blog posts

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  The Optimistic Leader: How to stay resilient in the face of adversity

  Mar 7, 2023 10:30 am1053 views

  In this blog, we explore the powerful connection between optimism and resilience in leadership. Discover how a positive outlook can help you overcome obstacles and inspire those around you, ultimately leading to greater success and fulfillment in both your personal and professional life.

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  Leadership in Social Justice

  Jan 27, 2023 11:00 am294 views

  The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines social justice as “justice in terms of the distribution of wealth, opportunities, and privileges within a society.” The concept of social justice encompasses all oppressed and marginalized groups and it is formed on five pillars: access to resources, equity, participation, diversity, and human rights.

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  Stress and Free Time: Learning How to Appreciate Leadership

  Oct 24, 2022 2:15 pm69 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.

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  Prioritizing Mental Health in Undergraduate Students Working Towards Professional & Graduate Programs

  Apr 18, 2022 11:30 am56 views

  This post explores mental health in undergraduate students working towards professional and graduate programs. This post also gives advice and strategies on how to manage one’s mental health in college.

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  Leadership Lessons from President Zelensky

  Mar 29, 2022 11:15 am6879 views

  Leadership lessons from President Zelensky we can apply in our daily lives.

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  Why can't women be ambitious and likable?

  Mar 1, 2022 12:00 pm421 views

  This post explores the concept of "The Likeability Trap" as well as the pressures that women encounter in the workplace to curate their appearance and fashion.

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  Leading by Creativity

  Dec 7, 2021 1:15 pm1680 views

  This post goes into detail on one of the most important soft skills for a leader to have: creativity! Creativity helps leaders with problem-solving, communication, and team building. 

• Reflections on the past semester: the progress we have made

  Dec 6, 2021 2:15 pm249 views

  This post reflects on the past semester and all the progress we have made from the start till now. It also emphasizes the importance of your accomplishments and future goals you may set for yourself.

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  Ways to Relieve Stress

  Dec 6, 2021 12:45 pm818 views

  This post shares some ways to help relieve some stress. With the start of a new semester, it's always important to find ways to calm our stressors and still remain calm during all the chaos that is to come. 

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  How to stay (sorta) stress-free in college

  Nov 15, 2021 12:45 pm190 views

  This post shares some ways to help relieve stress in your life. With the end of the semester quickly approaching, this is a great post that gives some tips on ways to help handle the stress in your life!

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  The Importance of Developing a Community Perspective

  Oct 21, 2021 11:30 am2937 views

  This post talks about the importance of community and volunteering within your own community. The post shares a bit more about how to develop leadership skills through helping out your community. 

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

  Oct 18, 2021 1:15 pm121 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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  How to Prioritize our Emotional Wellness 

  Oct 11, 2021 2:15 pm2355 views

  This post talks about the importance of emotional wellness and how to prioritize that in our lives. The post also talks a bit more about recognizing our own emotions, stress management, and emotional intelligence. 

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  The Importance of Leadership in a Global Pandemic

  Jul 7, 2021 1:45 pm8924 views

  This post highlights the importance of leaders navigating the challenges of COVID-19 and how leadership takes flexibility. The author uses their experience on the Illini Union Board to exemplify the challenges faced.

• Recognizing my Strengths as a Leader

  Jul 7, 2021 1:15 pm43 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. 

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  The Influence of the ILC's Workshops on my Leadership Journey

  Jul 7, 2021 12:45 pm3816 views

  This post talks about the experience of a fellow student throughout her time on campus and how the workshops helped with her leadership development today. 

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  Tips to Develop Yourself Over Summer

  Apr 21, 2021 2:15 pm547 views

  This post gives 5 tips on ways to develop yourself over the summer. Summer gives us the opportunity to develop ourselves as we get a break after the long, hectic school year. There are many ways to help develop yourself this summer, but these are just 5 examples. 

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  National Make a Difference Day

  Oct 20, 2020 10:30 am381 views

  National Make a Difference Day focuses on aspects of service in our community. This post goes into more detail about the day and introduces the topic of servant leadership. 

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  The Importance of Diversity in Leadership

  Oct 20, 2020 9:15 am70 views

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

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  The Importance of Self-Improvement for Leaders

  Sep 17, 2020 12:00 pm49815 views

  September is self-improvement month. This post goes into detail on what self-improvement is, how it is important for leaders and shares a personal connection to self-improvement. 

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  The National Day of Encouragement- What is it?

  Sep 12, 2020 9:30 am989 views

  This post goes into depth on the National Day of Encouragement, a day that recognizes the importance of encouragement in our everyday lives. It'll go into more detail on the history, facts, and ways to increase the use of encouragement in your lives. 

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  Organizing for Social Change: An Interview with a First-Timer

  Jun 12, 2020 11:45 am143 views

  I first met Paul Saban at the 2019 session of the Institute by LeaderShape. When Paul informed me that he was organizing a demonstration for Black Lives Matter in his hometown in Monticello, I decided that I would interview him about his experience following the demonstration. This was his first time organizing an event of this kind. The demonstration was held in the main square of Monticello, Illinois on Saturday, June 6.

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  Why Leadership is Important to Me (And for You!)

  Apr 15, 2020 11:00 pm148 views

  In this post I talk about a personal experience from high school that was a foundational piece of my experience in becoming a leader. I use this as an example of why leadership is important to me by describing how I came to view myself as a leader and the impact I have had on others as a result.

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  What Actually Makes a Good Leader, May Not Be What You Think...

  Apr 15, 2020 12:00 am456 views

  We are always asked the question, "what makes a good leader?" Through all the different studies and approaches learned, I discovered what I believe makes a good leader and it may not be what you think.

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  What is the Hardest Part About Being Good Leader?

  Apr 15, 2020 12:00 am4636 views

  In this article, I discuss what I find to be the hardest part of being a leader. The pressure to please all parties is a challenge that can be burdensome and serve to degrade a leader's confidence in their ability. I discuss this topic from my perspective and experiences.