blog posts

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  Indecisiveness & Leadership

  Sep 7, 2022 11:00 am150 views

  It is okay to be unsure so long as you recognize your indecisiveness. Identify what you can control and set goals that focus on it while keeping an eye on uncontrollable factors. If you are lost in a haze, do not hesitate to ask for help from reliable mentors or peers.

• How My Involvement With The Illinois Leadership Center Transformed My Life

  Oct 18, 2021 1:15 pm129 views

  This post talks a bit about the importance the ILC has had on one of our own employee's college experiences. She shares how she got involved with the ILC and where that has gotten her today as she is finishing her time here at the University of Illinois. 

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  Innovation in Leadership

  Apr 6, 2021 1:45 pm127 views

  This post goes into details on Innovation in leadership. It describes what innovation is and ways to embrace innovation in leadership and in our daily lives. 

• Empathy: Stepping into others’ shoes without tripping over our own

  Oct 14, 2024 3:15 pm123 views

  In this blog post, I go over the difference between sympathy and empathy and ways we can practice empathy. I use several personal anecdotes but also highlight that too much of everything is harmful and it is equally important to sometimes take a step back when you feel that being empathetic is taking up too much of your energy.

• Innovation and Leadership

  Apr 6, 2021 1:45 pm115 views

  This post talks about innovation and the impacts it has on leadership. Innovation helps start trendsetters and conversation starters for leaders. It is important to recognize the impact innovation has on leaders. 

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  My Time at the ILC

  Apr 26, 2022 1:15 pm114 views

  This post is a student employee reflection on her time at Illinois and working at the Illinois Leadership Center. 

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  How to be a Leader in a Virtual Setting

  Mar 22, 2022 11:45 am94 views

  This post is about the tools you will need as a leader online, and how to work on the skills you are confident in to succeed in a virtual environment.

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  How My Experience at The LeaderShape® Institute™ Shaped My Understanding of Social Justice

  Feb 16, 2021 1:00 pm91 views

  The LeaderShape®  Institute™ was a great opportunity to learn more about social justice and hear from different viewpoints. My time at The LeaderShape®  Institute™  was very influential and I wanted to share how it helped my viewpoint of social justice. 

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  How to be a Leader in a Virtual Setting

  Apr 25, 2022 11:30 am86 views

  This post elaborates on a few strategies that students can implement in order to become a leader in a virtual setting. 

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  6 Tips for Successfully Leading a Team

  Jan 27, 2023 10:45 am81 views

  Leading a team can be intimidating, so here are six tips to help you the next time you are tasked to lead a team.

• Special Situations in Private Markets

  Jan 26, 2024 1:30 pm79 views

  Jeremy Giffon's wisdom on passion, advice, and resilience inspires a path to success. Embrace challenges and learn to be "hard to kill".

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  Self Leadership

  Apr 28, 2022 11:00 am79 views

  This post explains the importance of self-leadership and goes into some topics regarding self-leadership. 

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  The Importance of Diversity in Leadership

  Oct 20, 2020 9:15 am79 views

  This post discusses the importance of diversity in concepts of leadership and areas of life. 

• Is Leadership Conditional?

  May 3, 2022 11:30 am78 views

  When someone mentions the word leadership to you, what comes to mind? How can this concept be applied in a virtual setting? 

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  Undertaking the Leadership Certificate with a Science PhD

  Apr 6, 2021 1:15 pm77 views

  This post shares the experience of a Ph.D. student who also took on the Leadership Certificate Program, offered at the ILC. He talks about his experience, why he decided to do it, and the benefits that came out of the program for him. 

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  Stress and Free Time: Learning How to Appreciate Leadership

  Oct 24, 2022 2:15 pm77 views

  When was the last time that you got to "stop and smell the roses"? In this post, I will be sharing my personal experiences with the stress that leadership brings and how I manage it. By reading this post, you will gain insight into how you can better appreciate your leadership roles and what you accomplish in them.

• Compassionate Leadership: What I've Learned

  Nov 8, 2023 3:30 pm77 views

  In this blog, an ILC graf intern explores the concept of compassionate leadership and how her time working at the Illinois Leadership Center has made her reevaluate her approach on what makes a competent leader.

• The Role of Empathy and Compassion in Burnout and Productivity.

  Jan 21, 2025 12:15 pm73 views

  In this blog post by Thais Silveira, we learn about how important empathy and compassion, especially being kind to yourself, are for dealing with burnout at work and boosting productivity. It explains that these qualities, backed by new research in brain science and psychology, can improve mental health, lower self-criticism, and build emotional strength. By encouraging self-care and setting realistic goals, empathy and compassion help prevent burnout and create a healthier, more productive workplace.

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  Add These to Your Leadership Reading List: ILC Resources and Our Upcoming Book Club

  Jan 23, 2023 4:00 pm73 views

  The Illinois Leadership Center’s Cavenaugh Leadership Library is a great resource for students and staff due to its various borrowable activities and books that can help anyone with improving their leadership competency. The ILC will also be launching a brand-new book club for those who enjoy stories of leadership in practice and for those who want to learn about newer, nontraditional theories of leadership. Learn more about what we have to offer!

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  Do You Really Trust Your Team? Do They Trust You?

  Apr 7, 2022 11:15 am71 views

  This post details on the importance of being a trustworthy leader and provides a piece of advice on people who are just about to start their leadership role, using soccer as an example.

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  Student Employment Reflections

  Jan 26, 2021 3:15 pm67 views

  Student employees at the Illinois Leadership Center share their experience while working at the ILC as well as some benefits to their positions. Information on student employment for the 2021-2022 school year is also shared. 

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  Leading a remote team? Here are some tips for asynchronous success.

  Apr 29, 2022 11:15 am67 views

  In a post-pandemic world, it seems that working remotely is becoming more ingrained into the professional world. Remote team projects are becoming extremely commonplace. However, being a remote leader can be challenging. Here are some tips for leading a remote team from my experience as a remote team leader. 

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  What Is A Personal Brand Anyway?

  Feb 6, 2023 2:00 pm63 views

  You have likely heard the term 'personal brand' before, but what does that mean? This article discusses what a personal brand is, and why leaders should care about their personal brand. The ways you talk or write, the interactions you have with others, and the way you spend your time are all aspects of your personal brand, whether you intentionally plan them or not. This article will help you begin reflecting on your personal brand.

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  Becoming an Effective Leader in your first leadership position

  Feb 24, 2022 12:15 pm60 views

  This post provides insightful advice on how to be a confident and effective leader in your first leadership position.

• Recognizing my Strengths as a Leader

  Jul 7, 2021 1:15 pm55 views

  This post talks about the experience of a Ph.D. student and how the ILC has influenced her journey. Through all the resources offered, she has been able to recognize her strengths as a leader. 

• Listening as a Leader

  Feb 12, 2025 1:15 pm52 views

  In this blog post, Emily Chang, a Graf Intern at the Illinois Leadership Center, discusses how listening is an often-overlooked leadership quality and how it can be beneficial in making others feel more comfortable participating.

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  The Shared "We"

  Mar 2, 2021 1:30 pm42 views

  This post goes into detail on the importance of Common Purpose in Leadership and how practicing this competency will make you a great leader. 

• Three essential key factors that will help you shine as a leader in your RSO

  Apr 21, 2022 9:30 am41 views

  This post provides advice on how to navigate the transition to a leadership position in an RSO after experiencing a major part of COVID. 

• How Trying Calamari (and other things) Helped Me to Have Better Self-Management

  Dec 1, 2023 1:00 pm39 views

  Simplify life's complexities by discovering three transformative mindsets—curiosity, embracing opportunities, and reframing problems for effective self-management. With practical insights from her own experiences, an ILC graf intern emphasizes the gradual nature of this process and shares her wisdom on navigating life with intention and pride. 

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  Unmute, Speak, and Lead

  Apr 12, 2022 11:30 am37 views

  In a world stuck between virtual and in-person programming, our leadership skills need to encompass both settings. This article discusses one way you can be a leader in a virtual setting.

• The Importance of Diverse Leaders

  Nov 15, 2024 4:00 pm36 views

  What is diverse leadership and why do we need it anyway? In this post, we go over what it means to be a diverse leader, how to promote diverse leadership in your organization, and why it is necessary in the first place.

• Work-Life Balance: Is It Possible?

  Sep 25, 2024 8:30 am35 views

  In this post Arianna Guerra dives into the struggles of achieving work-life balance and a life-changing revelation she had after receiving advice from a fellow ILC staff member.  

• How to Establish a Psychologically Safe Team

  Feb 21, 2024 12:15 pm34 views

  ILC's communication and marketing specialist Eugene Hwang talks about psychological safety and what it takes to have a team where everyone feels comfortable!

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  Role of a Leader - establish automation & system

  Jan 28, 2025 8:00 am26 views

  In this post Tim Chen speaks on how efficiency is key to all bodies, and how the role of a leader is to "manage" and establish systematic processes and automation.

• Stepping into a Leadership Position for the First Time

  Mar 1, 2022 11:45 am23 views

  This post explores how shedding the stereotypical perception of a leader as a commander and stepping into the role of a facilitator can help build trust and increase group productivity when stepping into a leadership position for the first time. 

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  COVID-19 Updates

  Apr 16, 2020 1:15 pm20 views

  As the spread of the COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) creates uncertainty and concerns both globally and here in our community, the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign continues to monitor developments and to take any new actions that are warranted as new information emerges in this rapidly changing situation. Click here for information and updates about the impact of the COVID-19 virus on our university.

• Leading Through Crisis

  Dec 11, 2024 1:15 pm19 views

  In this blog post Kristian Robbins talks about how leading through a crisis can be challenging and difficult for many people to navigate. As a leader who has navigated both internal and external struggles, Kristian gives us her best techniques for practicing authentic leadership and managing challenges without compromising leadership abilities.
  
  

• The Blackbird Will Soar: Leadership Rooted in Strength and Knowledge

  Mar 28, 2025 12:15 pm16 views

  Leadership is not a singular path, but a dynamic force shaped by history, resilience, and lived experiences, especially within the Black community. Inspired by her mother’s wisdom, Jamaira Williams explores leadership beyond titles, rooted in knowledge, perseverance, and purpose. Black leaders have defied limitations, proving that true leadership uplifts, educates, and empowers. As we honor Black history, we must ask: How will we lead, inspire, and break barriers for future generations?

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  Donaldson Gift to the Illinois Leadership Center Makes History

  Jun 8, 2020 9:15 am11 views

  The Illinois Leadership® Center (ILC) at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has received the largest outright gift in the history of Student Affairs at Illinois with a $1.17 million gift from Jane and William (“Bill”) Donaldson.

• Role Modeling and Strength: The Heart of Leadership

  Feb 26, 2025 2:00 pm10 views

  In this blog post, Tyler writes about how effective leadership is rooted in being a role model and demonstrating strength. By leading with integrity and fostering inclusivity, He aims to empower others and create a trusting environment.

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  One Question to Answer Before Deciding Your Career Path

  Jan 26, 2021 2:45 pm8 views

  Remember the saying that we all wanted to believe as kids? You can be anything you want to be when you grow up. One of the best ways to end up in the kind of career that earns you respect, recognition, success, and happiness is to do more of what you're good at.

  Click the title to read this article by Jessica Buono from Gallup with CliftonStrengths, one of the programs presented at the ILC!