![\"\"](\"https:\/\/malat-webspace.royalroads.ca\/rru0132\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/162\/2021\/03\/photo-1511632765486-a01980e01a18.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
In today\u2019s ever-changing environment, organizations must have strong leadership. But what exactly is strong leadership? And is strong leadership in digital learning environments the same as in face-to-face environments? In our first activity in LRNT 525, our team ranked twenty leadership attributes. We discussed our initial thoughts and shared those thoughts with the rest of our cohort. My focus was on building trust by being forward-looking, transparent, honest, flexible, and supportive<\/span>. I still believe in these attributes and strive to possess them. However, after researching and completing several activities and assignments for this course, I have come to realize that strong <\/span>leadership, regardless of the setting, is more than just possessing five leadership attributes. Strong leadership is all about forming strong relationships\u2014and using those relationships to mentor and empower several stakeholders to help lead and drive change.<\/span><\/p>\n Because we are all part of a complex, interacting system, leading change is not entirely straightforward and linear, stemming from one person. A leadership team of people (including disgruntled stakeholders) who uncover similar core values is better able to generate momentum and maintain change stability. Within my organization, leading change means mentoring and empowering others to help lead and drive change. Relationships make all the difference.<\/span><\/p>\n Just for fun, I searched It\u2019s all about the people<\/em> in the RRU library database. And wouldn\u2019t you know, an article with that title came up! Brenner (2008) argues that leadership is about figuring out strategies to move people outside their comfort zones, not through rational thought, but by tapping into emotions. I believe leading change is about grabbing people\u2019s hearts and minds using what Benner calls <\/span>critical success factors,<\/span><\/i> including trust, motivation, commitment, character, self-discipline, and patience. Out of all the research and readings completed in this course, this last article resonated most with me. When leading change, whether face-to-face or digital, it is the collective energy of the strong relationships that makes all the difference in sustaining change.<\/span><\/p>\n