This paper, my final submission of my first semester in PL, evaluates my own leadership at the moment. I describe a topic that has been on my mind as I navigate the kind of leader and citizen I want to be today and in the future.
16 December 2020
Myself as a Leader Today
In a world where the media is accessible at any moment at our fingertips, finding reliable news is incredibly difficult and creates major implications for many aspects of society. Media coverage of elections, protests, stories of politicians, and so much more can impact the way Americans understand current events and react to them. As I continue on my journey of leadership development, this issue continues to be something that I actively search to understand and cope with.
It is no secret that America has reached a point of polarization that appears difficult to reverse. Especially in the wake of the recent election and the constantly discussed issue of the COVID-19 pandemic, the media has an even greater role in our understanding of the current climate. However, according to a Gallup poll, 66 percent of Americans believe that the media conflates facts and opinions. The study also found that 62 percent of Americans believe that the press is biased in their reporting in general (Jones, 2018). Although these statistics show that most people know the news they receive is biased or even false, they still have to listen to it to gain any understanding of the topic at hand.
As I continue to develop my own opinions and views of the world, this issue within the news and media affects me. When I attempt to understand a current event, I always try to read different sources to gather as much information as possible. I constantly hope that knowing a wide scope of views will provide me with real information somewhere buried within the jumble of information I receive. I have noticed, though, that growing up in a polarized political landscape and also with constant access to the internet and its “fake news” has made me extra skeptical of every news source I hear or read. While I find it important for me, as a new voter and an active citizen, to be informed, it is incredibly difficult to do so.
Many leaders would argue that having a mentor is one of the most powerful tools they can have. For me, my mentor and role model is named Adam, one of my youth group staff members when I was in high school. Although Adam is not recognized on the world stage for some great accomplishment, he is one of the most talented leaders I have met. According to the findings of the study by Marguerite Schneider and Mark Somers, leadership is discussed in terms of the Complex Adaptive Systems (CAS) which argues, “CAS leadership is often non-reliant upon formal authority structures” (2006). For Adam, in accordance with this study, his leadership becomes most apparent when he is leading in unstructured environments. He has a knack for bringing people together and making everyone feel valid and important. These are traits that I strive to embody, but Adam and I are also both strong motivators. With these attributes in mind, I strive to make change as a leader in my community.
In America,, we need to be brought together as a nation, despite the diverse opinions and polarization currently present. The nation needs open dialogue and mutual understanding in order to continue moving forward. With the press only heightening the issue of polarization and media bias, leaders must work to unite individuals. For me, as a growing leader, I will strive on a small scale, first, to create intentional environments around me for those to express their understanding of topics based on the news they receive and how that impacts their opinions. As the next adult generation, it is important that my peers and I seek opportunities for dialogue to understand the world around us. Leadership involves knowing in what direction to lead those who you want to influence for change. A greater knowledge of the people, events, and history we face will allow us to come together for a better future.
References
Jones, J. (2018). "Americans: Much Misinformation, Bias, Inaccuracy In News". Gallup.com,
Gallup Inc. Retrieved from https://news.gallup.com/opinion/gallup/235796/americans-misinformation-bias-inaccuracy-news.aspx.
Schneider, M., and Somers, M. (2006). Organizations as Complex Adaptive
Systems: Implications of Complexity Theory for Leadership Research. The
Leadership Quarterly, 17, 1-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2006.04.006.
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