ROLE MODELS

Role models can play an important part in your ongoing development. But when you look to people you admire, be careful not to put yourself down or say that you can never be as good as them. Each of us has unique qualities, and each of us is at a different stage in our personal and professional development. Even your role models are in many ways still students who continue to learn and grow.

Use your role models as a compass for the direction in which you want to go. Take a close look at their best qualities and ask yourself how you can incorporate some of them into your own personality and behavior. Visualize the person you would like to be, then act as if you are already that person. When you can imagine it, you can do it!

When I looked at my own role models and what I admired about them, I found that I was particularly inspired by people who remained calm during times of conflict and pressure and who always managed to keep their teams focused on the end goal. When I became aware of this, I examined myself more closely. I found that I was very task-oriented and at times very reactive. I wanted to become more visionary, calm, and measured in my responses to challenging situations.

When I realized this, I began to identify situations where I could proactively make a change. I visualized how I wanted to behave, and I imagined what I would say and do in particular situations. I also asked myself hypothetical questions such as, “What would the head of the department do in this situation? What would my role model advise me to do?” I found that this technique made it easier for me to actually make a change.