Weeks 13 & 14:Authentic Communication & Service Learning
Authentic Communicators
I thought this section about authentic communication was interesting. It’s true that a leader’s communication style can make them or break them. Being an authentic communicator puts you ahead of other leaders or public figures who aren’t so good at conveying their message. The examples of Martin Luther King Jr. and Oprah were good examples of great authentic communicator. A leader outside of the U.S. that illustrates the importance of authentic communication is Malala Yousafzai. I thought of Malala right away because her story is so unique. She is a great example of resilience and bravery. Malala can directly relate to the war on terrorism and has seen it first hand. Her story is call to action for everyone in the world to help stop to these awful groups. Malala is the perfect leader for other Pakistani girls to stand up to the Taliban. Her voice and messages on freedom and education is all the strength she needs to get the world to address these problems.
Another example of an authentic communicator outside of the United States is Pope Francis. Popes have always been looked at as great world leaders but Pope Francis is different. He is the most modern pope we have ever seen. His down to earth and humble attitude is what makes him stand out among previous popes. He is more understanding of gay marriage and contraceptives. This just shows that he accepts other people’s beliefs and choices. He is a fresh face for the Catholic Church and a positive one. His mission to connect the whole world by actually visiting communities around the world is his way of being authentic. If Pope Francis’ communication style was more demanding and strict he wouldn’t be the leader he is today. His way of communicating is through universal understanding.
Service Learning
The box titled “Everyday Organizational Communication” on page 280 in the book has some good points on service learning and community engagement. Going to a Catholic school my whole life before college I was always involved in community service. I was apart of my community’s youth group where we would go on a number of service trips. Some of the places we would visit and serve were soup kitchens and veteran hospitals. I think it is important to start serving like this at a young age because it shows the importance of helping others. Community service also gives the opportunity to learn about leadership. Leaders stand out in groups like these because they are at the center of everything and makes sure everything is going to plan. Service learning gives a first hand experience of in valuing individuals because you are serving and helping others. This also sets a good feeling in the individuals serving because they feel like they are making a difference. Community service can add value to someone’s perspective of themselves. I think its great that college campuses have organizations like this that get students involved. I think the IPRO program at Illinois Tech sets us apart from other colleges or university’s service learning groups. For some IPRO classes you are actually on scene in some places helping out. For example, students have visited Chinatown and Bronzeville to help think of ways to improve the livability on those communities. I added the images below to get a better understanding of service learning.
