Motorola

Confusion To Renewed Leadership

What went well?
During the semester of 2026, the team finally climbed out of the hole we had seemed to be stuck in for months on end. My motivation, as well as the team’s, regained its zest for work. I proposed an idea (after consulting with our coach and the other leaders) called Operation Momentum. The operation consisted of four key pillars that would propel the team forward and, well, provide momentum, both within the team and in our projects. The four pillars were positivity, professionalism, support, and, finally, doing.
I had long thought about how to motivate the team, and I was delighted to find that this proposal for Operation Momentum was concrete enough for everyone to stand behind. As the atmosphere within the team grew more lighthearted, so did my determination to keep pushing forward, no matter how tough the challenges seemed. In the end, our projects had concrete steps for moving forward, Averi strengthened its support for one another, and trust grew.

What could have gone better?
I must admit, I had been entirely lost, confused, and downtrodden. We decided that I would serve as BL from November until May, but I was unprepared for just how monumental the task would be. Coming up with solutions and continuing to march forward proved far more difficult than I had anticipated.
The issue was not a lack of creativity or motivation. Rather, it was the unending struggle to reach agreement. I kept weighing ideas against one another, yet nothing seemed right, and I became lost in my own thoughts. It resulted in hundreds of ideas but very few solutions, or, more accurately, very few of those ideas being executed. I wanted to do everything at once, which resulted in almost nothing being accomplished.
I could not wait for the December break. I wanted to disappear, detach myself, and bury my head in the sand. Naturally, as one might expect, upon returning after New Year’s, the team was just as directionless as I had been. I was tired, sad, and without purpose. It was the realization of my inability to keep my promises that proved to be the wake-up call.
To summarize, I could not find my voice or my purpose, but that was because I did not speak up and act. After all, it takes two to tango, but I was standing on the sidelines until the realization of my failures and unfulfilled promises woke me from my delusions.

What did I learn?
What I learned could fill a book. A team is only as good as its leaders. What I mean by that is that without direction and the ambition to accomplish goals or milestones, even the best plan is worthless. A plan requires planning; otherwise, one may as well nail the coffin shut.
However, a leader must also find their own style. I learned that there is no perfect mold for what a leader should be. Someone can possess every quality expected of a leader and still fail to coordinate and motivate others. Every person has their own unique voice, and it is up to them to discover what works best for both themselves and the team. It is a double-edged sword; one cannot function without the other.
I also became wiser when I realized that, in order for a leader to succeed, the team must trust them and be willing to follow their example. It is a gradual process, but a leader must prove themselves worthy of the team’s trust.
One last thing, and this may be controversial: not everyone is suited for leadership. There is nothing wrong with saying that, and it is certainly a skill that can be improved. Nevertheless, I believe we all possess our own inherent talents. Someone who can lead may not excel in accounting, art, or even sales. We must all work with what we have and the cards dealt to us. Once someone accepts that, life becomes much easier.

What will I put into practice?
Humor.
As ridiculous as it may sound, I have found humor to be one of the most powerful resources for mediating conflict, defusing tension, and motivating others. It simply needs to be used thoughtfully and come naturally; it cannot be forced. It is how I found my voice after having my head buried in the sand, and I will continue to apply it to my everyday working life because I have found that it is how I communicate best.
Do not misinterpret what I mean. I have not been unserious, nor do I intend to be. It simply appears to be my preferred style of communication. I will also focus more on organizing my goals in order of execution rather than trying to tackle them all at once. As I mentioned earlier, organizing a plan is just as important, if not more important, than the plan itself, because without planning, a plan is worthless.

What did I bring to the whole?
Initially, stagnation, confusion, and disorganization.
Later, humor, inspiration, and organization.
That is how I would summarize it.
To elaborate on my contribution after New Year’s, I proposed a plan and managed to convince others to support both me and one another through humor and by leading by example while following the four pillars of Operation Momentum.