Resilience: 17-Leadership
Lesson Title:
Leadership: Inspiring Change and Empowering Others
Vocabulary Word:
Leadership – The ability to guide, motivate, and influence others towards a common goal or vision, while fostering a positive and collaborative environment.
Lesson Content:
Personal leadership and resilience are closely interconnected. Anyone who wants to bounce back from adversity had better know how to overcome challenges and adapt to change. Master such lessons requires personal leadership.
With personal leadership, we can navigate the ups and downs of life effectively. I can offer many examples to support this thesis that personal leadership relates to resilience
- Self-Awareness:
For those of us who served time in prison, we’ve got to anticipate how others will see us. Since a jury convicted me of a crime and a judge sentenced me to serve a 45-year sentence, I predicted that others would view me as being from a negative perspective. If I wanted to succeed despite those views, I’d have to become resilient and create opportunities. Considering my strengths, weaknesses, and triggers, I had to be self-aware. When self-aware, we identify and manage the emotional reactions to adversity, making it easier to bounce back from setbacks. - Adaptability:
Personal leadership involves being open to change and having the flexibility to adjust our plans and strategies. While going through a prison term, many things will not go our way. Sometimes, we have to live in an environment designed to obliterate hope. We have to adapt and find alternative solutions when we face unexpected challenges. In Earning Freedom: Conquering a 45-Year Prison Term, I show the many times I had to adapt. - Positive Mindset:
Personal leadership emphasizes cultivating a positive mindset, which is crucial for resilience. Optimism, gratitude, and a growth-oriented perspective can help us maintain a hopeful outlook, find opportunities in adversity, and persevere in the face of setbacks. - Decision Making:
When living in prison, we’ve got to anticipate the life we want to lead after our release from prison. That exercise requires personal leadership. We’ve got to make intentional decisions that align with how we define success and the goals we’ve set to prepare for success. If we’re resilient, we’re proactive, focusing on problem-solving. - Self-Motivation:
Personal leadership fosters self-motivation, which is crucial for resilience. With intrinsic motivation, we can drive forward despite difficulties. We set meaningful goals, maintain focus, and draw on our internal drive to keep moving forward. Sometimes we have to cross through years or decades to reach micro goals. Yet, we persist if we know how those micro achievements influence opportunities for significant victories.
By cultivating personal leadership skills, we enhance our resilience. This skill opens new opportunities that will serve us well after we return to society.
Questions and Activities: Answer as you deem appropriate
- How do you understand the concept of leadership?
- Why is leadership important for personal growth and development, particularly during imprisonment?
- Share an example of a situation in prison where leadership played a significant role in creating a positive change or resolving a conflict.
- How can developing leadership skills help you prepare for a successful life after release?
- What strategies can you employ to cultivate and demonstrate leadership during your time in prison?
Activity:
Reflect on a situation in prison where you witnessed or experienced effective leadership. Describe the qualities and actions of the leader that made a positive impact. Discuss how you can apply those lessons to your own leadership journey.
Identify an area or project within the prison community that could benefit from improved leadership. Develop a plan outlining how you can step up as a leader and initiate positive change in that area. Consider the necessary communication, collaboration, and support needed to accomplish your goals.
Remember, leadership is a transformative skill that empowers both individuals and communities. By cultivating a vision, effective communication, empathy, collaboration, and accountability, you can make a positive difference in your own life and the lives of those around you. Embrace the opportunity to lead during your time in prison and carry the lessons of leadership with you as you navigate the path towards a successful future.
