Name:

Justin Goodwin
Date: September 22, 2013
Entry: A
Title: Understanding and dealing with the challenges of leadership
Program Outcomes: Organizational and Political Leadership
Learning Goals: To always be flexible in the face of leadership challenges
Artifact: Mr. Fantastic

Blessed are the flexible, for they shall never get bent out of shape. Undoubtedly
this punning aphorism by Michael McGriffy is a statement that any one who has ever
been in a leadership position can relate to. This topic seemed to come up repeatedly
while reflecting on my early practicum experiences, and as this first month winds to
a close, it is clear that pliancy is an absolutely necessary and tested skill among the
ranks of quality leaders.

Consequently, for my first artifact I felt compelled to embrace this concept and the
first thing that came to mind was Mr. Fantastic (Reed Richards) from the Classic
Marvel Comic The Fantastic Four. This superhero had two distinctly unique powers:
super intellect and the ability to stretch his body to extreme lengths and in a variety
of shapeswhatever the situation demanded, Mr. Fantastic could manipulate his
soma to accommodate. More importantly, however, is the fact that Mr. Fantastic is
not your typical superhero solo act; he is the leader of a super team. Because each
member of The Fantastic Four has notably different skills, Mr. Fantastic uses his
extreme intelligence to strategically utilize every affiliate effectively.

Through my work on Grand Island Senior Highs new Language Arts Curriculum
Task Force and as the English Department 11th grade Response to Intervention
Leader, I have become extremely familiar with the need for flexibility. Whether it be
scheduling conflicts, differences of opinion, or reluctant participants, in these past
few weeks I have experienced more unforeseen problems then I could have every
anticipated. Much like a superhero, good leaders must face these issues fearlessly
and with composer. In Reed-Richards-like fashion, I have stretched myself to
accommodate many unpredicted circumstances and devised ways to employ the
talents of each of my team members. Ive learned that, hands down, adaptability
equals success.

Clearly, the aforementioned skills have a directed correlation with both
organizational and political leadership. Ensuring management of organization,
operations, and resources demands that who ever is in charge must be able to think
on their toes and be prepared to brainstorm and problem-solve any issues that can,
and will, arise. Similarly, being a servant leader in the public eye who strives to
[collaborate] with families and community members, respond to diverse
community interests and needs, mobilizeresources by understanding and
responding to the culture and climate of the community requires resilience and
compromise. Albert Einstein once said, the measure of intelligence is the ability to
changeperhaps it is also a measurement of leadership.