blog posts

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  Why YOU should consider the Leadership Studies Minor

  Oct 27, 2020 9:45 am854 views

  This post explains more information on the Leadership Studies Minor and gives student perspectives on the minor itself. 

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  Why reflection is important in a leadership role

  Nov 8, 2021 12:45 pm1734 views

  This post talks about the importance of reflection and how it is important for leaders and teams to practice reflection. 

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

  Apr 15, 2020 11:00 pm132 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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  Why can't women be ambitious and likable?

  Mar 1, 2022 12:00 pm324 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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  When Opportunity Knocks 

  Mar 1, 2022 11:15 am139 views

  This post talks about how to build your own personal leadership style and the benefits that can come from it. This post also gives advice on ways to improve your leadership and be a better leader to others in many different scenarios of life. 

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  What is the Hardest Part About Being Good Leader?

  Apr 15, 2020 12:00 am4460 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.

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  What Is A Personal Brand Anyway?

  Feb 6, 2023 2:00 pm53 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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  What does it mean to be an ethical leader?

  Mar 16, 2021 1:30 pm2250 views

  This post shares ways to be an ethical leader and practice integrity as a leader in our every day. The author shares some personal stories as well on the topic of integrity.

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  What Can Bad Leadership Lead to?

  Jan 27, 2023 11:15 am111 views

  The movie Team Foxcatcher (2016) is a perfect example of how multi-faceted ethical leadership issues can be. The story shows what bad leadership can do to subordinates and how maybe the leader isn't the only person to blame for the end result.

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

  Apr 15, 2020 12:00 am333 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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  Ways to Relieve Stress

  Dec 6, 2021 12:45 pm795 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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  Unmute, Speak, and Lead

  Apr 12, 2022 11:30 am22 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.

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  Undertaking the Leadership Certificate with a Science PhD

  Apr 6, 2021 1:15 pm57 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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  Tips to Develop Yourself Over Summer

  Apr 21, 2021 2:15 pm358 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. 

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

  Apr 21, 2022 9:30 am32 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. 

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  The Shared "We"

  Mar 2, 2021 1:30 pm31 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. 

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  The Role of Relationship Management in Leadership

  Nov 10, 2020 9:30 am13769 views

  This post emphasizes the importance of relationship management in leadership. It goes into detail on ways to practice, understand, and learn from relationship management as a leader. 

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  The Power of Integrity

  Mar 16, 2021 1:15 pm260 views

  This post talks about power of integrity and what makes it so important in life and leadership. 

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

  Mar 7, 2023 10:30 am551 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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  The National Day of Encouragement- What is it?

  Sep 12, 2020 9:30 am725 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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  The Influence of the ILC's Workshops on my Leadership Journey

  Jul 7, 2021 12:45 pm2024 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. 

• The Importance of Sustainable Leadership

  Feb 8, 2022 12:00 pm472 views

  This post highlights why being a sustainable leader in today’s climate is important. The author challenges the reader to explore sustainable practices and try to implement them in their daily lives as well as their leadership roles.

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  The Importance of Self-Improvement for Leaders

  Sep 17, 2020 12:00 pm47056 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 importance of practicing openness today’s society

  Nov 3, 2021 1:15 pm508 views

  This post talks about the importance of openness and shares how the importance of practicing openness will be impactful in both your professional and personal life. 

• The Importance of Networking

  Feb 21, 2022 1:00 pm1611 views

  This post goes into detail on the importance of networking and some benefits of it. 

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  The Importance of Leadership in a Global Pandemic

  Jul 7, 2021 1:45 pm8708 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.

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  The Importance of Diversity in Leadership

  Oct 20, 2020 9:15 am67 views

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

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  The Importance of Developing a Community Perspective

  Oct 21, 2021 11:30 am2079 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. 

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  The Importance of Community to Leadership Practice

  Mar 30, 2021 1:15 pm13201 views

  This post explains the importance of community in leadership and guides you through different ways to be a leader in a community. 

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  The Illinois Model of Leadership

  Apr 16, 2020 3:00 pm172 views

  Through a campus-wide initiative involving faculty, staff, and student participants, the ILC developed The Illinois Model of Leadership Education. Learn more about this framework used to inform and shape the practice of the leadership education at Illinois. 

• The History of Black Housing Discrimination at UIUC

  Feb 28, 2024 12:45 pm8 views

  In this blog post I talk about the Wicked Problem of Black housing discrimination and segregation at UIUC and how it has been a problem since the opening of this University. with all the strides that black people have made on this campus it goes almost unnoticeable today, but we are still seeing the affects of this historical problem in real time.

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  The Effectiveness of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership

  Oct 6, 2020 10:15 am312 views

  Since October is Emotional Intelligence Awareness Month, this post goes into detail on the importance of emotional intelligence and how to effectively use it in leadership. 

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  Team Mentors & Team Members: How a Team Excels

  Feb 1, 2022 1:30 pm283 views

  This post talks about how important team members and team mentors are to an entire team. The post explains the importance of each role and effective ways to go about them. 

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  Sustainability in Leadership

  Mar 16, 2021 2:00 pm216 views

  This post goes into depth on sustainability in leadership and emphasizes the importance of it. 

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  Student Employment Reflections

  Jan 26, 2021 3:15 pm50 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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  Stress and Free Time: Learning How to Appreciate Leadership

  Oct 24, 2022 2:15 pm67 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.

• Stepping into a Leadership Position for the First Time

  Mar 1, 2022 11:45 am14 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. 

• Special Situations in Private Markets

  Jan 26, 2024 1:30 pm12 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 am56 views

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

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

  Dec 6, 2021 2:15 pm222 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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  Reflections: Being a Student Leader in a Pandemic and Lessons Learned

  Dec 14, 2020 9:30 am25801 views

  This post provides reflections from UIUC students on this past Fall semester and how they felt about the changes and transition to online classes. 

• Recognizing my Strengths as a Leader

  Jul 7, 2021 1:15 pm39 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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  Prioritizing Mental Health in Undergraduate Students Working Towards Professional & Graduate Programs

  Apr 18, 2022 11:30 am49 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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  Organizing for Social Change: An Interview with a First-Timer

  Jun 12, 2020 11:45 am138 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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  One Question to Answer Before Deciding Your Career Path

  Jan 26, 2021 2:45 pm3 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!

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  National Make a Difference Day

  Oct 20, 2020 10:30 am315 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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  My Time at the ILC

  Apr 26, 2022 1:15 pm91 views

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

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  My Definition of Leadership

  Apr 15, 2020 11:30 pm24625 views

  I go into detail on what I believe is the true definition of leadership and how this reflects all the good leaders in our lives. I also give my perspective on the definition of leadership.

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  Let Go of Your Perfectionism: The Best Ways to Stop Being So Hard on Yourself

  Nov 29, 2021 1:15 pm31294 views

  We put too much pressure on ourselves to succeed or do everything perfectly. Here are some ways you can stop being so hard on yourself. Understanding the roots of your perfectionism is the first step to overcoming it. Find someone you trust that you can talk to about your struggles. Take time for yourself every day and write down your worries. Give yourself permission to make mistakes and give yourself permission for doing things imperfectly.

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  Leading by Creativity

  Dec 7, 2021 1:15 pm1055 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.