Jaclyn Yuro

CED297H
December 7th 2015
Draft #5
My Personal Working Philosophy of Professional Practice and
Leadership
In order to create ones own Personal Working Philosophy of
Professional Practice and Leadership, they must first be introspective
and dissect the way that they are currently living their lives to see
what they should keep doing and what they should improve upon.
Personally, I feel that I am a very down-to-earth person with an openmind and a general acceptance of all people. I am a leader that will
consult a group and value their opinion. I am very open to viewpoints
of others despite my own opinions. Some things that I need to work on
in order to better myself as a leader includes expressing my ideas
confidently and being more willing communicate all of my ideas with
others, as communication is one of the major characteristics of a good
leader. In addition I need to focus more on my well-being and handle
stressful situations better. Being a good leader means acting quickly
and effectively under pressure and that is something I have to work on.
However, as I have realized from Druckers article, Managing
Oneself, it is more important to improve yourself and work with what
you have than try to completely change yourself into something that
you are not. Aside from personal characteristics, there are many
subtopics that a good leader must consider.

General
In regards to general leadership, I believe that as a leader it is
important to lead your followers in the right direction, however, it is
important not to make them feel insignificant or below you. I believe
that a good leader does not always take matters into their own hands,
but communicates with the group for feedback. As a leader,
communication is very important. By putting oneself into the same
category as everyone else, a leader becomes more approachable and
well liked. Still, it is necessary to take that feedback and put it into
action, whatever that may mean in the situation. In my opinion, a good
leader is honest and is not deceitful towards their audience, now
matter what the truth entails. In addition, it is important to understand
that people you are leading may learn in different ways and perceive
situations in different ways and it is important to take that into
consideration. Also, when dealing with others, manners and courtesy
go a long way. Regarding the relationship between leadership and
power, I think that a good leader should voice their opinion, but not
press it upon those listening, it is not wrong for them to work at what
they want to accomplish behind the scenes.
Education
In regards to education, I feel that in a classroom setting it is
important to respect the roles of the teachers vs. that of the student,
but it is also important to not draw a thick line between the two, but

rather a dashed line. I believe that learning and teaching work both
ways and that while professors may have extensive knowledge in a
particular field, students have their own contributions as well. It is
important that respect works both ways too. I think it is crucial that
students question their classroom teachers and do not just look at
them as all-knowing figures, even though they do have experience and
ample knowledge in delegated fields.

Interactions
In my opinion, when meeting other people it is so important to
keep an open-mind. Every person you meet has their own life, their
own problems, their own family, their own friends, etc. and it is so
important to acknowledge that and not just base your opinion of them
off of what you assume. It is also extremely necessary to respect the
beliefs and values of others, even when they are not the same as
yours. I think that it is important to, at least, listen to another persons
ideas and be open to considering them. When talking to other people
and trying to understand them, it is very important to first, put yourself
in their position. Although clich, the saying, treat others how you
want to be treated is most definitely a golden rule to follow. When
saying or doing something to another person, I always imagine how I
would feel if the same thing was said or done to me.
Goals

I believe that in life, it is very important to have goals; whether

those are personal goals or professional goals. It is important to
constantly push yourself and be working towards something, so that
you are constantly improving. I believe strongly that in order to better
yourself, you must put yourself in uncomfortable situations. In my
opinion, stepping out of your comfort zone leads to growth. In
addition, when you reach a goal, I believe that it is very important to
stay humble; no matter how big or small the accomplishment. Also,
constructive criticism is important. Sometimes it may be discouraging,
but it will benefit you. I have learned that whenever a correction is told
to a large group; even if it is only meant for a few people, always
assume that the correction is directed towards you; it can only help.
Even when accomplishments become greater, never become arrogant.
Problems
Another aspect of a being a good leader involves knowing how to
deal with problems that may arise. Not necessarily knowing how to
deal with them, but doing your best to act quickly and effectively in the
situation without becoming stressed out. It is important not to let the
small problems become major burdens because the situation will be
handled better if one can stay calm. Regarding bigger problems, it is
necessary to evaluate the situation. One must ask themselves, How
big is this problem? , What are my options?, How much time do I
have to work through this? , Is it worth becoming stressed out over?

Who is the decision effecting? etc. In answering these questions, one

can more effectively work through problems that arise.
Decisions
In addition, all leaders inevitably must make important decisions.
I will admit that decision-making is definitely not one of my strong
points. However, writing out a process to work through decisions will
make this task a little bit easier. When facing a difficult decision it is
necessary to weigh the pros and cons. If time permits, it would be
helpful to write down a physical list of these options. Then, evaluate
which side is longer and which has the most meaningful options. While
this is a start it may help to get another persons opinion as well
because sometime our own biases get in the way. However, I also feel
that it is important to listen to your gut instinct.
Money
In regards to money, never let that be the only concern and dont
let it control your happiness. When thinking about a career options,
consider more than just the salary. Consider the satisfaction youll get
and the number of people youll be able to help in this position,
because that is your true goal. And, if you do happen to make a lot of
money, stay humble and know where you came from.
Expertise
Another important topic is expertise. Everyone is an expert in
something, but no one is an expert in everything. It is definitely

important to take the information you learn through television,

technology, books, newspapers, and read it with a critical eye. It is
important when becoming an expert to share what you know as well as
what you dont know. This is not intended to criticize, but to question
all information. This is skepticism with a more positive connotation.
Home and Family
An additional subject to discuss is that of home and family. My
family is undoubtedly a rock in my life and they have influenced
many of my decisions and beliefs while growing up and molded me
into the person that I am. It is a sociological idea that values and
beliefs and strongly influenced by your family members and I can
definitely see this in myself. Simple, desirable traits that I have
learned to value, from my parents example, include honesty and
selflessness. My political beliefs have been influenced by my parents
as well, although I can now diverge from their ideologies a little bit as I
do my own research and create my own set of beliefs. In addition, I
would also place a few of my close friends in the family category
because at times I rely on them more than my blood-related family
members. I believe that family is extremely important and they are
the people who are always going to be there for you. The idea of
home is another complex idea. While typically home is the place
where you grew up, in an abstract form it can take on other meanings.
For me, my realistic home is an average house in a New Jersey suburb

where I have lived for my entire life. My temporary home now is a

small dorm in East residence hall at Penn State University. However,
home, to me, is also a feeling. It is a place of security and contentment
and can be wherever this feeling occurs.
Experiences
Being only eighteen years old, I have not had many professional
working experiences so far in my life. However, some of the major
experiences that have shaped my personal philosophy thus far include
my dance experience, babysitting, my high school Peer Leadership
class, my trip to Italy, and other friendships and relationships. Being a
dancer for sixteen years and counting, I have learned a lot about
working hard, discipline, criticism, and humility. From babysitting, I
have learned a lot about communication and being an effective leader
without always being authoritative. When dealing with children,
although it is sometimes necessary to tell them right from wrong or
discipline them for poor actions, I find it more effective to talk to young
children as if they are mature and listen to what they have to say,
which is, by the way, not only effective with young children. In
addition, during my senior year of high school I was involved in a Peer
Leadership program and during this experience we discussed deeply
what it meant to be a good leader, how to be an effective leader, and
the different kinds of leaders that exist. In this program, we also
worked a lot on team building activities and trust exercises that

definitely changed me. We also discussed very personal matters and

heavy topics that really made me think more deeply about how to treat
other people and being accepting of everyone, especially when you
dont know everything about them. In this class, I became friends with
several people that I never imagined I would and, therefore, it also
taught me not to pass judgment so quickly. Also, a few months ago, I
went to Italy with my high school Italian class for two weeks. This
definitely taught me about independence and gave me a great
intercultural experience as I got to experience the difference in the way
Europeans live and interact as compared to Americans. Furthermore,
through various relationships and friendships I have learned a lot about
communication. Especially when coming to college, I have learned
how it can sometimes be difficult to maintain long distance friendships
and relationships by relying on technology.
Technology
Therefore, one other topic I want to bring up is technology.
Personally, I can be very indifferent towards technology at times.
While I will admit that I love having a smart phone and a laptop and
things of this nature, I am afraid that with the quickly increasing
advancements our society will soon rely far too heavily on technology.
As I touched on earlier, I appreciate having technology when I want to
talk to friends that are hours away from me while I am at college, but I
have also learned the difficulty of maintaining relationships in this way.

In my opinion, I would rather FaceTime with a friend, as it is most

similar to being physically with them, then text them all day, and I
would rather talk about a problem in person than to discuss it over the
phone. I feel that in todays society too much reliance is put on
technology and because todays children are brought up only knowing
this technological world, the dependence will only group. In terms of
professional practice, technology may be necessary to communicate
with colleagues at a distance, but it is not the proper platform to build
a relationship upon.
Failure
Regardless of talents and qualifications, everyone will experience
failure and rejection at some point in their lives. It is so important that
when this time comes, and it will undoubtedly come more than once,
to not let it really get to you. If you do fail at something, or do not
meet the expectations, it is okay to admit this. It is okay to admit
weakness and mistakes. This is a key aspect of vulnerability and every
leader needs to openly express his or her faults sometimes, because
no one is perfect and no one is going to believe that you are. When
you encounter rejection, do not take it personally and understand that
there is probably a reason something didnt work out. There will be
other opportunities in the future.
Purpose

Furthermore, there is a fundamental purpose for leadership, and I

believe that this is to bring together a group of people with similar
ideas and interests and lead them towards a collective goal. Many
people unknowingly share a common opinion or idea with others and
because of the lack of connection between them, they do not want to
act independently on their thoughts. A leader takes an initiative and
bridges the gap between these people and brings them together.
Similarly, the process of becoming a leader has a fundamental
purpose. The process of becoming a leader is not always an easy one.
It requires careful observation of various other leaders in order to
define positive and negative qualities. These people may be famous
leaders, such as Presidents, but they may also be leaders you have
observed in your own life. It is important to have other leaders in your
life as mentors, who you can go to when you are in a difficult decision
and ask for advice. The process of becoming a leader also requires a
lot of listening and learning from the people around you. The process
of becoming a leader requires one to define their beliefs and values
and in turn allows them to learn a great deal about themselves in the
process.
Overall, there are many components of being an effective leader
and being able to handle difficult situations, and in this paper I tried to
layout a plan for when my leadership skills are tested.

Favorite Leadership Quotes:

A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make
tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others.
He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of
his actions and the integrity of his intent. - Douglas McArthur
The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they
dont have any. Alice Walker
"You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in
which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing
you think you cannot do."

Eleanor Roosevelt