REFLECTION #2 Leadership Identity Development Timeline

My Sisters and I when we were young. I have two sisters. Kristyn is my older sister, and Jami is my younger. Yes, that makes me the middle child, which has been an absolute blessing. I have the greatest opportunity and sibling could have. Being both the younger any older sibling. Having this role in my family, has taught me much about leadership. Through being a middle sister, I am constantly learning and being taught how to be a leader and follower. I am not very tech savvy, so my picture cropping abilities are rather poor, but my sister and I were being cheerleaders

Kristyn and I at age 5 and 3 Kristyn has been a very influential leader in my life. She is a natural born leader. She posses many of the character traits described in Northouse’s Leadership Theory and practice, like a sense responsibility, a strong sense of extraversion and self confidence, determination, likability, and, well I could go on and on so I will just stop there. But the way she has mentored and guided me has shaped the way I lead today.

How Kristyn’s leadership had shaped my own Kristyn is so passionate. Her eyes are full of life and light, her heart burns with a fire of passion and drive, and her mind is one of determination. These all play a pivotal part in her leadership. She leads with purpose, yet with patience. She never had to try to “lead” me. I was always so willing to follow. At the age of 2, I was potty trained and making my bed all to the thanks of Kristyn. She showed and taught me how to pull the sheets and comforter back and place the pillows just so. She taught me how to sit on the toilet and all the fun potty stuff. She was so patience in teaching me, but was just as purposeful. Those two leadership qualities have resonated greatly with me, and would be traits to define my leadership today. While Kristyn lead, and taught me how to be a leader, I followed. Through her leading, I learned to be a follower as well as a leader.

Jami has a wonderful, approachable spirit about her. She is full of such positivity and radiates with joy and happiness. She is so dedicated and hard working. She too is a natural born leader. Jami was born when I was 5. I was and still am a pondering person. I remember vividly sitting on the couch holding Jami when she came home from the hospital thinking to myself, I get to do for Jami as Kristyn has done for me. I get to show her how to climb the tree in the back yard. Something my Mama has always said is, “Shine for Jesus.” and while I was holding my new baby sister, I thought to myself, I get to teach her how to shine for Jesus! Even though Kristyn was a good teacher, I found at 5 that leading was harder and very different from following. Jami and I learned the ropes together.

My Sisters Throughout growing in life, I have learned and have much beauty in the fact that there is give and take in leading. My role as leader and my role as follower is not set to one relationship. I am a leader to Kristyn just as much as I am her follower. Same with Jami, she leads me just as much as I do her. It’s a balance, a give and take.