Pillars of Leadership
It's been two weeks since my last post, and I can't believe how quickly time flies! My first week at the office on Capitol Hill came and went. I have adapted to a serious working environment, and networked at receptions with fellow interns. Weekends have been filled visiting memorials, museums, and mentoring events, as well as further developing relationships with my CHCI familia. This past Friday in particular, we met with two Members of Congress who shared their stories to how they got to where they are today. Throughout these discussions, the CHCI pillar of leadership of Coalition Building seemed to resonate deeply with me. First, we met with Congresswoman Judy Chu who discussed the importance of building coalition and finding mentors. One story she shared with us was about supporting a former opponent who asked to work with her on a campaign. Her decision to accept the offer opened up the opportunity for her to be appointed one of the highest chairs in a council, and eventually lead her to become the first Chinese-American woman to ever be elected to the U.S. Congress. Later that day, we met with Congressman Raul Grijalva, who told us that we are in a transient time of defining ourselves as a nation. Grijalva’s talk made me think about the study of international relations. The constructivist approach to states that a state is defined in terms of other states. Relatively stable role-specific understandings and expectations about one’s self are gained by interacting with social relationships, rules, norms, and practices. He stated to us that it is easy for our communities to get caught up in repetition, and strongly advised us to balance our self-interests with our communities’ interests. There are time where see no capabilities in ourselves. We don't know if or what we can contribute to the bigger picture and to others. It is in these times where we are called to bring forth our whole selves and seek others to help acknowledge what we cannot see to help us feel for ourselves our greatness. In his time, Grijalva stated, differences were either/or policies. Now, he refutes, our differences-whether they be gender, ability, racial, class, sexual, religious –should fuel and contribute to the whole, rather than deter from it. In balanced leadership, we must recognize our strengths and weaknesses. We must acknowledge and utilize what privileges we do have to work so that others can share in that same light. There is strength in numbers. A leader must be ready to spring into action, to network, but most importantly, to build relationships.
