Assessing and Adjusting

One of the biggest changes I have made as a leader is learning how to read the room before deciding how I should act. Earlier on, I think I sometimes assumed that being a good leader meant having the answer, speaking up quickly, or making sure the group stayed on track. Those things can still matter, but I have learned that leadership is not always about moving fast. Sometimes it is about slowing down enough to understand the people, the situation, and what kind of leadership is actually needed.

This showed up a lot through my leadership classes and group projects. When I worked on semester-long projects, I had to keep adjusting based on how the group was functioning. Some groups needed more energy and direction because people were unsure where to start. Other groups already had strong ideas, so my role was more about helping connect pieces, asking better questions, and keeping the conversation productive. I started to realize that if I used the same leadership style every time, I would miss what the group actually needed.

A strong example of this was my senior capstone work. Working with high school students forced me to adjust my leadership in a different way. I could not communicate with them the same way I would with classmates or professors. I had to be more patient, clear, and encouraging. I had to think about how to make the experience feel welcoming and not overwhelming. That helped me see that leadership behavior is something you have to adjust based on who you are leading, not just what you are trying to accomplish.

I also saw this in LEAD411, where we had to speak with students, faculty, and campus professionals while developing our Next Gen Service Corps idea. Each conversation required a different version of communication. With students, I could be more casual and open-ended. With faculty and professionals, I had to be more prepared, focused, and intentional with my questions. That experience taught me that adjusting my leadership behavior is not about changing who I am. It is about understanding the audience and showing up in the way the moment requires.

Outside of class, this has helped me in other areas too. Through run club, training, clubs, committees, and networking, I have gotten better at noticing the energy of the group before jumping in. Sometimes the best thing I can do is bring energy. Other times, it is better to listen, ask questions, or help someone else feel more comfortable contributing. I have learned that small adjustments in how I communicate can completely change how people respond.

Overall, this pillar shows that I have become more aware of my own leadership behavior. I am better at noticing when I need to be more direct, when I need to slow down, when I need to encourage others, and when I need to let someone else take the lead. That growth matters because real leadership is not just about knowing your strengths. It is about knowing when to adjust them.