of leadership was closely related to a charismatic leader who had great vision and transformed the lives of others by leading them toward a goal. As my awareness of leadership broadened, so did my view of myself as a leader. My self-awareness was broadened, in that I could envision myself possessing leadership qualities that I had not previously known to be leadership qualities. For example, I had new awareness that my ability to adapt and help others adapt was related to a leadership style. This opened to me a new realm of possibility, that I could be a leader in that aspect, as well as related to other leadership styles.
I’ve overcome quite a few traumatic experiences and have learned to be transparent about them through the assistance of therapists, counselors, close friends, and family. During this program, I discovered that an authentic leader engages in transparency and I gained the self-awareness that I am an authentic leader (Northouse, 2018). As an authentic leader, I am an empathetic person who is able to recognize and understand the emotions of others. I am also able to respond appropriately to others and can control my own emotions, when needed. This is related to my emotional intelligence, “the ability to correctly diagnose and manage one’s own emotions and relationships” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). Some of my emotional intelligence developed over the years, as I have naturally matured and developed control. But since being in the MSLD program, I better understand what is required of me when faced with my own emotions and those of others. I have a keener awareness that while I might recognize someone’s emotions, I am not obligated to become invested in their emotions. I can relate to their emotions without taking on the emotions myself. I have also learned in this program that my own personal values, as an authentic leader, will at times direct my behaviors toward others. Self-awareness of my values, and how they affect others I lead, is beneficial for building trust and having confidence when interacting with others. I’m now aware that “all other attitudes, orientations, and behaviors arise out of an individual’s values” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016).
With the new self-awareness that I have an internal locus of control, I realized that things I was taught in my childhood were ingrained in me and they’re there to help me direct my own course. My father always told me, “You can be anything or do anything you set your mind to.” I didn’t know then, as I believed his words, that I was developing an internal locus of control. This program taught me that and made me aware of the benefits of an internal locus of control, such as being a healthier and happier person. Locus of control refers to “a person’s beliefs about the extent to which he or she can control his or her own experiences” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). This all relates to orientation toward change, which “focuses on methods people use to cope with change in their environment” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016).
In relation to core self-evaluation, “a construct that captures the essential aspects of core personality” and “the fundamental evaluation each person has developed about himself or herself” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016), I’ve learned that certain characteristics and qualities about myself are more useful to leadership than I had previously believed, and that I have a positive core self-evaluation which is beneficial to me in the workplace, and in general.
I am a creative person, who completed college degrees related to art and communications, and my profession today is in digital communications and arts. In this program, I have learned that this is related to a creating cognitive style. Cognitive style is “the manner in which an individual gathers and evaluates information” (Whetten & Cameron, 2016). With the self-awareness that I have a creating style of gathering and evaluating information, I have a better understanding of why I lean toward thinking outside of the box, innovation, collaboration, and why I’m resistant to structure (Whetten & Cameron, 2016).
Prior to beginning this MSLD program, I had a relatively good understanding of my level of self-awareness. This is because I have invested time in the process of self-awareness and self-discovery, and I spend time in self-reflection daily. By examining myself daily, and considering who I am, I stay in touch with my purpose and I’m better prepared to manage myself and to interact with others. I have not had very much reaction from others to the changes I’ve experienced while in this program, mostly because I haven’t shared them with very many other people. Most of what I have experienced with others is curiosity about what I’m learning. I’ve had discussions about leadership styles with co-workers and provided input about how various styles might approach a situation. I suppose I’ve contributed my knowledge from this program in that way.
Cynde Puckett | MSLD 520 | Dr. Braziel | June 5, 2021 | Reflection Blog Assignment
References
Northouse, P. G. (2018). Leadership: Theory and Practice 8th ed. Thousand Oaks: SAGE Publishing.
Whetten, D. A. & Cameron, K. S. (2016). Developing management skills, 9th ed. Boston, MA: Pearson.
Cynde Puckett-Valenti 