By Paul Paez/reporter
Responsibility, teamwork, good communication skills and problem solving are among the skills that can transform an individual into a great leader, a campus coordinator told TR students recently.
On Nov. 18, the Center for Leadership Development hosted Top 10 Leadership Skills, a workshop emphasizing the skills needed to become a good leader. Intelligence, influence, research, execution, energy and humor were among other attributes presented.
Stevie Blakely, TR leadership development coordinator, interacted with the audience regarding accountability for one’s actions, decision-making and influence.
“A good leader can make any team successful,” she said.
Blakely also highlighted one of the main points in leadership: decision-making.
“In order to be a good leader, you need to understand how to follow,” she said.
Student Vicki Jackson said she attended the workshop to improve her resume writing skills to apply for an internship in state Sen. Wendy Davis’ office. She was interested when Blakely mentioned the skills useful to become a leader.
“I know what I can do, but I did not know how to express it on paper,” Jackson said. “When she [Blakely] said energy, I have a lot of energy, so I put that in there. It was very helpful.”
Hazel Jones, a Fort Worth resident, attended the workshop to stay on track with her leadership abilities.
“There was practical insight on how the emotional skill, the self-skill, is important in the nonverbal piece because you could be highly intellectual and execute projects well,” she said. “But if you are not authentic and you cannot read the room and adapt to people, then you still have a flaw with leadership and you cannot get the most out of the people, so that was the most important element.”
Blakely explained how the skills can be applied not only in the professional world but also from a personal standpoint. Jennifer Link, a pre-academic leader for TR Campus, said such skills have helped her.
“I feel that leadership skills are important in the community,” she said. “I volunteer for another organization and make use of those skills.”
