LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM 2013-2015

ACTIVITY REFLECTIVE SUMMARY

ACTIVITY: A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U
(Highlight or Circle the letter corresponding to the Activity)

ACTIVITY TOPIC: Lead an Effective Project

PARTICIPANTS NAME: Dana L. Sawyer
1. What were the significant learning points for you in this activity?
I was the co-lead for the United Way Campaign at the Terry Campus in the fall of 2014.
My co-lead had done the task previously which was very helpful, and she gave me some
good insight as to how to make the project be its most effective. It was nice to have that
level of partnership as demonstrated on her part - how to coach and mentor someone in a
task that is unfamiliar and somewhat daunting. A good leader leads and supports but
allows one to learn and grow. Leading a campus- wide project such as this was a great
way to meet people and learn more about their team and area. I solicited volunteers to be
building captains and everyone asked did so without hesitation, which was nice to see.
That sense of community was important and demonstrated on their part their ability to
accept a leadership activity to support the common good.

2. Which leadership characteristic(s) was/were enhanced and/or learned through this

activity? Explain.
I had to be very organized and responsive the two weeks leading up to the Campaign,
then the two weeks of the actual campaign and then a week following it to provide all of
the data about our outcomes and successes. Accuracy was key in everything we did so
attention to detail was important, as it always is. I had to find ways to motivate others to
participate, whether it be in-person discussions or friendly e-mail reminders. That is not
always easy to do, but was vital in this shortened campaign. Encouragement without
badgering was a fine line and I learned to do that well. Good communication from the
beginning to the end was essential - we did a presentation at the Campus Update about
the campaign's importance at the beginning so I had to do some public speaking, and all
the way through the campaign we had to communitate often and effectively. Leadership
is all about good communication - early, often and well.

2013-2015

2013-2015