Evidence of knowledge acquisition To describe the actions of responsible influencer, this competency embodies the ability to have an effective impact on the leadership skills of others in order to meet personal and organizational criteria. Leaders who possess the persona of responsible influencer are known to advantageously guide team members towards goal accomplishment while reflecting behavior that stimulates and motivates them. Responsible leaders influence others by acknowledging the goals they desire to achieve and perseverance, as well as endurance, is key to sensibly guiding those around them. The concept of responsible influencer symbolizes the will to lead by example and set goals and challenges for oneself and executes them in a way that would encourage and inspire others to do the same. For example, being persistent and putting effort and hard work into their goals lets others know that one must be resilient and disciplined in order to plow through hardships and come out on the other side better and stronger. Possessing a strong work ethic and doing things in a positive and righteous way encourages others to live with morals and honor themselves and others in a respectable manner. As an effective leader setting high moral and ethical standards for oneself evokes in others the desire to follow their lead. Interpretation of knowledge With respect to the duration of time that I have been in the MAiL program at APU, past experiences have lead me to believe that treating others the way I would like to be treated is a stepping stone and a strong quality of a responsible influencer. As I have continued my studies in this program, my growing comprehension of this specific competency has made me become aware of the fact that being a leader is not just about guiding others to a particular task. Rather, more importantly it is about showing them the essence of holding oneself accountable and liable for their actions and behaviors. When these actions are reflected in the leaders themselves, others follow. Becoming a responsible influencer has more functions than prudence and collaboration; one of the most important aspects of this competency is empowerment. Empowerment is giving others the power to believe in themselves and to fulfill their dreams. The realization that responsible influencers connect and link themselves to others by exhibiting the concept of collaboration and exemplifying the act of upstanding teamwork has made a light bulb go on in my head. As I have seen these actions being performed by others, it has made my desire to influence others in a responsible and beneficial way that much stronger. Persevering in this program and being introduced to this competency has helped me to understand that people need someone to look up to, someone who can give them direction and guidance based on their own experiences. Responsible influencer is not about living somebody’s life for them but rather it is about giving them powerful tools such as perseverance and resilience and exemplifying what it means to live morally, ethically, and honorably. A fundamental aspect of this competency is that leaders do not make excuses for their actions; responsible influential leaders pick themselves up when they fall down and are always trying something new and innovative. Having spent two years as a scholar in the MAiL program has made me realize that in order to be a responsible influencer leaders take action to engage themselves in diversity and foster justice and rapport with others. When leaders make good decisions and are honest and trust-worthy they empower others to walk in their footsteps. Every leader goes through tough situations but how they respond to those situations is in their character. People see and are influenced by how leaders respond to certain circumstances. Application of knowledge With respect to application, my philosophy that I live by includes being aware of how I present myself to others. One of the goals I have created for myself in my scholarship is to live a respectable and prosperous life. Throughout the MAiL program I have committed myself to a continued mindset of always holding myself accountable for the way I demonstrate and display my daily endeavors and behavior. I tend to follow people who exhibit prudence and forethought as they undertake certain struggles and life endeavors. As I have observed and paid attention to these individuals it has forced me to be mindful of how people perceive me. Going through my daily ventures I continually keep in mind whether or not people are being motivated by my actions. Motivation and inspiration are key aspects of the responsible influencer competency and therefore I have consistently made it a duty of mine to inspire others with honesty and humbleness. Diversity and multiplicity are exemplified in responsible leaders and in every undertaking I present I consider all feelings and thoughts of those who surround me in order to keep the concept of togetherness alive and well. Those who know me well would say that I strive on bringing people together, as I also mention in my conflict management self-reflection paper from LDRS 561. As I have journeyed through this program various individuals have told me that they see me in the foreseeable future as a mentor or guidance counselor because I possess empathy and compassion for what people go through. When one is put in trying situations I am convinced they have the ability to be transformed by God to encourage and inspire others to open up about those circumstances. Part of being a responsible influencer is enabling others to accept themselves and forgive their mistakes as God has done. In regard to my personal and professional circumstances, accountability is ceaselessly in the front of my mind. One thing people say about me is that I should be more of a risk taker; I have documented in various scholarly papers in this program that change is tough for me. When I ponder what it would be like to take risks I think about change and gleaning the knowledge that I have from my classes I am aware that inspiration and amenability come from doing what is right and living honorably. As a responsible influencer, accountability should be welcomed with open arms and each day of my life since I entered this program I push myself to have an open mind and portray myself as an honest, fair-minded individual. Creation of new knowledge When I ruminate on what it means to be a responsible influencer the first thing that comes to mind is leaders lead by example; others see the energy and diligence that is exhibited. Responsible, prudent leaders have an effect on the character and development of those around them. As I consider the means in which I desire to develop myself in this area, I consider what it looks like to be an active influence on individuals around me and to empower and encourage human flourishing. Growing in the MAiL program has made me realize that the most inspirational people are authentic in what they do and honest about their setbacks. As a prosperous leader I desire to be open about my past and to let people know that I struggle too but the important thing to be aware of is how I pick myself up with dignity and integrity. I am eager to become more conscious of diversity and the different cultures that surround and impact my life. I believe that by doing this I will be enlightening others on the importance of understanding where people are coming from and how their background effects who they are. It is imperative to understand this because everybody is built and made differently, however, we are all human and need to be treated with respect, dignity, and fairness. With respect to the S.M.A.R.T. criteria, people need someone to look up to, someone who fosters and promotes justice and evenhandedness. We need to be motivated and inspired and without strong-willed leaders that is very difficult. In order for me to make progress in becoming the authentic, empowering, and fair-minded leader I desire to be, the goal that I have made to potentially get me there is to be a model for others. If someone is struggling to make a fast decision my dream is that my own actions and behaviors will influence them in a positive way so that they make a righteous decision that will impact them in a prosperous fashion. Time is of the essence in leadership and great leaders do not waste time but rather they jump at the chance of being at the right place and the right time and serve as a template for others to replicate. In this day in age leaders and more specifically, responsible influencing leaders, are always aware of what they are doing and I make it a goal of mine everyday to act in an honorable and positive way to inspire others. The idea of inspiration is absolutely attainable and I work to motivate by keeping my head in the game and continually holding myself accountable when my plans or goals fall apart. I will achieve this by cultivating and promoting an environment in which it is okay to make mistakes and by my own strengths and nurturing persona I have a strong will to get them on the right path towards success.