HDF 190: FLITE

FIRST YEAR LEADERS INSPIRED TO EXCELLENCE

LEADERSHIP PORTFOLIO
Steven Ward
SPRING 2016
sward5597@my.uri.edu

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Strengths
Opening Statement
Section 1: Self Leadership
Section 2: Leadership Theories
Section 3: Inclusive Leadership
Section 4: Critical Thinking
Section 5: Interpersonal/Organizational Leadership

SLIDE # 3
SLIDE # 4
SLIDE # 5
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SLIDE # 9

Signature Strengths
Analytical
Relator
Achiever
Responsibility
Context

Values in Action Strengths

Perspective
Honesty
Bravery
Self-Regulation
Prudence

OPENING STATEMENT
Throughout HDF 190 I learned a lot about myself, including
my top strengths, values and who I want to be as a leader. I
was blessed with very useful and relevant information
about specific leadership models that I hope to utilize in
the future in my work environment and my every day life.
Everyone is different and in turn a different leader, but we
can all be successful.

SECTION 1
SELF LEADERSHIP
HDF 190 has helped me keep organized, and made me a better person already. Having many
assignments due at the end of the year has made it necessary for me to stay organized throughout the
semester; otherwise I wouldnt have gotten any of the assignments done. I had my ups and downs
during my boy scout career. Sometimes I was really excited to go to a campout, other times I dreaded it.
But regardless of all of that there were many things I learned from my experience as a scout.
Throughout my time in Troop 1 Arnold Mills I always kept organized, knowing what requirements I
had to get done next. Throughout the process I always kept myself disciplined, which should hopefully
show now, considering I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout after many years. Each new rank came with
new responsibilities and tasks/lessons to be achieved. Every time I had to achieve the next rank in
scouts it was about completing every step I could on my own, and asking for help when I couldn't go it
alone. I believe all of this shows extreme self-discipline, academic success, and organizational skills. I
had to stay determined throughout the many years I was a scout. Along with this I needed to keep
organized if I had any hope in completing everything I needed to do to obtain the rank of Eagle Scout.
This in tern has made my academic self-discipline so much better than it used to be because I know if I
stick with something I can achieve it.

SECTION 2
Leadership Theory and Models

In HDF 190 We learned about the Servant Leadership Model, and I learned that I have been
a servant leader for a while. Throughout my life I have been doing the Yellow Bag Day in
Cumberland RI. This is a trash clean up throughout the entire town of Cumberland that my
father hosts as owner and publisher of The Valley Breeze Newspapers. Every year I walk
the long windy road of Little Pond County cleaning everything I can with my family. This
road is usually filled with trash from top to bottom and it takes many hours to clean the
entire street. Year after year I used my commitment to get every piece of trash I could. I
talked to all of my friends trying to get as many volunteers as I could. What I didnt know
is that I was building a stronger and better community with every step I made. Today,
everyone in Cumberland knows the Yellow Bag Day cleanup, and everyone comes together
each year to do our planet a service. No one is looking to be a leader, they are trying to
serve their community because they just like myself have felt the want to serve. Without
knowing it, I have been a servant leader throughout my life, and I am so eager to continue
this leadership wherever I end up.

SECTION 3
Inclusive Leadership / Diversity and its application to leadership

In HDF 190 we learned about the relational leadership model, and one of the main
components of this model is being inclusive of others. This is important in being able to
accomplish anything together, being inclusive of everyone no matter what they believe
or how they act. It is of utmost importance that you understand yourself, before trying to
understand and include others. Everyone can make a difference, and everyones
differences can be valuable. People have different temperaments, talents, and convictions
and all of which should be included and respected for the betterment of the group. Being
inclusive can not happen without being a good listener and accepting everyone for who
they are. Arguments will occur in any group or organization, but as long as they are all
organized and civil they shouldnt be a problem. In my personal opinion, when we stop
fighting for each other, thats is when humanity truly dies. Chiwetel Ejiofor (2012 the
movie)

SECTION 4
Critical Thinking

During my HDF 190 course, we learned a lot about ourselves, and many leadership models.
Before we can truly analyze material, we must analyze ourselves and know where our values
lie. Once this is accomplished we can begin to fully understand certain leadership models and
how we can go about carrying out these models. In FLITE we learned about the Relational
Leadership Model, the Social Change Model and the Servant Leadership Model. We analyzed,
criticized, synthesized and utilized these models with our own strengths and values to be able
to be the best leaders that we can be. We critically studied the beginning steps in becoming a
successful leader, and we will do this again and again every day to be able to become the
leaders that we envision. Take the Relational Leadership Model for example. We analyzed it in
class and on our own, we criticized it by remembering the key points we felt exemplified
ourselves the most, we synthesized it by learning it to heart and finally we have and will
utilize it by being a leader on campus, and in our every day lives. If we apply what we did
with the relational leadership model to everything we study and work on in life, we can all be
truly successful.

SECTION 5
Interpersonal and Organizational Concepts and Skills

Active Listening is defined as a way of listening and responding to another person that
improves mutual understanding. During one of the amazing parts of the Leadership
Institute back in the fall we were tasked with the challenge of walking through the woods
blindfolded with one person there to guide each of us. They were not aloud to touch you,
and had to make sure that you arrived at the destination safely by using their voice. In
this case, I had to be a very active listener, otherwise I could have hurt myself. The
importance of this exercise was trust, and understanding that active listening can be hard.
Everyone phrases things in a different way, so it is important to not only listen, but listen
actively so that you can accommodate to who you are listening to. When listening to
others, we owe them the respect of being an active listener considering this could truly
help the person speaking. Sometimes all it takes to make someone's day is to listen to
what they have to say, and if we listen actively we could learn something ourselves.