Barbara McAfee held a workshop titled “Who You Gonna Be While You Do What You Do?” on Monday, Nov. 24 in Alumni Hall. She drew a small crowd of students and community members and encouraged them to consider the things which make them better leaders and workers.

“Barbara is an engaging speaker and talented musician—so on one level we brought her because she is entertaining,” Director for Leadership and Community-Based Service in the Center for Servant Leadership Dave Newell said. “On another level, her messages about using your voice more fully and asking the question ‘Who you gonna be while you do what you do?’ fits well with our leadership philosophy here in the Center for Servant Leadership.”

McAfee had a unique style of presentation, in which she asked audience members to join her in singing a multitude of songs throughout her workshop.

“I think her unique style is beneficial in that it invites the audience to engage beyond what is typical or ‘comfortable,’” Newell said. “She aids participants in stepping out of what is ‘normal’ for a presentation by asking them to sing together, which increases the likelihood that the participants will learn something new and feel connected to others in the room.”

“At the end of the day, what matters is not what you did, but who you were.”—Barbara McAfee

While she made it clear that not everyone in the room was expected to sing, all participants were joining in her songs by the end of the workshop. Student participants enjoyed the atmosphere which her open and encouraging presentation style provided.

“Barbara was an engaging, talented, and an overall interesting person,” Sophomore Sarah Barnes said. “However, what struck me the most was the environment she helped create in the room: an environment of open mindedness, discussion, and self reflection.”

“After her presentation I left with a renewed urgency to live out my life purposefully, and  to let my music be heard.”—Sarah Barnes

McAfee asked attendees to reflect on five different aspects of their lives to help answer the question the title of her workshop had asked. She did this by having participants trace their hands and label each finger with a category which would contribute to their behavior.

“We live in a culture that is focused on doing,” McAfee said. “At the end of the day, what matters is not what you did, but who you were.”

Her five categories were titled “Live Your Verb,” “Remember Why,” “Honor Your Lineage,” “Bring Your Toys,” and “Give It Up.” Each category challenged audience members to draw from their experiences and find reasons to be strong leaders.

“You come from a line of people, and you are part of an ongoing line,” McAfee said during the Honor Your Lineage portion of her workshop. “Remember, this is not just all about you. You’re carrying something forward from those who came before you.”

She facilitated dialogue between all members of the audience and tried to create a sense of community among those in attendance. Between songs, drawings, and breaks for discussion, she made audience members an integral part of the lessons she came to teach.

“Simply put, Barbara’s presentation style was engaging,”Barnes said. “She had the audience singing, chanting, discussing, drawing, and listening to each other.”

Some students left the presentation motivated to immediately apply what they had learned from McAfee to their lives.

“Barbara mentioned a quote by Oliver Wendell Holmes stating, ‘Many people die with their music still inside them,’” Barnes said. “After her presentation I left with a renewed urgency to live out my life purposefully, and  to let my music be heard.”

-Kaity Young