2017 Global Leadership Program AUSTRALIA
Participant Reflections
1. Fang Zhijuan (Human Resource Management)
In my College life, I have learnt something about leadership, like power distance and so on. But after I came to Australia, I do find there is some difference. We all know in China that Leaders mean the highest power, like the ancient Emperor. But things are different in there. What I saw is that in Australia all the things are more easy to accept. There are many people of different colours. But they all live in harmony. People here work together and don’t care so much about social status. I do appreciate it.
Secondly from this journey I found that I had a misunderstanding before. I used to think that leadership only should be captured by one person. But now I realised in some groups, everyone can be a leader. Because different people have different abilities and can release their own potential. Like in some big companies, the rotational system is easy to find.
Thirdly, one thing that really impressed me is the Gallup test. From this assessment, everybody knew their strength. But what we don’t know is how to improve and show our strength. Like the Manager in Gallup said. “Strength can turn into weakness if not used properly”. And for a good leader, not only should them know their employee’s ability but also should know to use their ability to create more value for the group.
I also love the activities in the camp, where we build a strong team and obtain friendship. What I have love the most is the starry sky, which is the most beautiful scene I have ever seen since now.
2. Helen Cui (International Economics and Trade)
Its really an honour for me to be the part of this program. I like the visits to companies especially the Nestle. They told us about the effort they have done to help people in poor areas. I was touched by their sense of responsibility. If you are doing something good to the world, many people will support you, and with their support, great things may happen.
Another highlight is the Gallup, people may focus too much on their weaknesses and try to fix them, but what’s the point trying to become a person who’s not you. I am not kind of person who feel jealous of others but I also learned my lesson that if we can develop our strength instead of just fixing our problems. It may be more efficient for personal development. And through my report, I have known better about myself, my next step is to develop my strength and use them when doing things I want to do.
And most unforgettable part was the camp. The scenery was perfect and besides, I learnt more about team work. At first my team ranked third, I was kind of depressed and told myself that it was ok, I could just enjoy myself. But no, it was wrong. In real life, this attitude will lead to nothing but a plain life. This is really my problem. I need to get out and earn a good life. When it comes to a team, its even more important to be encouraging and positive.
I also learnt from my team members. Some are intelligent while others are persuasive. Its wonderful when everyone take on his own responsibility, do things they are good at and achieve the final goal together with others through effective communication.
Overall, I think I have learnt how to adjust my attitude and how to communicate better in team as well as what kind of person I am and how to make efforts to lead myself and then others.
3. Zou Meng Qi - PhD (Management Science and Engineering)
Recently I am very glad to be the part of the Global Leadership program. I met so many nice and excellent people here, and gained a new understanding of leadership.
Leadership is linked to the team work, if there is no team, there is no leadership. In our life, there are so many tasks and challenges which we need to work with others. We need cooperation not only because of the limited energy and ability of one single person, but also the different strengths and attributes of each individual.
Once we worked as a team, the leader should communicate with every team members. Listen to everybody’s opinion and motivate everyone to keep going towards their goals. If there exists some conflicts or different opinions among team members. It does not matter. The Leader should tolerant the differences, try to solve the problems and then moe away the obstacles.
These days in Australia, we visited many well known companies, listened to the top manager’s speeches and communicated with them face to face. I also experienced many new and different things in my life that I have never experienced such as mud race and build the bridge. Theses are very meaningful. Thanks Shahid and the whole team for arranging all these activities.
In all I gained a better understanding of leadership and experienced a different life in Australia.
4. Chenyan Wang (Accounting)
In start, we visited many companies, especially Gallup visit was very useful. I had a more specific insight of myself, its really useful and I think I will be benefited from it in the future. During team work in Shelston, we enjoyed a lot.
One thing I cherished the most is the friendship I got during the experience.
I also learnt a lot about leadership. I worked as a Leader in the group. At first I afraid that I can not be a good Leader but then my members supported and trusted me, every time I assigned a job for them. I think leadership does not only mean to be a good leader, but also to know your members, and trust and cooperate.
5. Zhang Lekai - PhD (Digital Art and Design)
I learned that leadership can not be learned in the lectures, its learned through experience and practices. These days experiences and activities made me understand who am I, my strengths, my weaknesses ans what I am passionate about.
The residential camp was the most unforgettable experience for me, especially the mud run activity. We also worked n learnt how to work in a team.
In short I learnt to embrace challenges, support and motivate other team members and keep on learning on daily basis.
6. Kevin Hu - PhD (Management Science and Engineering)
When I look back on these few days, I feel so happy and excited. I have learned a lot from this leadership program.
Its really lucky to participate in this program. What impressed me the most was the cooperation of the group. As a team we did really good job in all activities, and helped each other a lot.
As for leadership, I think what I learned the most important thing from the program is getting familiar with each other and enhance the emotional relationship within the group.
All in all I learned how to communicate, corporate, make a plan and enhance informal relationship.
7. Lin Yirong (Accounting)
My global Leadership experience has been so memorable. I have become more confident person. I feel myself more accepting the challenges and I have become more open up. I feel more energetic now and I feel totally a different person now.
8. Reem Al Mutib (E-Commerce)
One of the most important experience that I had is to know different people from different nations.
Before I came here, I was excited and worried at the same time, where I am going to like my room mate vice versa, but it turned out as great experience and met friends for life.
As a leadership program, I think it is a very unique program. There are different kind of activities. Through activities we came to know how important is the team work is. So many positive things we learned.
9. Conghui Shi (Marketing)
This has been a wonderful experience with so many unforgettable things. I will cherish forever. It really taught me a lot.
10. Arya Tang (Labor and Social Security)
I learned about many stories of others before. They talked about how they became successful, how they developed leadership and taught me lot of useful things. But it was difficult to put them into practice. When we studied in Sydney, we were offered many opportunities to go to some famous companies and learn how some persons can be leaders in the company and in their lives. But for me it was never enough to let me know how I can develop those important qualities and become a real leader.
Fortunately, I can go to this camp. In China, students may have done many challenges to learn what cooperation is, but they are not as impressing as the activities on the camp like mud run. I have learned many things. Everyone in the team has the strengths and weaknesses. How to make use this point is necessary. Some of us may need longer time to get over their fear, then it comes to the situation how we can help each other. And how we work together to finish the task. I learned how to accumulate your strength and find opportunities to exceed others. That feeling is of much joy and happiness.
11. Jing Fang - PhD (Management Science and Engineering)
My experience has been so knowledgeable. I learnt the importance of team work.
We should be the Leader of our life. It means we should arrange anyone around us to overcome any difficulty as a group for a project.
I learned the meaning of leadership.
Its really has been an unbelievable and unforgettable experience for me. No other projects had made me this much happy and full of achievement.
12. Farida Syed (Business Leadership and Commerce)
This experience has been amazing as i met many new amazing and king people. This has been the best experience of my life. Visiting companies has been amazing as this is the thing i would not have received on my own. It was so motivating and inspiring. It has broadened my perspective on what and where I want to go in life. I also learnt about my strengths which will help me to achieve what I want. The residential was the best part of the program. activities on camp help me to come out from my comfort zone and challenged me both physically and mentally. The camp was so much fun and enjoyable. Overall, I would recommend this program to all my family and friends because not only was it the most fun I ever had, and nicest people i have ever met but also i learnt many thing about myself that normally I would never been able to. This program is a great investment into developing your future self into the best possible person you could be.