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One of my best examples of leadership was in the middle of a large blizzard while I was working as an Operations Manager. Even though three of the employees weren't able to come into work, all four of the locations still needed to be prepped for opening. I adapted quickly and personally snow plowed the parking lots at all four locations so employees and customers could get there safely. It was physically demanding and I had to manage my time carefully but I knew that the responsibility had to be dealt with. That day taught me that leadership is sometimes about stepping outside your normal duties and doing what is necessary to support the team. It made me better at staying calm, working through problems and leading from the front.
APRU
During my tenure at APRU, I worked with my fellow APRU members in supporting charitable causes and cultural activities. The nature of these efforts necessitated members to provide updates, assign tasks, and encourage others to contribute. I learned that volunteer groups rely on people to follow through because everyone is donating their own time. I tried to be flexible and help out of my original responsibility when help was needed " “It made me a better listener and made me appreciate different perspectives because I had to work with members from different backgrounds. APRU taught me that leadership is about service, collaboration and a genuine desire to help both the group and the wider community.
Operations Manager
As Operations Manager I sometimes had to manage employee disagreements or confusion over responsibilities. When this occurred I learned to listen to each party before deciding. I would lay out what needed to be done, divvy up the duties evenly and check in with the team during the shift. This process avoided small misunderstandings turning into large problems. It also taught me that people work better when they’re respected and understand the logic behind a decision. From this experience I formed a style of leadership based on communication, fairness and accountability. I learned that a positive work environment is as important as getting the daily tasks done.
Shore Fitness
At Shore Fitness, communication between coworkers was important because responsibilities were shared across different shifts and locations. I learned that the quality of one person’s work could directly affect the employee working after them. I made an effort to communicate unfinished tasks, membership concerns, billing issues, and other important information so the next employee was not left confused. I also helped coworkers when the gym became busy instead of focusing only on my assigned area. This taught me that leadership includes being considerate of the people around you and understanding how your actions affect the entire team. It helped me become a more reliable coworker and showed me why clear communication is essential in daily business operations.
GSB Marketing
I was able to work with other members of the GSB Marketing team during my GSB Marketing internship to brainstorm ideas for our marketing projects. At times, there were conflicting views on the aesthetics of the content and the right message to deliver to the target audience. I learnt how to give my inputs in an efficient manner, how to listen to other views without being judgemental and how to come to one final conclusion. 'I didn't think about what I was doing, but I looked at how the whole project was coming together. From this experience, I learned that being a good leader isn’t about controlling a project, but about communicating well.
Leadership Examples