As you have been learning, the field of early childhood is one that holds incredible promise, capacity for impact, and opportunity. Every role in the early childhood field, therefore, requires leadership and advocacy skills. Fortunately, there are so many important areas and types of advocacy and so many different ways to lead. In this assignment, WE will have the opportunity to explore advocacy issues in the field that inspire you and develop your own leadership profile.

Think back to a leader you admire in the early childhood field or in another situation in your professional experience.

• Summarize your experience with that person, including who they were/are and why this person stands out as a leader to you.
• Next, read over the characteristics of various types of leadership and explain how the leader you admire exemplified characteristics of at least two of these types of leadership. (Leadership Styles: AUTOCRATIC, BUREAUCRATIC, DEMOCRATIC, TRANSFORMATIONAL, AUTHENTIC, SERVANT)
• Based on your reflection and what you have learned about different types of leadership and leadership characteristics, write your own leadership profile that includes the following:
  • What would you like to be as a leader? What characteristics would you like to exemplify in leadership situations? Include at least five characteristics of leaders from the resources that you would like to grow to exemplify as part of your professional growth.
  • A scenario (real or imagined) that demonstrates why these characteristics are critical to leadership in the early childhood field, whether it is in your particular setting/role or in a larger setting.
  • What you would like to be known for as a leader in the early childhood field in your current or future role in your effort to help young children and families thrive and/or in the field at large?