Running Head: LDR601 ESSAY

Leadership Concepts in Relation to the Mission

By Shane Gray
Siena Heights University
LDR601
January 22, 2016

Running Head: LDR601 ESSAY

Leadership concepts in relation to the mission

President John F. Kennedy said, Leadership and learning are indispensable to each
other (JFK Library & Museum, n.d.); just as the mission of Siena Heights University (SHU)
which is to assist people to become more competent, purposeful and ethical through a teaching
and learning environment which respects dignity of all (SHU, 2016). This mission statement
would amount to a sentence filled with words, if not for the clear vision of the leadership charged
with carrying out the mission.
Since its establishment in the year 1919, there has been multiple changes in the St.
Josephs College for women, now known as Siena Heights University. Regardless of the name
changes and the changes in its student body, the leadership has maintained the mission of the
school since its inception. Despite changes in the name and changes in the student body,
evolving from an all women alum, to eventually becoming a coeducational learning institution,
leadership concepts and the mission have gone hand-in-hand.
Positive change brings positive results
Organizations who have multiple changes that occurs throughout its history can become
susceptible to resistance from its workforce.

Response to the resistance to change is an

important issue for all parties. Being overly assertive could cause faculty and students to begin
adapting an attitude which over time could become bitter.

A response of ignoring or

withdrawing, becomes a license for those who are resisting to create an unhealthy environment
for all other faculty and students who maybe see a need for change. Regardless, both responses
are certain to be a cause for damaged trust and will, in the future, be a hindrance in the
individuals ability to lead (Tschannen-Moran, 2014). An organization which establishes a sound
mission, will foster a leadership with clear vision, to carry out its mission.

Running Head: LDR601 ESSAY

Responsibility and authority are two of the sought after components of a leader who lacks
maturity. Add a leadership where accountability is not only expected, but appreciated and you
will have a mature leadership concept where peoples success, ability to learn and use their
experience to teach others, will create an ethical atmosphere (Van Gorder, 2014).
Trust builds confidence
Building trust between the faculty and student body seems an essential part to the success
of a university. Based on my personal experience with the faculty, staff and the leadership of
Siena Heights University, the concepts of leadership are evident. Without the dedication to
sound leadership characteristics, the mission would not be carried out. An organization would
not have lasting success unless its foundation is solid. According to the history of Siena Heights
University, leadership concepts and the mission have been working in unison since the
beginning:
The name Siena honors St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th century Italian Dominican who
dedicated her life to a quest for truth and social responsibility. Similarly, the mission of
the College to help students become more competent, purposeful and ethical grows
out of the philosophy Siena. (SHU, 2016)
Moreover, truth and social responsibility are born out of one becoming competent, purposeful
and ethical. Without leadership concepts being practiced, this would be nearly impossible to
instill.
Trust and leadership
Trustworthiness and authenticity are two of the personality traits of effective leaders
(DuBrin, 2014, pp. 40-42). Without trust, there will be no followership and without authenticity,
there will be no competence. It is a necessity for mission accomplishment that these concepts of

Running Head: LDR601 ESSAY

leadership not only be exampled by those carrying the torch of St. Catherine of Siena; but for
that torch to be passed on to the students who come through the Siena Heights University.
Anything less than these standards of leadership will be incapable of providing the assistance
required for people to become purposeful, competent and ethical. Without purpose, people are
alive, but not really living. Competence is required to carry out their purpose, and an ethical
approach will make the people that they encounter, better than they were prior to meeting them.

Running Head: LDR601 ESSAY

5
References:

DuBrin, A. (2014). Leadership: Research findings, practices, and skills, (8th ed.). Boston, MA:
Cengage Learning.
JFK Presidential Library & Museum. (n.d.). John F. Kennedy Speeches: Remarks prepared for
delivery at the Trade Mart in Dallas, TX, November 22, 1963 [Undelivered]. Retrieved
on 01/16/2016, from: http://www.jfklibrary.org/Research/Research-Aids/JFKSpeeches/Dallas-TX-Trade-Mart-Undelivered_19631122.aspx
Siena Heights University (2016). Mission/History. Retrieved on 01/16/2016, from:
http://www.sienaheights.edu/About/MissionHistory.aspx
Tschannen-Moran, M. (2014). Trust Matters: Leadership for successful schools (2nd ed.).
Retrieved on 01/16/2016, from:
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.sienaheights.edu:2048/lib/sienaheights/reader.action?
docID=10849232&ppg=21
Van Gorder, C. (2014). Front-Line Leadership: Building a high-performance organization from
the ground up. Retrieved on 01/16/2016, from:
http://site.ebrary.com.ezproxy.sienaheights.edu:2048/lib/sienaheights/reader.action?
docID=10953586&ppg=121