Chevening is looking for individuals who will be future leaders or influencers in their home countries. Explain how you meet this requirement, using clear examples of your own leadership and influencing skills to support your answer. (Minimum word count: 100 words, maximum word count: 500 words)
It was about three years ago when I along with 12 other friends were sent to a remote village in Halimun-Salak National Park area. We went there on behalf of our university as a socially responsible group to perform community service for one month. As a team leader I proudly pronounce that everything run very nice with little or almost no practical problems, our programs and activities were a success.
For this community service I divided the team into 3 sub-groups and assigning each group's specific task; the first group was focused on education with the main goal is to leverage student interest in reading books and deliver new method on learning and teaching. We did this project by teaching the students in their school also after school. The second group was focused on social awareness, the aim of this group is to prevent the local from the side effect of the globalization such as misuse of drugs, alcohol, and cigarette by giving a seminar to the local, whether in their school or in the public. Last but not least, the third group were focused on a business opportunity in the community.
Even though I divided the team into 3 sub-groups and I worked on the third group. As a team leader, I still had an obligation to manage the team as a whole, with the aim that everyone feels that they are being heard and being understood, and no one feels left out. It was usually quite simple to tackle issues we faced later on, especially since we already had an understanding of how teamwork is crucial in problem-solving.
Before we start all of the projects we did field research to seek and consider any advantages or disadvantages to apply it and to measure the possibility of succeed. Especially for the third group, however, we decided to make a derived product of catfish. Just like other villages in Indonesia, most of the local are rely on the farming, but we found that this community also produces a catfish to be sell in the city. That is why it would be very useful to help them create the product which ready to eat such as shredded catfish. We do not only help them by delivering the idea but also guide them to create the recipe, packaging and marketing it.
Even though we succeed to run all of the projects, it doesn't mean that we are not face any constraints at that time. To start to drive the change we need to make some adjustment with the local by constructing a good communication while also respect their beliefs. When they feel that we are part of the community then we can start to convince them that we will give a good impact to the community. Just like what Marshall said, "respect for differences in people is one of the most important qualities of successful global leader" (Marshall, 2005).
How I grew up to lead
It was about three years ago when I along with 12 other friends were sent to a remote village in Halimun-Salak National Park area. We went there on behalf of our university as a socially responsible group to perform community service for one month. As a team leader I proudly pronounce that everything run very nice with little or almost no practical problems, our programs and activities were a success.
For this community service I divided the team into 3 sub-groups and assigning each group's specific task; the first group was focused on education with the main goal is to leverage student interest in reading books and deliver new method on learning and teaching. We did this project by teaching the students in their school also after school. The second group was focused on social awareness, the aim of this group is to prevent the local from the side effect of the globalization such as misuse of drugs, alcohol, and cigarette by giving a seminar to the local, whether in their school or in the public. Last but not least, the third group were focused on a business opportunity in the community.
Even though I divided the team into 3 sub-groups and I worked on the third group. As a team leader, I still had an obligation to manage the team as a whole, with the aim that everyone feels that they are being heard and being understood, and no one feels left out. It was usually quite simple to tackle issues we faced later on, especially since we already had an understanding of how teamwork is crucial in problem-solving.
Before we start all of the projects we did field research to seek and consider any advantages or disadvantages to apply it and to measure the possibility of succeed. Especially for the third group, however, we decided to make a derived product of catfish. Just like other villages in Indonesia, most of the local are rely on the farming, but we found that this community also produces a catfish to be sell in the city. That is why it would be very useful to help them create the product which ready to eat such as shredded catfish. We do not only help them by delivering the idea but also guide them to create the recipe, packaging and marketing it.
Even though we succeed to run all of the projects, it doesn't mean that we are not face any constraints at that time. To start to drive the change we need to make some adjustment with the local by constructing a good communication while also respect their beliefs. When they feel that we are part of the community then we can start to convince them that we will give a good impact to the community. Just like what Marshall said, "respect for differences in people is one of the most important qualities of successful global leader" (Marshall, 2005).
