Written by: Katelyn Ouverson, Clear Lake Bank & Trust Co.
I was born and raised a homeschooled farm girl. When I was given the opportunity to participate in Leadership North Iowa (LNI), the thought of attending a program where 90% of the activities were outside of my comfort zone seemed daunting. On the first day of the program, I was encouraged to see a mirror of myself in the other participants. People who seemed intimidated but were willing to commit to improving not only themselves, but their community. Now, six weeks into the program, I see it in a different light. Where we once stood stiff and uncomfortable as individuals, we are already becoming a collective whole working together.
One thing I have learned a great deal about is my personal leadership style. In one session, we learned about different styles of leadership, and this has been the most beneficial class period for me thus far. I have always enjoyed speaking and networking, but leading seemed to be choppy at best for me. I knew the words and perspective I wanted to convey, but it always seemed to come across curt and harsh, even if I intended it to be a simple conversation.
In that class period I learned that my personality in leadership is an “Analyst,” which leads me to see things as very black and white, both in conversation and in procedures. I spent a long time staring at the results of that quiz. I thought, “I am fun and chatty…why did I come out as a pencil pusher?” Then I thought about all the times I had come into a harsh conversation, and it was like a light bulb went off in my mind. I see the world in such a black-and-white manner when others may see it in full color, which can cause a disconnect when I try to communicate. Leaders who are “analysts” can come across as impersonal because they focus on the details rather than the person. This opened my eyes to an area I need to focus on for growth.
Leadership North Iowa can truly open your eyes, if you’re willing to let it. It helps you identify where you’re highly gifted and where you may need a little polishing, shaping you into a leader who can make a lasting impact and build a meaningful legacy. This program pushes you to be creative while you design an impactful project and causes you to look deeper at issues in the community.
I am a firm believer that we should attempt to move toward continuous growth. Like my grandmother always said, “Nothing changes without you voicing your hopes and dreams, “Babycakes”, and this program does just that. LNI challenges us to consider how we can grow as individuals in order to make our community better for the next generation.