Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Self-reflection - Article Example

?SPHK 1101 – Introduction to Outdoor Leadership Self-reflection Assignment An outdoor experience that was significant to me in some way would haveto be when I went to a leadership camp. This really changed me because I was able to participate in groups where I had to take a leading role. Also, on some occasions I was not the leader; this allowed me to see how others led and I could analyze their strengths and weaknesses. One positive thing that I got out of this experience was that I was able to grow as a leader and become more confident in myself. Part of being a leader is explaining things in a clear and concise manner so that the people who I am leading can carry out the instructions that I give them. A negative part of this experience was that I was not always able to lead people as I would have liked. My communication skills, or lack of them, made it difficult for me to get my point across on occasion. This is something that I have learned from this experience. I need to work on my communication skills because this makes a leader either ordinary or great. I feel that am someone who can show what I want others to do, but I have a very hard time explaining it in words. I would like to improve my skills in this area so that I can become a better leader. 2. My father was someone who has influenced me the most about the outdoors. He would always take me out camping because he said that it was good to get away from all the noise and everyday living in the city. I look back on these times as good memories because I always enjoyed exploring new things, and the outdoors is a great place to do that. Exploring in the city is not very fun because everything is the same and it is also manmade. Nature holds a special place in my heart because I find it so captivating. My father also felt this way, so this is maybe why I am the same. He would take me out into the wild for days at a time and we would have to rely on our survival skills to survive. With very little access to food and water, not to mention a place to sleep, I learned very early on in life how to fend for myself. I think this is the reason why I am an independent person today. I am grateful to my father that he gave me these experiences because they have helped to contribute towards the person who I am today. I don’t know what I would have done without my father. 3. Outdoor leadership is important to me personally because the outdoors has played an important part in my life and I also like the challenges that leadership brings. This is the perfect subject for me because it brings my strengths and desires together. While I already know a great deal about the outdoors, I am willing to learn how to become a better leader because it will improve every aspect of my life. Taking on a leadership role can be quite challenging because it takes a lot of responsibility, but I already consider myself to be a responsible person, so I feel that my personality is well-suited towards becoming a leader of some sort. I have not yet decided upon the right profession for me, but I am definitely sure that the outdoors will be involved some how. Also, even if I am not a leader in the future, the skills that I gain in this course will help me to become a better person, both personally and professionally. 4. The earliest leadership experience that I had would have to be when I was made my class president back in my freshman year of high school. I was very inexperienced as a leader at that time, but many people in my class believed that I had the attributes to make a good leader. One thing that I enjoyed from this experience was that I was suddenly the most important person in my class. Everyone looked up to me and my social standing rose considerably. For the first time in my life, I actually enjoyed going to school because I felt like I had a purpose for being there. The one thing that I disliked about this experience was that I suddenly had a whole heap of responsibility placed upon my shoulders. Looking back now, I was probably not fully prepared for this leadership role because I also had to juggle my school commitments. This is a problem that only relates to a school, so it would not have an impact on me if I was involved in some leadership position outside of school. Something that I learned from this leadership experience was that I should only take on a leadership role if I am fully prepared to take on additional responsibility. If this is not the case, then I would not be a very good leader because I could not fully concentrate on the role. 5. I would like to be an outdoor leader because I feel that my personality and skills are appropriate for the role. Also, this is actually something that I really enjoy, so I can put all my energy into it. This is a really important part of a leader because the role can be demanding at times. If I am not enjoying myself as a leader, then there really is no point in being one. This is not a problem for me because leading others is something that I enjoy a lot. It gives me a defined role within a group, and this gives me great security because I do not have to worry about my position within the group. If I am unsure of my role in a group, then I can sometimes not contribute because I don’t feel like I have to. My perseverance and dedication make me ideal for being an outdoor leader. Read More