During our Orientation Week, I encountered several instances that highlighted the importance of community and teamwork. It all began on our first day with the CAUSE Hot Seat Session. While I can't recall the exact question being asked to the CAUSE Staff panel, one statement stood out and stayed with me throughout the week:
“Relationships are what make the wheels turn; you can have an idea but you need a community to push the boulder up the hill.”
This quote deeply resonated with me. It is a no-brainer that coming up with an idea is a crucial starting point of any endeavor. However, while ideas are valuable in setting the foundation for what could be achieved, ideas alone often require a collective effort to transform them into reality. In this context, just as a project idea needs a team to materialize, successfully pushing a boulder up a hill necessitates a community. A community can encompass family, friends, colleagues, or mentors. The analogy of pushing a boulder signifies the difficulty of accomplishing something alone.
To get a boulder over a hill, it relies on its wheels, and similarly, the relationships we build "are what make the wheels turn." The connections we foster provide support, cooperation, and collaboration, propelling goals or projects forward. Like the wheels of a car or bike, relationships are what enable progress and momentum for things to be done and achieved. What Steve said to our CLA 2023 Cohort on the first day of session encapsulated the significance of working within a team and having a community. His words emphasized the power of relationships and the need for collaboration to bring ideas to life.
These lessons were further reinforced by various experiences throughout the week. The DiSC leadership personality test, in particular, provided me and the rest of the cohort valuable insights into each of our individual strengths and preferences as well as the types of characteristics/traits we tend to exhibit through a leadership lens.
The DiSC personality test provides a framework for understanding different behavioral styles within a team.
In groups, interns collectively brainstormed existing API issues and applied Root Cause Analysis to discover the root causes and identify appropriate solutions for such issues.
By recognizing and appreciating the diversity of personalities, teams can effectively leverage each member's strengths and preferences. For instance, during this activity, I learned that my two dominant traits are: first S (steadiness), and second C (conscientious). This activity made me more self-reflective, observant, and aware of my interactions within team settings and how my peers in the cohort are engaging with me.
In retrospect, this activity helped me gain a better understanding of myself not only as a leader but as an individual as well. It made me aware of both my strengths and potential weaknesses when collaborating with individuals who possess similar or different leadership traits. I now comprehend that when individuals with diverse DiSC profiles come together, they form a well-rounded team capable of pushing the boulder up the hill. Each member brings unique skills, perspectives, and expertise to the table. Through open communication, trust, and respect, the team can cultivate a collaborative environment where everyone's contributions are valued.
The CLA 2023 Cohort toured the Long Beach City Hall and was provided the opportunity to chat with Councilwomen Suely Saro. This tour further sparked our interests in civic engagement and got the cohort to reflect more about the type of change we would all love to enact.
I am looking forward to applying what we learned during our Orientation Week and utilizing our diverse DiSC profiles to optimally and effectively reach our project goals in the upcoming mock campaign. After all, there is no “I” in “TEAM” and, together, we can all push the boulder over the hill to success.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author and do not reflect the views or positions of CAUSE or the CAUSE network.
Written by Andrea Mac, Leadership Academy 2023 Intern.
The CAUSE Leadership Academy (CLA) for students is a nine-week, paid, internship program that prepares college undergraduates to lead and advocate for the Asian Pacific Islander community on their campuses and beyond.