6 Chapter 6

Advice for the Change Leadership Class

My name is Jenna Long, and I am about halfway through my organizational leadership masters degree.  I am currently an admissions representative at Minnesota State University Moorhead, so I am earning my masters through the “Jabber side” of the classroom as a full-time distance learner.  I am on track to graduate spring 2018, and I feel like taking Change Leadership in the first half of my program was a good decision because the class has enhanced my writing abilities.

When I enrolled in Change Leadership, I didn’t give much thought to what the class would entail.  What I did know was that the course was required for program completion, and that it was the first class in my program that was actually expected to meet for three hours every week versus being a blended or completely online course.  I was nervous about staying dedicated to sitting in class after a full day of work every week.  I was also concerned about the professor.  I had never met Dr. Holmes before, nor had I had a class with her.  It is always a little nerve-wracking to have a professor for the first time because I don’t know their familiarity or preferences for distance learners.

Negotiating the course required a lot of determination, a thicker skin, and plenty of self-awareness.  During the first class, the professor had everyone put his or her personal leadership philosophy in front of the class for critique.  It was a scary and uncomfortable experience that proved to be an accurate representation of what the rest of the course would be like.  Although I can honestly say that I never entered or left a change leadership class completely comfortable, I can say that I was challenged to learn something and to think deeper every week.

Based on my experience, I predict that you will learn about self-awareness in this class.  Not only is self-awareness extremely important for good leadership, it is extremely important for thriving in the change leadership course.   You’ll learn quickly to exhaust your resources, make friends with your classmates, and to always ask for a second set of eyes on your paper.  You’ll learn about different leadership theory, and you’ll learn a lot of southern colloquialisms from Dr. Holmes.  You’ll learn how to manage your time, work in a group, and articulate your own personal brand.  You’ll come out of the class a better student and a leader well equipped with theories and styles.

To help you through this class and ease some of your fears, I’ve conjured up a few suggestions.  First, accept that this course is going to challenge your personal beliefs. Being uncomfortable does not equate to being wrong.  In fact, it usually means personal growth.  It is vital to understand that criticism and questions about your writing or class input is not personal.  Your classmates and professor have your best interests and growth at heart.

Second, connect with your classmates.  There will be times when the assignment is unclear, you have case studies to complete, or you have a paper that needs proofreading, and your classmates are your very best resource.  Your classmates will be great resources not only in class but also post-graduation, so make sure to build connections whenever possible.  For Jabber people this can be more difficult due to being a virtual classmate.  I built connections with my classmates by asking for help or clarification first.

Third, let your point of view be heard.  The times that I learned the most in class was when my own personal views on leadership were being challenge during a class discussion or case study.  It’s important to add a differing point of view to the conversation if there is one.  It is very rare that you will be the only one who feels differently than the professor or the majority about a given subject.  In change leadership, there isn’t necessarily always a right or wrong answer during discussion, but there is always room for growth and for challenging beliefs.

Finally, actually read your textbook.  This class’s content is mostly self-directed, with the class time each week used for case study discussion, presentations, and group projects.  To actually learn about different leadership theory and be able to add them to your toolbox, you need to be dedicated to reading the chapters.  I also recommend reading all three case studies each week, not just your groups.  This will give you the knowledge base to contribute in class, and it will enhance your learning experience.

Overall, the change leadership course requires a “can-do” attitude, self-awareness, and the ability to contribute to and network with classmates.  If you are willing to work on and improve your writing, personal branding, and assertiveness, you will be successful in change leadership.