Last spring I took a one-credit class on leadership, because I knew I didn't know what leadership was. We sat around and tried (and failed) to give an exact definition to leadership, and I left with a first understanding of leadership and how it differs from management. Since then I have refined that understanding, both by observing people whom I see as leaders and by fostering their qualities in myself.
I became an ASIS&T officer for the wrong reasons. Mainly I thought it would be good for my portfolio, and the job seemed right for my web talent. What I have learned this year is that becoming an officer doesn't make me a leader and that I must not take on a position which requires leadership unless I know where I want to lead. I didn't know where I wanted ASIS&T to go, so I didn't take it anywhere. I don't know whether it's better to have no Web Deity than a directionless one, but now I know when to say "no" if anyone offers to elect me into office again.
On the other hand, I have witnessed superb cooperation and leadership in some of my fellow officers. Whenever one of us gets bogged down with work and something needs to be done Right Now, we can shoot off an email and expect that at least one other person will help out. It has been great to be part of a team like that, to help out, and to know that help will come back to me when I need it. I have learned that part of leadership is knowing when to say "I need help."
At KCLS I started as "only" an intern, but I am fortunate in that I have significant autonomy in determining the direction of my own tasks. Sometimes I merely respond to the needs of those around me, but my greatest successes have been in reaching out and forward to solve problems that people didn't even know they had. The scripted reports were my brain-child; I conceived them, brought them to fruit, and continue to nurture them. If possible, I also look forward to implementing my reports on Innovative and making them even more flexible and powerful.
My group's research study for LIS 570 represents another part of my vision. I have come to recognize that the documentation available in the iPac catalog interface is abominable and that it needs to be rectified in some manner, probably by KCLS librarians. My supervisors at KCLS have expressed an interest in my opinions and in my ideas, and I hope that I will have an opportunity to see them realized.
I don't think that I want to be an upper-level manager or an administrator, but I like the idea of "leading from behind." My ideas come from doing, and I love being the person who can get them done.