PERSONAL REFLECTION:

Leadership has always been a part of who I am. From a very young age, I always assumed various leadership roles as they presented themselves- in the classroom, on the court, on the field, and within my peer groups. I don’t ever really remember making a conscious decision about whether I should or shouldn’t step into these roles, I just did.

 

My four year journey through the Fort Hays State Leadership program has allowed me to truly understand the impact of a person in a leadership role, provided me skills and guidance in the areas of leadership theories and concepts, improved my overall emotional intelligence, exposed me to the importance of cross-cultural competency, the ability to overcome leadership challenges, to tools to demonstrate the necessary leadership initiative in order to promote change, the experience to effectively work across factions with multiple stakeholders, skills to be an effective communicator, and to collaboratively work through conflicts in order to get to a resolution.

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The Fort Hays State University Leadership program has molded me into the leader that I am now. For that I am forever grateful!

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REFLECTION on 360-DEGREE LEADERSHIP ASSESSMENT:

After reviewing all the results from the 360-degree leadership assessments, my first reaction is that the feedback was overall very positive and very intriguing. Being able to take the feedback from the evaluations my peers completed on me, and them comparing them to how I see myself, provided me with a greater perspective on where my “holes” are. Evaluating my strengths and the areas where I still have room to grow, provides me with the information I need to continue to move forward in my leadership growth. There were no surprises as the data confirmed things I already suspected about my leadership style, but it also revealed some patterns that I was not fully aware of.

One of the biggest takeaways from the data was how consistently I was viewed by my peers. In most of their assessments, there were very strong scores in communication, emotional intelligence, dependability, problem-solving, strategic thinking, verbal communication, and relationship building. This specific consistency made it clear that these are qualities that are a part of my everyday life. It meant a lot to see that Cassidy noticed the effort I put into creating a positive environment and keeping communication strong within the team, as this is a behavior that I really focus on in every environment. However, reflecting on the positive correlations reminded me that simply having strengths is not enough, it is just as important to continue improving the qualities I may lack.

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There were a few surprises in the assessment when it came to the results. One of the most unexpected parts of the feedback was how many times my peers noted that my attention to detail was lower than other areas. I agree that I tend to focus on the bigger picture, but I did not realize that this tendency was so noticeable to the people I work with. A lot of my comments pointed out that although a person is organized and driven, they may sometimes overlook small details or move too quickly through tasks. It was good to receive this feedback as I am now aware that this is an area that needs my attention. I also found it interesting that adaptability came up as an area for improvement from some of the evaluations. Even though I believe I handle change well, I do think that sudden shifts in plans or unexpected obstacles can throw me off at times. Seeing this pattern emerge across multiple assessments has forced me think more about how I react under pressure and how my initial response to change as a leader may influence the rest of the team.

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Based on the overall review of the data, there were several key strengths that stood out to me. Communication was consistently mentioned as a strength. I understand and recognize that I communicate clearly and that I am able to break down tasks or expectations in a way that me, and the rest of my team, stay on track. Emotional intelligence also emerged as a strength. I do feel that I am able to read people well, respond with empathy, and provide support when someone is overwhelmed. Another strength that appeared across the evaluations was strategic thinking. Whether working independently or with a group, this is something I feel that I do very well! At work, I tend to think ahead, analyze situations from multiple angles, and create plans that move me closer to my goals. Dependability, relationship building, and self-management were also some identified strengths of mine that I was happy to receive.

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On the other hand, there were several areas for improvement that were identified. The most consistent one was attention to detail. This is very much something I struggle with. I tend to get into a groove and move too quickly, resulting in me overlooking details or missing smaller tasks along the way. Along the same vein, I tend to get frustrated with those around me that aren’t moving as quickly as I am or who don’t understand the objective. Processing constructive feedback is also an area I need to work on as I do not like to disappoint people. These areas of growth do not surprise me as I am aware of these flaws and areas requiring growth. However, seeing them laid out so clearly helped me realize just how important it is to slow down at times.

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When I review and compare the scores I received from my boss, Cassidy, I noticed a few interesting patterns. First, she seemed to rate me slightly higher in certain areas than I would have honestly rated myself. For example, communication and leadership integrity were all scored very high, even higher than I might have expected. At the same time, I noticed that my weaknesses matched closely with some of the feedback provided by my peers. The lower scores I received in areas such as attention to detail, adaptability, and organization aligned with my own personal understanding of where I think I fall short. In that sense, I feel this assignment has helped me gain a more accurate understanding of my leadership style and of the areas that I still need to focus on in order to continue growth in my leadership journey.

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Looking forward, there are several steps I can take to improve on the weaknesses identified in the assessment. First, I can focus on developing stronger systems for staying organized and managing the various details more effectively. This could mean setting up more structured reminders or taking a moment to slow down and double check my work before I begin moving forward. Second, improving my ability to receive constructive feedback and use it as a tool for growth will allow me to not focus on everything being perfect and instead, understanding that perfectionism is an unrealistic goal.  Lastly, I can focus on improving my patience and tolerance for those that my not move as quickly as I do or that may not conceptualize the “big picture” as quickly as I do. Learning to be more tolerant with my peers will inevitably strengthen both my own leadership style and the team's overall performance.

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Overall, the 360-degree assessment was a very valuable learning experience for me. It helped me recognize the opinions of my peers when it comes to my leadership strengths and the areas where I still need to improve. Even though it was sometimes difficult to see the areas where I fall short, I do believe that this kind of feedback is essential for overall growth. The results made me think more deeply about how I behave in the workplace and how my strengths can support the team's success. Going forward, I want to use this information to become a more balanced, and a more effective leader. By continuing to build on my strengths and actively working on my weaknesses, I believe I can grow into someone who not only leads well but also inspires and supports others along the way.

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STATISTICAL OVERVIEW of SCORING:

Across all assessments, your colleagues consistently rated you at the highest end of the scale, especially in categories related to emotional intelligence, dependability, verbal communication, problem-solving, strategic thinking, and relationship development.

Mode: 5 (Strongly Agree)

Median: 5, reflecting a strong grouping of high scores.

Only a few categories showed variation, typically landing in the 4 (Agree) range. These included:

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• Detail-oriented

• Organization

• Feedback

• Creativity

• Flexibility/adaptability
   

Mean: between 4.7 and 4.9, consistent with very strong overall performance. This could be because I tend to see the best in people…

 

Common Strengths: Across all evaluations, several clear strengths seemed to correlate between the perceptions of those involved in my evaluations. Overall communication skills and strong overall emotional intelligence were consistent skills throughout my evaluations. In addition, all of my evaluations outlined that my strengths fell in the categories of supportive, understanding, and being able to read situations and team dynamics with ease. I feel as though my leadership is reinforced by integrity and reliability, as others see me as honest, as well as committed to doing what is right. In addition, strategic and creative thinking were recognized- I believe I have a unique talent for seeing the bigger picture, making thoughtful decisions, and offering original ideas especially when challenges arise. As a whole these strengths highlight the impact I have on both the work process and the people around me.

 

Common Weaknesses: Despite the overall high ratings, a few areas were consistently identified as opportunities for my overall growth. In several of my evaluations, it was noted that my attention to detail could be better, as smaller tasks or specifics are sometimes overlooked when I am focusing on larger goals. In addition, my ability to receive constructive feedback was also lower in overall scores. This weakness is primarily due to my need for everything to be perfect. When I receive feedback that includes areas for improvement, I need to see this as a tool to be better and NOT a personal attack on my abilities in that environment.  Lastly, being more patient and tolerant with my peers was identified a few times. Although still rated positively I know that it is important for me to work on my patience and tolerance for those that are working slower than I do and for those who do not grasp the big picture of the ultimate goal. This is definitely a skill that I could show improvement on and will continue to grow in.

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• Alden Knedler- 360 Leadership Assessment Data

• Cade Evans- 360 Leadership Assessment Data

• Cassidy Sowers- 360 Leadership Assessment Data

• Personal Reflection- 360 Leadership Assessment Data