While I helped facilitate a lot of ‘one-time’ workshops, I also got to become part of a lot more on-going projects or classes. The LEAD Office is connected to so many different groups and organizations, on and off campus. On campus, this year the LEAD Office started a partnership with Mason LIFE. We had schedule workshops throughout each semester to introduce leadership, communication, and teamwork skills to name a few.
This spring semester we had to plan and facilitate the workshops along with some of my co-workers. We planned activities that really got them to work together and reflect on different areas of leadership. During our last workshop, we asked what they had learned from all these workshops and what they liked most about them. It was really impactful to hear the responses, on male student in particular said something to the effect that these activities had everyone working together even if they did not like each other all that much. I hadn’t even realized there was tension in the group, but it was neat to learn that our workshops had helped in that why.
I also got to work with a Mason LIFE intern this semester who helped out a lot with planning these workshops. She also helped lead and get the workshop space ready. It was really great to see her gain confidence and be so proud in what she had done to help get the workshops together. This is just one example of how to me, systems thinking really shows how one can have an effect on an entire group, and even in ways that one might not realize.