For Challenge Day 3, we will focus on leader identity. Describing leader identity is integral to how we behave, show up and it can be the driving force for motivating development. Your self-concept influences your engagement in the activity of leadership. Therefore, when discovering yourself and practicing self-awareness, you are in turn discovering the kind of leader you want to be. 

Leader identity is promoted through rituals, celebrations, relationships, mentoring, self-assessment, new experiences and reflections. Although not required when engaging in the activity of leadership, leader identity is a building block that creates meaning and organizes new leadership knowledge (Guthrie et al., 2016). With that being said, there are a myriad of different kinds of leadership styles out there that could be part of your leader identity. Below are some leadership styles for you to look up and consider:   

• Autocratic leadership
• Bureaucratic leadership
• Servant leadership
• Transactional leadership
• Transformational leadership

Day 3 Challenge Questions:

What type of leadership style do you identify with? How does this leader identity show up on your day to day?

BONUS Question:

In what ways do you believe this can connect back to your UMBC experience?

To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 3 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.

For Challenge Guidelines, click "Download Image" below.

Today’s challenge is all about YOU! Mainly, we’ll be focusing on the identities that make up who you are as an individual, leader, and person in the world. Identity is an ever evolving self-portrait; the ongoing take, retake and update of “who am I”. It changes overtime, and something important to note about identities is that some may be visible and some are not. Identity is also known to be a socially constructed concept grounded in: historical, political, cultural norms, and lived experiences. Ultimately, our identities result from our own navigation and meaning making of self, context, and relationships. Take a moment, and simply think about all the pieces that make up the complex being of you. Using a physical sheet of paper or a virtual blank document, write or type the following: Age, Sex, Gender Expression, Ethnicity, Race, Physical/Emotional/Cognitive Capability, Socio-Economic Class, Sexual Orientation, Religion/Spirituality, Geographical Origin 

Reflect on the identities and descriptors mentioned above. On your personal paper or document, note the following: 

• Which are most central to how you define yourself? Mark them with a star *  
• Which are central to how others define you? Mark them with an arrow ->
• Which brings you the most joy? Or proud of? Mark them with a smiley face :) 
• Which would you like to understand further? Mark them with a question mark (?) 

Challenge Day 2 Questions:  As you look at your words and markings-- what stands out to you?  Which of these identities empower your voice as a leader?

To provide your answers using mobile, follow and share your comments on the Challenge Day 2 posted on the Campus Life Instagram (@umbccampuslife). Visit the Online Leadership Challenge page to access all the Challenge Day posts and for more information.

For Challenge Guidelines, click "Download Image" below.

To kick-off the Online Leadership Challenge we will focus on leadership from the perspective of individual growth. 

If you were to stop for a minute and reflect on your life until this point you would probably note moments of great achievement, overcoming obstacles, as well as lessons being learned. I’m willing to bet that you’ve even grown and developed in many ways in the last two years alone! At UMBC we believe leadership is a process of knowing yourself, what you contribute, and how you can best work with others to make a change in your community. The leadership learning process is about inner work and self-development just as much as it is about learning how to work with others. A pivotal tool for continual and ongoing self-development is: self-awareness and reflection. Far too often we are busy or dwell on situations rather than seek to learn from them. When you take the time to reflect on your actions, behaviors, thoughts and feelings you give yourself the opportunity to enhance your self-understanding and further propel your own individual growth.

These opportunities for reflection are occasions to learn more about ourselves, enhancing our self-understanding-- however, like stated before, we often miss these moments. Reflection can be an interactive process. In all forms, it can become a habit and a pivotal tool for continual and ongoing development. When you capitalize on these opportunities for reflection, you replenish your own resources. By reflecting on what has happened, you take time to think through your actions, think about how your actions may have affected others (even in your team), see links or connections that you may have not realized, or identify ways in which you could have shown up differently. For leaders to be effective, it is critical they must know themselves.

“Leadership development is self development.” - Barry Posner

Day 1 Challenge Questions:
What is your reaction to these ideas? What does self-awareness mean to you?

BONUS QUESTION:

What are some ways you practice self-reflection?