Leadership Spotlight: Suryansh

Before we wrap up the spooky month, we want to celebrate our very own @Suryansh who made the October spotlight!

“Suryansh helped me so much every time, were patient with me, and explained everything to me. They were so available, I could ask them anything anytime.”

“Suryansh has always been a positive influence in the community. Their leadership and support in the teen group chat was extraordinary and I’ve enjoyed seeing them grow from a recognized PB award winner to an ambassador continuing to water the roots of leadership while being focused on increasing quality to strengthen the community!”

“Suryansh has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership skills and a genuine commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive environment in the LSR and member group chats. His remarkable ability to connect with others is truly commendable. His unwavering dedication to collaboration and problem-solving has been instrumental. He possesses a unique talent for bringing diverse perspectives together and encouraging open discussions. One of the most remarkable attributes of him is his thoughtful and empathetic nature. He genuinely cares about the well-being of the team and the community. His supportive and approachable that helps to foster a sense of trust and unity. I am truly honored to have him as part of the team and working closely to bring more support to the community.”

Without further ado… the interview!

What motivates you to be a volunteer?
Being a volunteer here at 7 Cups aligns closely with my personal values and passions. The opportunity to make a positive impact on people’s lives by lending a safe listening ear motivates me. I am also driven by the sense of fulfillment that comes from being able to create a supportive environment and knowing that I can provide support to members who need a listening ear, someone who can provide them a non-judgemental space and/or someone who can hear their side of story. :)

It also feels amazing to help listeners, whether they are new listeners just beginning their wonderful journey or experienced listeners utilizing their great skills and time to head different teams here and support individuals from all over the world. 

Furthermore, I find that the process of volunteering allows me to continuously grow and develop personally. I am passionate about honing my communication skills, empathy, and understanding of different perspectives, and volunteering in this capacity provides an excellent platform for that growth. :)

Your proudest 7 Cups achievements.
My proudest achievement with 7 Cups has been an opportunity to have a positive influence on the community, make a meaningful difference in someone's life by offering a supportive and nonjudgmental environment, being able to assist and support those in need, and being able to lead the teams here at 7 Cups! 

Some of my other achievements that I am proud of are becoming a PB Award Winner for 2021 and becoming an Ambassador recently, which allows me to give back to the community even more. Even if it's not so much, I'm glad I can make a small difference and help in my own way.

If you had one piece of advice for our community (leaders/listeners/members/etc), what would it be?
If I had one piece of advice for our community, it would be to prioritize empathy in every interaction. Whether you're a leader, a listener, or a member, approaching every interaction with empathy can foster understanding, connection, and a supportive environment for everyone involved. Empathy allows us to truly listen and understand each other's perspectives, leading to more effective communication and a stronger sense of community. By making empathy a central guiding principle, we can create a space where everyone feels heard, valued, and supported, ultimately fostering a culture of compassion and mutual respect. :)

Which fellow 7 Cups leader(s) do you admire and why?
I truly admire all the 7 Cups leaders because of their dedication, hard work, support, efforts, and presence. Some of them for whom I have great admiration are: (in alphabetical order)

@ASilentObserver: I admire Obs for his exceptional leadership qualities and capacity to passionately guide the community. He takes time to observe things (as the name already suggests haha) and acts on the underlying causes. His ability in task management is wonderful!

@Heather225: I really admire H for patiently listening to ideas from everyone, be it a newbie or an experienced listener. Their ability to understand the ideas/insights/feedback and explain things to people is just unbelievable. Their ability to manage various teams is excellent.

@Hope: Since the very first day I joined the community, Hope has been genuinely incredible. I have a lot of admiration for Laiba because of her lovely presence in rooms and her amazing ability of answering unlimited questions. She shares her opinions, provides insights on numerous topics, and effectively leads the community and the entire 7 Cups Academy!

@hopedreamlove: One of those listeners, Jas, is the reason I'm here today. Jas has always been someone I've admired for her ability to acquire concepts quickly and thoroughly, comprehend them, and use her excellent leadership abilities to guide listeners and develop leaders. She helped me develop my listening skills, and I can never express my gratitude to her enough.

@MistyMagic: the one who made it feasible for me to have a learning place that I still have now.. I have absolute admiration for Misty because of her efforts to foster teamwork, her excellent leadership qualities, her unwavering support throughout my journey, and her current great efforts to strengthen the mentorship program at 7 Cups! Misty is also my magician, who taught me magic! 

@Sunisshiningandsoareyou: Sun, who I only recently met in June, but have appreciated and admired ever since I first saw them in forums.  Sun is really a cheerful person who spreads happiness wherever Sun goes, whether it's in chat rooms or forums throughout the community. I admire Sun for Sun's ability to foster relationships, promote joy, and lead the community like no one else.

There are many other leaders for whom I have great admiration. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to each and everyone of you for your great support and efforts in the community.

Which active listening skills help you when communicating with your teammates and fellow leaders?
In my experience, several key active listening skills have significantly enhanced my communication with teammates and fellow leaders. One of the most important skills is attentive listening, which involves fully focusing on what others are saying without distraction. My full attention while communicating with team members and leaders, helps me to ensure that I grasp everything, which also allows me to have an effective thought-sharing process with them. :)

Additionally, showing empathy has been immensely helpful in building as easy and understanding relationship with my fellow teammates and leaders. It helps to also create an environment of mutual trust and respect.

I have always asked a tonne of questions anytime I had trouble comprehending something and I have always encouraged others as well to do the same. Asking clarifying questions has always been helpful to me in order to develop a better comprehension of ideas, concepts, and complexity. 

Lastly, the skill of providing constructive feedback has been vital in nurturing a culture of continuous improvement within our team. The continuous processes of receiving and giving constructive feedback helps us boost the professional growth of the community and listeners/leaders here. <3

What’s next for you on your 7 Cups journey?
Currently, I am deeply invested in my current role as an Ambassador and fully dedicated to maintaining a positive and supportive community environment within 7 Cups. Moving forward, I plan to enhance my contributions by actively promoting a culture of inclusivity, empathy, and support among both fellow Ambassadors and the broader community. :)

Simultaneously, I remain dedicated to my role as an active listener, as I find immense fulfillment in providing compassionate support to individuals in need. :) I intend to keep honing my listening skills and enhancing the ability to effectively offer emotional support to individuals who reach out for assistance. I also aim to deepen my understanding of various mental health issues. <3

Overall, my 7 Cups journey revolves around continued growth, advocacy, and support. By combining my passion for ambassadorship with my dedication to active listening and emotional support, I strive to create an environment where every individual feels empowered and valued on their path to emotional well-being and personal growth. :)

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Congratulations, Suryansh, and thank you for being such an enthusiastic and generous leader.