Brianna Wallace Leadership Analysis Interview a Leader: Callie Short

Questions

How would you describe your leadership style? Directive, supportive, fluctuating or staying consistent?

How do you feel you developed as a leader? Did you always have a drive to hold leadership positions, or was there a specific event that made you realize you were capable of leadership?

Do you recommend or notice any specific process or set of steps to becoming a leader? Is there someone who you look up to in terms of mimicking their leadership style? Was there a point where you wanted to deviate somewhat and add elements of your own personality?

What types of leadership positions do you hold on campus? How did your interest in them start? Do they all have something in common?

I remember from the retreat that you are a Blue. How do you feel that manifests itself in the way you interact with others?

Did you ever really disagree or really agree with the results from a leadership or personality assessment?

What do you feel are the top three traits a successful leader must have?

Brianna Wallace Leadership Analysis Interview a Leader: Callie Short

Leadership Analysis: Callie Short

As a new Orientation Leader, I had no clue what orientation was about or what my summer experience would be like. Though many of the Campus Partners, fellow orientation leaders, and members of the First Year Experience leadership team guided me throughout my experience, I felt that Callie Short was a true role model for me because of her unwavering dedication to all the OLs. My freshman year, I was a member of the Loyola Honors Student Association and had assumed that Callie was a member of the Executive Board because she attended every meeting, participated in every event, and was always quick to answer any of my questions and sooth my fears of my Honors Seminar course. In this interview, I mentioned her leadership position in HSA. I was amazed when she corrected me, because her involvement level had exceeded that of the organizations president. She said, Even though I wasnt an E-board member, I was still a leader. As an upperclassman, I felt that I could help the students who were new to the Honors Program. I know how confused I was in their position and I wanted to help. Callie is type of leader who leads even without a formal position. She exhibits the Jesuit tradition of magis, always giving more of her time and effort to others. She exhibits servant leadership in her service of paper editing events for freshman students. She takes the time to help her peers develop themselves to become the best leaders they can be, asking nothing in return. She cares simply because you need help, and guides you simply because you are lost. Callie is a selfless and authentic leader, true to her values, and true to those she leads.

Brianna Wallace Leadership Analysis Interview a Leader: Callie Short

When she was starting high school, Callie found her older brother as a role model and emulated his involvement in extra-curricular activities. She wanted to become Student Council and Student Body President, extending the Tim Short legacy in any way she could. Though she found a passion for peer leadership through the activities her brother enjoyed, she eventually realized that she could be a leader in her own way: by participating in the theater program rather than a sport team, and being an active member of the Student Council, but not necessarily the president. In college, Callie tried to find venues for her passion in peer leadership, eventually finding the formative experience of her college career, becoming an Orientation Leader. Callie wanted to remain supportive, inclusive, and approachable as a leader. She developed her own personal leadership style, learning that she needed to be a situational leader to maintain flexibility based upon the group dynamics of each Discover Loyola group. She must also utilize visionary leadership as a transformational leader to ensure that both she and the students emerge motivated to do more than expected of them and develop a stronger set of moral values and leadership skills. Callie recognizes that her main leadership style is supportive, and as a Blue for the True Colors Assessment, focuses on the emotional support of each individual or group. She claims, I hate it when I have to be more of a directive leader. Sometimes the situation calls for it, but I always make sure that the people Im leading still know that I care about them. You now see why Im a Blue. Despite her complete acceptance of her Blue personality, Callie felt a bit taken aback by her most dominant StrengthsQuest trait: Input. Input is more of a calculating Green strength, but Callie eventually saw that trait being manifested in the way she keeps close tabs on how people are feeling in the work environment. It takes a lot of assessment and mental filing to stay updated on each individual, but it is a trait she feels is embedded in her personality.

Brianna Wallace Leadership Analysis Interview a Leader: Callie Short

Of all the various ways to define a leader and the infinite amount of strengths one can possess, Callie hold three traits to be the most important to an aspiring leader. Understanding ones values and exhibiting the Jesuit practice of being a self-aware is essential, because people will only follow a leader who is true to themselves and sticks to their beliefs. Flexibility allows for the leader to change his or her leadership style just enough to engage and motivate the followers by making them feel connected and included. Most importantly, Callie suggests that a leader not fear failure. She claims, I know there was a time where I was afraid of not doing well or coming short of my goals. If you are afraid of failure, you end up not doing anything at all, and think of all those people you could have been helping instead. Throughout her journey, Callie has encountered many people who have shaped her into the leader she is today, from her influential older brother, to supervisor Chelsea Ruff, to the amazing people she meets every day. Callie believes that her leadership development is never over and that she will always be learning and growing with each leadership opportunity that comes her way.