Since I started my internship at the University of Washington I have noticed a couple of things about my leadership style in comparison with others. I don’t know that I have consciously changed my own leadership style at this point in my internship, but rather have learned ways in which I DON’T want to lead. The most important thing I’ve learned about leadership style is to never talk down to people or treat them as though they don’t understand.
When supervisors talk to me or the other interns in a condescending manner it can be infuriating. That is one aspect I had not really experienced before this internship and want to make sure I don’t duplicate that behavior when I have a leadership position. As we learned from Ben Steele, people are not stupid. We don’t need to treat them like children and talk to them in a condescending manner. Treat others or talk to them like you would want to be treated. So far this quarter I have encountered a couple of supervisors that don’t follow this mantra so it has been a challenge to stay positive around them and work hard for someone who treats me and the other interns undesirably. But, on the good side, I have been fortunate to have a couple great supervisors as well. They understand that I am competent and hard working, and treat me with the respect even when assigning menial tasks.
This fall I want to work on understanding how to deal with difficult people. I have a hard time continuing to be positive around people I don’t respect. My goal for the remainder of this fall and my internship is to figure out how I can still take directions and orders from someone who I may not respect as an authority figure. Because sometimes in athletics there will be people you don’t see eye to eye on things with but still need to work with them to get projects completed.
Missing America's Team,
Shelby
