ZMsM
Nov 1, 2015
Scholarship / 'Being a leader, is a big role to fill in' - Chevening essay about leadership and influence [2]
Being a leader, is a big role to fill in; as it has variety of requirements and roles to fulfill. I believe that leading by example is the best way that one can use to demonstrate how the tasks should be finished and how the deeds should be done.
One should know that his subordinates look up to him for guidance and instructions to complete their tasks in the supposed way.
A good leader should have a positive attitude, know how to manage setbacks, take responsibilities, be able to delegate, know how to communicate, and show Commitment.
As a team leader during my mandatory military service, I was able to practice and apply what I know of being a leader, and how to influence my team to stay out of troubles and to be as better as one can be in such circumstances. I and my team was supporting the Planning office of the Supply and Logistics division for the Air Defense Forces of the Egyptian Military. From day one my duties; without any shadowing, and according to my superior officer; were to first of all finish whatever tasks assigned to me, second of all help, guide and supervise my team's tasks . Most of our tasks were displayed upon the joint chief of the Air Defense Forces himself, so you can imagine the amount of stress and pressure we were under to deliver these tasks.
Because I was the most experienced one in my team at the Microsoft office; the program used to maintain the soft copies of our Correspondence; sometimes I had to cut my periodic leave, or even to cancel it.
I remember one time, it was Ramadan, I was just back from my periodic leave, it was like 11 PM, I found my superior officer still working on a presentation asked via fax that day to be delivered the day after for the joint chief of the of Air Defense forces, we stayed up all night, to finish up the material then presented it the day after upon the joint chief himself, I believe this was the tightest schedule I had to work upon till that moment; of course during my work it happened once or twice till now; that time I had my periodic leave 24 hours more than my colleagues.
Being a team leader made me always accountable for my subordinate actions; which by the way was not that easy at all; as they were from different environments, different backgrounds and different levels of education.
I tried as much as I can to demonstrate my understanding of leading by example and influencing my team members.
Of course you can say that it was the military, so I had to fulfill whatever tasks I was assigned, or my life would have been a living hell, apparently you forgot that I could have pull some strings to make things easier for himself, but I liked being in charge, being respected for delivering whatever is asked from me whenever it asked and liked maintaining a good relationship with my superior officers.
By the way I and my team were able to get a good idol status after finishing our military.
Being a leader, is a big role to fill in; as it has variety of requirements and roles to fulfill. I believe that leading by example is the best way that one can use to demonstrate how the tasks should be finished and how the deeds should be done.
One should know that his subordinates look up to him for guidance and instructions to complete their tasks in the supposed way.
A good leader should have a positive attitude, know how to manage setbacks, take responsibilities, be able to delegate, know how to communicate, and show Commitment.
As a team leader during my mandatory military service, I was able to practice and apply what I know of being a leader, and how to influence my team to stay out of troubles and to be as better as one can be in such circumstances. I and my team was supporting the Planning office of the Supply and Logistics division for the Air Defense Forces of the Egyptian Military. From day one my duties; without any shadowing, and according to my superior officer; were to first of all finish whatever tasks assigned to me, second of all help, guide and supervise my team's tasks . Most of our tasks were displayed upon the joint chief of the Air Defense Forces himself, so you can imagine the amount of stress and pressure we were under to deliver these tasks.
Because I was the most experienced one in my team at the Microsoft office; the program used to maintain the soft copies of our Correspondence; sometimes I had to cut my periodic leave, or even to cancel it.
I remember one time, it was Ramadan, I was just back from my periodic leave, it was like 11 PM, I found my superior officer still working on a presentation asked via fax that day to be delivered the day after for the joint chief of the of Air Defense forces, we stayed up all night, to finish up the material then presented it the day after upon the joint chief himself, I believe this was the tightest schedule I had to work upon till that moment; of course during my work it happened once or twice till now; that time I had my periodic leave 24 hours more than my colleagues.
Being a team leader made me always accountable for my subordinate actions; which by the way was not that easy at all; as they were from different environments, different backgrounds and different levels of education.
I tried as much as I can to demonstrate my understanding of leading by example and influencing my team members.
Of course you can say that it was the military, so I had to fulfill whatever tasks I was assigned, or my life would have been a living hell, apparently you forgot that I could have pull some strings to make things easier for himself, but I liked being in charge, being respected for delivering whatever is asked from me whenever it asked and liked maintaining a good relationship with my superior officers.
By the way I and my team were able to get a good idol status after finishing our military.