RALTE 1

Rotluangpuii Ralte
Scott Harris
UNIV 392-02E
14th June 2016
Reflection

I have always perceived leadership roles as one that require too much work;
something that is not worth doing. I often enjoyed being the follower who did not have to
deal with all the consequences of unexpected situations. My narrow understandings of the
concept of power lead me to dislike the idea of someone having the authority and power over
everyone else. At that time, I did not understand that being a leader meant having the power
to empower someone who may not know where to put in the right efforts. While learning
more about leadership, I have understood how the role acquires and requires a lot of power:
power that does not have to be demeaning or spiteful. Instead, a leader needs power to help
fellow members attain their goals. I believe the leader should utilize the power to better the
situation of the people who are being led. It is always important to be aware of the power that
comes with being in a leadership position. Northouse states that people have power when
they have the ability to affect others belief, attitude and course of action (7).
Leaders should have the intentions of helping other members grow and develop.
Instead of convincing people what to do or who to be, as a leader, I aspire to help people
develop their own skills. I believe that I resonate most with the Expert and Referent power
styles. I accept the fact that I tend to rely a lot on Expert power while having a leadership
position. It is easier for me to lead and facilitate an event/program when I know that I truly
have put in my best effort and have understood the issues to the best of my abilities. It gives
me confidence and helps me to better communicate with everyone else that is involved. I

RALTE 2

acknowledge the fact that leadership positions are not as simple and often requires the leaders
to plan and accommodate to unexpected situations. Although it should not always be the case,
leadership positions often require me to act in ways that may not necessarily resonate with
my own actions and decisions. However, I believe that having Referent power allows me to
be myself. It gives me the opportunity to make decisions that are based on my principles and
values, and not make decisions based on the expectations of the group.
Many of the times I had a leadership role in high school, I had misused my Referent
power and lead teams on programs that I was not prepared for. Upon coming to Loyola and
applying for leadership positions, I have learned to work for my positions and have decided
to work for the things that I am passionate about. I tutored high school freshmen over the
school year, and I have truly learned how Expert power, expert in education and the materials
that I was assisting the students with, allowed me to be a better and more effective leader. I
was able to assist the students with their assignments and effectively lead activities because I
had a better understanding of the power I was given and how this could have an effect on the
students future. The students knew that I had already graduated from high school so they
were more willing to listen to my ideas and suggestions. The relationships that I built with the
students gave me a chance to put Referent power to use. It was great to know that the
students understood my intentions for the tutoring sessions so they were very attentive.