On February 9, 2017, our research class completed a series of team-building activities that were designed to give us better insight into approaching challenges and how we as individuals and as team members use our leadership skills to accomplish tasks.

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After completing the activities and reflecting on my role, I think the phrase that best described me was "windmill tilter."  I was usually one of the ones who got the team going - I may not have come up with the ideas that worked, but once the team decided on something, it was my actions that gave the team momentum.

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Although it's important to look at specific leadership styles, it's also important to look at how change affected our actions through the activities.  My original plan was to get the game done the first time - however, I couldn't do it perfectly without practice.  I wasn't totally into the game at first, but as I realized I wasn't being a good player, I changed the way I approached the game.  Instead of thinking I knew exactly what was best, I allowed myself to meld into the workings of the group and approach different scenarios in different ways.  After doing that, the entire game was changed as the team became a cohesive unit.  Integrating myself into the team allowed us all to succeed.