Leadership

As a student of the Ivy Tech Honors College and while completing the LIBA279 Honors Capstone Course, we were tasked with creating a Learning Portfolio and reflecting upon artifacts that pertained to specific Honors Program Outcomes.

Below is one of those reflections.

Thank you for your time.

- Michael

Honors Program Outcome 7:

Enhanced capability for leadership and self-advocacy leading to positive change.

Reflection

Leadership. This is a subject that I am passionate about and have spent a lot of time pondering. While the overall purpose of these reflections is intended to incorporate specific examples of leadership while attending Ivy Tech Honors College, the truth is that my journey towards and pursuit of great leadership has been a lifelong pursuit.

Prior to starting college at the age of 30, I had worked at a company as an Operations Manager. I spent many hours working with my peers and bosses to develop the philosophies that I wanted to instill in my team. I read books, listened to podcasts, scoured articles discussing what it is to be a good leader. Common platitudes always popped up. Lead by example. Lead from the front. Put others first. But I wanted something new and impactful. And then I finally settled on what my message would be: A leader facilitates the success of others. But as I sit here and reflect on the artifacts I have selected and the experiences I have had, I realize that my definition has changed. But before I share my reflected revision of what a leader is, I feel I should lay some of the groundwork for how I arrived at this point in my life.

The most significant factor that began my true passion for leadership started in February of 2009 when I stepped off the bus and stood on the yellow footprints at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, California. I was going to earn the title of United States Marine.

While enduring 13 grueling weeks of training I served as Platoon Guide for my platoon. Recruits are only selected to fill this role as head of the platoon if they display the tenacity, drive, and intelligence to lead their fellow recruits. This often required waking up early and being the last to go to sleep each night. It also meant that if something went wrong or one of my recruits slipped up, that I had to answer for it. I learned quickly that leadership comes at a cost. But it also has its’ rewards. For serving as Platoon Guide, I was selected as Platoon Honor Man. This included recognition during our graduating ceremony, the Leatherneck Award from the Board of Governors of the Marine Corps Association, a Certificate of Commendation, and a meritorious promotion for my service while in recruit training.

From there I went to Camp Pendleton, California to complete training at the School of Infantry. Unknown to some, during military training there is a significant portion of time spent in a classroom. While we spent plenty of time running, conducting live-fire exercises, and being pushed to the limit physically, the “knowledge” aspect of our training was pivotal. Not only did we learn land navigation, combat tactics, weapons specifications, and many other topics but we were also required to study and be tested on that knowledge. I will be the first to admit that I was not the fastest, strongest, or best marksman amongst my peers but I used my brain to my advantage and graduated the School of Infantry in the top of my class. Doing so, I earned my second meritorious promotion.

The skills I learned while serving in the Marine Corps culminated in a unique opportunity during one of my Annual Training Exercises in 2013. During this time, I was the rank of Lance Corporal but had been chosen to fill the billet of Company Police Sergeant. A role normally reserved for a Marine two ranks above my own. As Police Sergeant I was tasked with assisting the Company Gunnery Sergeant and Company First Sergeant with all logistical requirements for training exercises. This included vehicles, ammunition, communications, food, and even the Marines themselves. It was my job to make sure that Marines were where they needed to be with all the supplies needed so that we could conduct live-fire exercises. Although I may have been out of my comfort zone and received many an odd look while interacting with senior enlisted Marines and Officers, I rose to the challenge and at the end of the training exercise was awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal. This was one of my proudest moments while serving.

So how did I end up here in the collegiate setting? I left the Marine Corps at the end of my enlistment and entered the workforce. Each job I worked at I would ultimately hit a ceiling where upward mobility became extremely constricted without higher education and a degree. This was a new and difficult experience. In the military, if you work hard and prove yourself then you naturally move up in rank and role. I would, naively, find reasons and excuses for my lack of opportunities. Whether blaming the job market for not having enough openings or blaming the company for somehow not recognizing my abilities. My finger was pointed outwards. Around that time, I had began working my way up with another company and began my deep dive into the research and consumption of “all things leadership.” I had coined my philosophy, “Leaders facilitate the success of others” and began to work on myself so that I might facilitate the success of my team.

It was during one of these research sessions that I came across the TED Talk by Jocko Willink about “Extreme Ownership.” If you have not seen his talk, I would implore you to do so. As I reflect on that moment, it was a true wake-up call for me. The message was painful to hear but so important. If I wanted to be a true leader, if I wanted to stop hitting ceilings and looking for who to blame, then I would have to take extreme ownership. Take ownership of my actions, choices, and place in life. I informed my boss that I would continue working through the upcoming busy season but after that I was leaving the company. And when that time came, I left.

So…what was it that I got wrong about my leadership philosophy? It was, like my previous work mentality, only outward facing. A leader does not facilitate success only for others. I had limited my definition of leadership in such a way that excluded my own personal success. The personal leadership I needed in my own life. And so, I updated my leadership philosophy to be more encompassing and more concise.

Leaders facilitate success.

How does this all tie into my educational journey? I have taken the extreme ownership necessary to recognize that my limitations are my own to overcome. I chose to go back to school at 30 years old. I chose to enroll in the Honors College so that I might push myself to learn more. I chose to set a long-term goal of not only achieving my associate degree but my bachelor’s, master’s and eventually my doctoral degree.

This mindset shift has made all the difference. I take ownership each time I enter the classroom by participating and asking the difficult questions. I push myself to not just learn the material but to comprehend it in a way that applies to real world situations. I strive to listen intently to the thoughts and opinions of others so that I might be better informed. I lead by being a good follower in situations where a peer is assigned the role of group leader. I take charge by being proactive in securing the next steps in my collegiate experience. I am my biggest competitor. I am my most difficult challenge.

Not someone or something else.

Me.

This journey in pursuit of understanding what it is to become a great leader is lifelong. And I own that responsibility.