We have arrived! I have no idea what the total travel time was from Pittsburgh Airport to the Hanifil Center in Mussoorie, but it certainly felt like ages. However, I still felt that the journey was pretty enjoyable overall. I was able to watch a few movies on the plane and I did a fair bit of reading on the bus up to the mountains. I ended up rewatching the Lord of the Rings trilogy which was a great decision. There’s something cathartic about watching Sam and Frodo struggling on their journey to Mordor which made my own less painful. Our bus was also very active and lively with many of us playing card games or conversing amongst ourselves. For better or worse, I barely slept during the journey because of the turbulence on the plane and the consistent honking while on the roads. Although I’ve traveled internationally before, culture shock is always a jarring experience. The differences between here and home are quite surprising, especially when it comes to traffic and road rules (or seemingly lack thereof). Watching the cars, bikes, and motorcycles fight for positions is incredibly stressful, and I thought our bus was destined to end up in a collision more than once. I did manage to sleep a little in between the last flight and bus ride, but it still wasn’t enough to fully recover. Despite feeling entirely exhausted, I anticipate being fully adjusted and right as rain in a few days once I get over the jet lag and acclimate to the altitude here.

What cultural norm(s) of the host country do you anticipate being a challenge to learning about leadership? Why?

I think there will be a lot of challenges to learning about leadership while in an unfamiliar country and culture. While I haven’t experienced it much yet, I do know that people communicate much more indirectly than what I have normally experienced. This will be a challenge because I am used to people being very direct, even harsh at times with their feedback. I many not take things as seriously or deeply as they may have been intended. I will have to remember to pay closer attention to body language and extracting the true intention of their words out either by inferring it myself or asking follow up questions or for clarification.

Are leaders born or made? Why?

I don’t believe that leaders are born, or somehow predetermined by birth. If it was something determined by fate or destiny, then I would not be out here in the Himalayas on a leadership training class. To be a true leader requires many skills and abilities, the first (and most obvious) is leadership. But they also need confidence, compassion, and kindness. Sure, some people are born with a natural gift or ability to lead, but like any other skill they must hone and practice it in order to truly become a leader. There is also no one universal method of leadership, so it is impossible to perfectly train someone with a singular book or theory. Everyone responds to a situation differently, so when we are training and practicing our skills we have to see both what works for us individually and how the group responds to our actions as well.

What do you think is the hardest part about being a good leader?

I think the hardest part about being a good leader is knowing when to step in and take charge, and when to be a follower. Many times I want to be at the front of the pack and taking the initiative either in day to day work tasks or out on a hike. But sometimes I don’t know what the first step is, or I ignore the advice of someone who is more knowledgeable on a subject. It is in moments like this where I can fail to be a good leader. Other times I fail to step up and take control in a situation. I don’t recognize that I am the expert in a group, or that I am the most capable to handle a task. It’s in these moments where I need to be confident in my ability and take the initiative. Deciding when to step up, or step down is difficult and changes entirely on the situation or within circumstances.