Week 7: Post 3

Throughout my various experiences, I have encountered different styles of leadership, each offering unique concepts and values that contribute to successful leadership. As a Teaching Associate at my campus job, I observed the balance between autonomy and guidance in leadership. The lead at my job managed schedules and conducted team meetings, providing direction while allowing team members to work independently. In contrast, the direct class lead TA took a hands-on approach, delegating tasks and leading frequent discussions. I found the hands-on approach to be more effective in leadership.

Transitioning to my internship at Willow, I noticed a distinctive trust-based leadership style. Our team manager adopts a hands-off approach, allowing team members to take charge of their tasks and technical management as individual team leads. This approach enables our manager to focus on the big picture and client relations. Similarly, the team leads provide mentorship and support rather than strict management. In the tech space, granting engineers autonomy and self-leadership is crucial, freeing them from a micromanagement style. Witnessing this approach was surprising, as it operates efficiently and affords me the freedom to experiment with my solutions, ensuring a deeper understanding of my work and the assigned tasks.

These past experiences have influenced my understanding of leadership and subsequently influence my behavior and decision-making during this internship. I value the hands-on approach as it fosters a sense of direction and guidance, while also empowering team members to take ownership of their responsibilities. Additionally, I appreciate the trust-based leadership style observed at Willow, and I aim to emulate this approach by providing support, mentorship, and autonomy to those I work with. By leveraging these past understandings, I intend to navigate the challenges of this internship with an adaptable and empowering leadership style.