JaLeesa Diggs, Student Leader

JaLeesa Diggs: senior dance major, Head Resident Assistant of Juniper Dorm, Treasurer of Ladies of Service, and employed in two University offices as work study. To me, she sounded like the perfect candidate. I certainly consider her a leader; does she consider her self one? Yes, she said after a moment, “I have a habit of taking control of things; but like any leader, I always self-reflect and know when I’m wrong.” When I asked her what are the most important qualities of leadership, she had several ready points. She talked about how she knows when not to lead, and how that is something a good leader is always aware of. The goal must always be to benefit the whole, and not just oneself, thus sometimes it is a leader’s duty to step down from a position of leadership to facilitate such a result. On the other side of the coin, a good leader always volunteers to take responsibility when appropriate. This sets an example for others. Lastly, a good leader has acute awareness of her team, both individually and as a whole. “That’s something that can slip under the cracks—it’s like making sure everyone is okay with their task and there is nothing going on with someone that is affecting the efforts of the group.”

So how did JaLeesa become such a leader? What was her inspiration and background that led her to take on leadership roles and ultimately gain such insight to leadership? “Helping others,” she said simply. “The fulfillment I get from being a mentor or role model for someone else is invaluable.” She went on to describe an instance of how she influenced another person and that the result was infinitely rewarding. “It’s a good feeling to be looked up to.” With her family, she was always the responsible one within the group of kids; she learned early on how to mediate conflict, and how to take on responsibility. Thus she was set up perfectly to lead as she grew and matured.

But she doesn’t always enjoy such responsibility. When asked what qualities she dislikes about the role, she mentioned that the responsibility can be overwhelming. “Because the nature of the job is that of benefitting others, you don’t always have time for yourself. It’s easy to become stressed out because you are so busy dealing with others’ issues that you have no time to think about your own.” But the worst part about the job, she said, is when you try to help someone, but your efforts are fruitless—like when you want to resolve something but you know it’s not in your power to do so. “That makes me sad.” So then I asked, what are her goals as a leader? Why does she withstand the bad parts of the job? “If I can make an impact on one person I’m happy. It doesn’t matter how hard the work was, the end result always makes up for it.”

Can leadership be learned? JaLeesa thinks so. To her, leadership is a “style, and you have to find your own way of doing it.” It’s more about confidence in yourself and your values than anything else—and that can be learned through experience and introspection. It’s also about having the courage to take risks, because good leaders are innovative. “But I feel like anyone can do that. You just have to be comfortable enough within yourself.” And does JaLeesa think leadership is lacking today? “Good leadership is lacking in some ways today.” She explained how too much is hidden: too many hidden motives, agendas of self-interest, and greed. Especially in politics, our leaders have often forgotten to uphold the qualities of good leadership—self-reflection, working for the whole, taking risks—in the face of money, power, and self-promotion. “If you are going to be a leader, be a leader, and don’t let other people manipulate you into doing things that are not good for the group.” So she hopes to make some changes in the future of leadership: leadership, to her, exists because people need nurturing; everyone needs help at some point in their life. Thus everyone needs leaders. Leadership should not be taken on for the leader’s own benefit. So the changes she hopes to see? “I want people to be more selfless and passionate about others and their community. And to help those that need it.”

In consideration of JaLeesa’s responses, I think her most prominent trait as a leader is her empathy. Everything that she said seemed to imply in one way or another that she has—and a good leader needs—an acute sense or awareness of others as well as oneself. If a leader has empathy, she can better understand the problems that she needs to resolve; she is less likely to indulge in self-interest at the expense of others’ well-being; and she can take risks that are necessary to make progress in the community as a whole. She made it clear that, while it is important to have your own strong beliefs and to stand by them, no one will allow you to lead if you don’t collaborate with those you hope will follow you.