Well....here we are folks, semester's end. Doesn't seem that long ago that it was January and this class was a mystery. We were given a promise that this course would change our lives if we just stuck with it.....Dr. Feinberg, you did not lie. I know there are some that would disagree with this but I think for those who do not believe it now, they will eventually.
I find myself at work, where I'm a supervisor, thinking about some of the situations that I have to handle and how I can think of something that Dr. Feinberg said in lecture. One very classic example is after the lecture on communciation we had a new employee. It is normally my job to train new employees so I went to it like I always do but as I explained things I paid more attention to how I said it and the comprehension of the new employee. After I thought about this for a while, I started to notice changes in how I communicated with everyone at the store.
Also I am more critical of my boss. I do not mean this in a bad way but I see how he leads and apply it to what I have learned in this class. I see how my boss leads and how I want to be different when I am in that position.
Another thing that I have gotten from this class is an extensive summer reading list. I have about eight books waiting for me that consist of what Kirk and Dr. Feinberg have recommended. I know that this class is the most significant of this semester and possibly of my college career. And I mean that. I know that I will take the knowledge from this course and use it every day for the rest of my life. Later....
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Decision Making
One sentence really sums up this whole lecture.....If you want to be a great leader you have to make good decisions! And what is a good decision?? The answer is a good decision enhances the ability for future decisions to be made.
When you think about it, this one sentence speaks volumes about leadership. Leadership has everything to do with the decisions you make and how successful those decisions turn out to be. There are two dimensions of decision making...the right decision and the need for others to adopt. The latter often includes a consensus of the decision. This consensus is important for the fact of everyone being satisfied with the outcomes. When coming to this consensus, it is very important to not have arguments over opinions/feelings, avoid win-lose situations, avoid changing minds just for harmony and conflict reducing techniques. Arguments/Questions keep ideas in check and help improve the process or concept of the idea. Encourage the conversation but do not let it become a fight. Let someone wear the "hat of why shouldn't we do this." This person is the only person who can say what is wrong with the idea, and this person is different every time. These recommendations are important to success.
This all comes back to communication and how important communication is in every aspect of our lives. Active listening is crucial and absolutely necessary. Leaders are active listeners and know that the problems and ideas of those workers on the front lines have valuable insight to the business of the company. These people are a wealth of knowledge use them.
One last thing, in a conflict....there are three sides to every story, be sure to get them all. Quick decisions can cause major personnel issues and patience has its virtues....later.
When you think about it, this one sentence speaks volumes about leadership. Leadership has everything to do with the decisions you make and how successful those decisions turn out to be. There are two dimensions of decision making...the right decision and the need for others to adopt. The latter often includes a consensus of the decision. This consensus is important for the fact of everyone being satisfied with the outcomes. When coming to this consensus, it is very important to not have arguments over opinions/feelings, avoid win-lose situations, avoid changing minds just for harmony and conflict reducing techniques. Arguments/Questions keep ideas in check and help improve the process or concept of the idea. Encourage the conversation but do not let it become a fight. Let someone wear the "hat of why shouldn't we do this." This person is the only person who can say what is wrong with the idea, and this person is different every time. These recommendations are important to success.
This all comes back to communication and how important communication is in every aspect of our lives. Active listening is crucial and absolutely necessary. Leaders are active listeners and know that the problems and ideas of those workers on the front lines have valuable insight to the business of the company. These people are a wealth of knowledge use them.
One last thing, in a conflict....there are three sides to every story, be sure to get them all. Quick decisions can cause major personnel issues and patience has its virtues....later.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Kirk Weisler
We had a remarkable speaker come to a special class, 5 hour special :) Kirk Weisler is a leadership speaker that has spoken to 309 for many years. The following are some of my scattered thoughts of my notes from the evening.
Everything we do now leads up to where we want to be in future. Being a good student is preparing me for the future with the dedication and perservance that it requires. My life has been going on for 23 years but my journey to great leadership is just beginning.
Being a good leader does not mean being everyones friend. Being a good leader is directing people in the appropriate direction and guiding them to success. Best friend leaders will be forgotten, teacher will lose control of their class, and a parent will have screwed up kids. To be a good leader takes an inner strength and the ability to care but be firm. Leadership is hard - connecting with people is not easy, neither is being great.
Being remarkable is one of the most influenical things that we can be as a leader. The leaders that are remarkable are the ones that have the most lasting effect on the people that they encounter. If we think about the people that we remember the most and have the greatest impact on our lifes, they are the remarkable. Mediocrity falls by the wayside and is easily forgotten as it is to be.
Our lives are our language. What we see is what we get, and what we say is what we get. It is all about perception. We should learn a second language and communicate with peple more openly. Name calling has no place in the grown-up world. We are all addicted to being right and this causes us to act defensively to any contradictino of what we believe. Being able to take critism and accept it is one skill that isn't taught and is hard for people to learn. We all have opportunities to grow and learn, it is up to us to take these opportunites for all they are worth and become better people and leaders because of them.
From this I also have purchased several books that Kirk recommended: The Big Moo, Make it Stick, Love'em or Lose'em, QBQ!; also we have recieved a copy of Kirk's book, The Dog Poop Initiative. Two other books that I have purchased at the recommendation of Dr. Feinberg are The Purpose Driven Life and 7 Traits of Successful People. These are my summer reading list and look forward to the knowledge contained within the pages.
"A key - perhaps the key- to leadership is the effective communication of a story." - Howard Gardner
Later....
Everything we do now leads up to where we want to be in future. Being a good student is preparing me for the future with the dedication and perservance that it requires. My life has been going on for 23 years but my journey to great leadership is just beginning.
Being a good leader does not mean being everyones friend. Being a good leader is directing people in the appropriate direction and guiding them to success. Best friend leaders will be forgotten, teacher will lose control of their class, and a parent will have screwed up kids. To be a good leader takes an inner strength and the ability to care but be firm. Leadership is hard - connecting with people is not easy, neither is being great.
Being remarkable is one of the most influenical things that we can be as a leader. The leaders that are remarkable are the ones that have the most lasting effect on the people that they encounter. If we think about the people that we remember the most and have the greatest impact on our lifes, they are the remarkable. Mediocrity falls by the wayside and is easily forgotten as it is to be.
Our lives are our language. What we see is what we get, and what we say is what we get. It is all about perception. We should learn a second language and communicate with peple more openly. Name calling has no place in the grown-up world. We are all addicted to being right and this causes us to act defensively to any contradictino of what we believe. Being able to take critism and accept it is one skill that isn't taught and is hard for people to learn. We all have opportunities to grow and learn, it is up to us to take these opportunites for all they are worth and become better people and leaders because of them.
From this I also have purchased several books that Kirk recommended: The Big Moo, Make it Stick, Love'em or Lose'em, QBQ!; also we have recieved a copy of Kirk's book, The Dog Poop Initiative. Two other books that I have purchased at the recommendation of Dr. Feinberg are The Purpose Driven Life and 7 Traits of Successful People. These are my summer reading list and look forward to the knowledge contained within the pages.
"A key - perhaps the key- to leadership is the effective communication of a story." - Howard Gardner
Later....
Time Management
Dr. Feinberg gave a lecture devoted to time management. It has to be one of the more interesting lectures on a subject that is preached heavily in college. I definitely will remember more from this one than any of the others.
One clip that stands out to me the most was the one with Stephen Covey and the rocks. Filling the jar with the larger rocks then adding the little ones around them makes everything work. Granted this is not always easily done, we get in the habit of sweating the small stuff and putting off the big things until we have hardly enough if any time left to complete them.
Prioritizing is the most essential key to time managment. Knowing your priorities not only helps you with time managment but also lets you know what is important to you. That defines you and once you know your definition you know what makes you remarkable and therefore a better, and more influencial leader. And that's what I want to be....later.
One clip that stands out to me the most was the one with Stephen Covey and the rocks. Filling the jar with the larger rocks then adding the little ones around them makes everything work. Granted this is not always easily done, we get in the habit of sweating the small stuff and putting off the big things until we have hardly enough if any time left to complete them.
Prioritizing is the most essential key to time managment. Knowing your priorities not only helps you with time managment but also lets you know what is important to you. That defines you and once you know your definition you know what makes you remarkable and therefore a better, and more influencial leader. And that's what I want to be....later.
Playing Catch-up
Well as is probably obvious, I have not updated this in a while so I am starting and doing so now. I am going to start with today and work backwards.
Anyways today, we talked about Dr. Feinberg'ssecrets for leadership success. These five secrets are telling your members what you want/expect, make it doable, reward your members, give your members feedback, and reward your members again after it is over. Rewards are not just monetary but comes in many different forms. What most people just want to feel appreciated, that is the most important thing as a leader you can do for your followers. The second most important thing that you can do to reward your members is make your members feel like they are involved in the daily operations along with bigger decisions, even though as the leader you have the final say in whatever matter. The third one is showing your people that you care about them. There are many different ways to do this but it is important that your people do know that you care. The fourth, which was briefly mentioned, is knowing that there is a future for them.
As long as you can give your members what you want while still getting the job done, you will be a great and remarkable leader.....later
Anyways today, we talked about Dr. Feinberg'ssecrets for leadership success. These five secrets are telling your members what you want/expect, make it doable, reward your members, give your members feedback, and reward your members again after it is over. Rewards are not just monetary but comes in many different forms. What most people just want to feel appreciated, that is the most important thing as a leader you can do for your followers. The second most important thing that you can do to reward your members is make your members feel like they are involved in the daily operations along with bigger decisions, even though as the leader you have the final say in whatever matter. The third one is showing your people that you care about them. There are many different ways to do this but it is important that your people do know that you care. The fourth, which was briefly mentioned, is knowing that there is a future for them.
As long as you can give your members what you want while still getting the job done, you will be a great and remarkable leader.....later
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Week of 2/25
I have found myself very uninspired this week. Hence why this is being written on Sunday. We had an exam on Wednesday, no biggie. Monday was really the same old, same old. I know I am not supposed to recap classes but really my frame of mind has not been very condusive to class. I must say that I am still at class and my work is just as good but I have not been retaining anything but the necessaries this past week. But whatever......something about leadership.
I have been getting the magazine, INC. I don't remember if I bought this from my little sister as a fundraiser or what but I have been getting it here lately. Anyways, there was a preview of a book, I apologize that I have thrown the magazine away and no longer have the title or author, who talked about the gaining importance of followership. Followership is the ideal that the people under the leader really have all the power. These followers are crucial for anything to be successful. If the followers do not believe in a project, for any reason personal or professional, they will in essence kill it. Granted this was a preview so that is really all the article spoke of. As I read it I thought at first how this was absolutely crazy. Followers more important than leaders? That's absurd......but not really. A leader is nothing without people who will follow. The nature of the relationship of the follower, is important and does carry significant weight in determining the outcome of anything done by the organization. I still do believe that the emphasis of the followers is over-rated by this book. Leadership is still more important than followership. It is the job of a good leader to recognize followers who want to kamikaze a project or who are just not giving their best, and either convert them or get rid of them, for the sake of the organization. Leadership is about making the tough decisions and backing them to their followers and doubters, followership doesn't do that. I am not completely dismissing this concept but with my education so far, I do not give it as much credit as the author did. Also if followership was so important, wouldn't they be teaching it in college? That's what I thought.....later.
I have been getting the magazine, INC. I don't remember if I bought this from my little sister as a fundraiser or what but I have been getting it here lately. Anyways, there was a preview of a book, I apologize that I have thrown the magazine away and no longer have the title or author, who talked about the gaining importance of followership. Followership is the ideal that the people under the leader really have all the power. These followers are crucial for anything to be successful. If the followers do not believe in a project, for any reason personal or professional, they will in essence kill it. Granted this was a preview so that is really all the article spoke of. As I read it I thought at first how this was absolutely crazy. Followers more important than leaders? That's absurd......but not really. A leader is nothing without people who will follow. The nature of the relationship of the follower, is important and does carry significant weight in determining the outcome of anything done by the organization. I still do believe that the emphasis of the followers is over-rated by this book. Leadership is still more important than followership. It is the job of a good leader to recognize followers who want to kamikaze a project or who are just not giving their best, and either convert them or get rid of them, for the sake of the organization. Leadership is about making the tough decisions and backing them to their followers and doubters, followership doesn't do that. I am not completely dismissing this concept but with my education so far, I do not give it as much credit as the author did. Also if followership was so important, wouldn't they be teaching it in college? That's what I thought.....later.
Monday, February 18, 2008
2/18/2008
Today I wasn't in class and Wednesday I won't be either. My grandmother has passed away today and if anyone notices the time stamp on this, I obviously can't sleep.
Thinking about my grandmother has made me realize that she is my idol. I know I always have looked up to her and wanted to be like her but the more I think about it she is really my idol. And in the context of this course, she has been the strongest female presence in my life. She has kept us all happy and healthy over the years and I am truly thankful for being blessed with her life in mine. She has taught me so much, to cook, to sew, to garden, and most importantly to listen. When she was ever asked for advice at like a bridal shower she almost always replied, "It takes two to argue, and one to listen, if no one is listening then you get no where." She was always listening. At Sunday dinners as we all talked about our weeks and experiences, she listened...and answered the questions that were posed to her. She always got what she wanted to done. Granted I still don't like cleaning a house top to bottom, but that's what we would do, and no matter what obstacle came out way we figured it out and got it done. She lived her life so mine would be better. Granted this isn't what Feinberg necessarily teaches but she represents the attributes that sometimes go unsaid, but not unnoticed.
I'll rap this up, since everyone probably thinks I'm off point, but screw you anyways.
To my wonderful grandmother.....I miss you so much. I feel like there is a hole left in me that only time will heal. I love you so much. I love you Grandma.
Thinking about my grandmother has made me realize that she is my idol. I know I always have looked up to her and wanted to be like her but the more I think about it she is really my idol. And in the context of this course, she has been the strongest female presence in my life. She has kept us all happy and healthy over the years and I am truly thankful for being blessed with her life in mine. She has taught me so much, to cook, to sew, to garden, and most importantly to listen. When she was ever asked for advice at like a bridal shower she almost always replied, "It takes two to argue, and one to listen, if no one is listening then you get no where." She was always listening. At Sunday dinners as we all talked about our weeks and experiences, she listened...and answered the questions that were posed to her. She always got what she wanted to done. Granted I still don't like cleaning a house top to bottom, but that's what we would do, and no matter what obstacle came out way we figured it out and got it done. She lived her life so mine would be better. Granted this isn't what Feinberg necessarily teaches but she represents the attributes that sometimes go unsaid, but not unnoticed.
I'll rap this up, since everyone probably thinks I'm off point, but screw you anyways.
To my wonderful grandmother.....I miss you so much. I feel like there is a hole left in me that only time will heal. I love you so much. I love you Grandma.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
2/13/2008
I'm just going to get to the points of this class......what and where you have been doesn't count for shit. There are certain bits of information that can give an insight about the type of person that you are, but it doesn't mean we should just go by them alone.
Secondly, fairness is over-rated. We all deserve the best and if we don't feel we do then we will never get the best and will only have ourselves to blame for this. We have all been conditioned to be fair and equal....well this doesn't work in the real world. Those who focus on being fair will be the ones left behind, stuck in the same job forever. If you are the best at something do not be ashamed to admit it. This doesn't mean you are necessarily an ass, you just know what you are good at. You also want to be the best and considered that by others. If you don't think that about yourself to begin with then no one else will. All for now....later.
Secondly, fairness is over-rated. We all deserve the best and if we don't feel we do then we will never get the best and will only have ourselves to blame for this. We have all been conditioned to be fair and equal....well this doesn't work in the real world. Those who focus on being fair will be the ones left behind, stuck in the same job forever. If you are the best at something do not be ashamed to admit it. This doesn't mean you are necessarily an ass, you just know what you are good at. You also want to be the best and considered that by others. If you don't think that about yourself to begin with then no one else will. All for now....later.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
2/11/2008...again
Well needless to say today was interesting.....started off by writing about our personal pain. Not physical pain necessarily but more emotional....Feinburgh says he'll use them later, should be interesting. Anyways so we move on to the whole tower building exercise. Talk about organized chaos. We didn't win but there was some very interesting entries.
For our group, it was a classic instance of too many chiefs and not enough indians. This could have been avoided if we had planned out not only what we were going to do but how we were going to do it. Note of essential planning part for next time. In hindsight we should have used the heirarchy that has been set up with a group and subgroup leaders, but hindsight is 20/20. Next time we, either as a group or later in life, tackle something like this again we will take what we have learned from this and do better the next time. Sounds like the point to me....later.
For our group, it was a classic instance of too many chiefs and not enough indians. This could have been avoided if we had planned out not only what we were going to do but how we were going to do it. Note of essential planning part for next time. In hindsight we should have used the heirarchy that has been set up with a group and subgroup leaders, but hindsight is 20/20. Next time we, either as a group or later in life, tackle something like this again we will take what we have learned from this and do better the next time. Sounds like the point to me....later.
Monday, February 11, 2008
2/11/2008
This is a before class blog.....I've been thinking, scary I know. I got to thinking about how I didn't take the group leader offer but I have taken the subgroup leader role and have just ran with it, or am at least trying to. With the assignment that was handed out yesterday to be completed today, the tower building, it aggrevated me that it was Sunday and Feinburgh was doing it just to test us. I understand but it still makes me ..... grrrr. Anyways, I had the thought yesterday about how I was kind of glad that I wasn't a group leader due to the way the leaders seem to have to be at Feinburgh's beck and call. With my personal situation with my grandmother, that is something I don't know how would work out. Then I got to thinking about the big picture of my life and currently, I don't want to be the person right under the CEO or other big kahuna. I want to be further down the chain of command at this point in my life, I expect that to change once I get out into the "real world." With this in mind I got to thinking is my expectation of where I want to be in the management chain hindering me from going for the larger leadership roles now? I might be reading a little deeper into this than needs be but that's what I thought. I think also that since I have had this thought process, next time a "large" leadership role comes around I will think about it, not for too long, and then go from there. That's all for now.....later.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
2/06/2008
Today in class we met our President. After his introduction, we watched a couple of videos and were asked to write down five points we got from them. The first one was an interview with Tony Robbins. The biggest thing I got out of this one is the fact that life doesn't always go as we would want it to but that doesn't mean we are failures. Getting down and depressed about our lifes does no good when all we have to do is change our mindset and move on. I know that is sometimes easier said than done but it is still important to say. Problems change but our souls never do. The second video was the speech President Bush gave on 9/11. This one was a little more analytical to find out things to get from it since almost all of us had already watched it. The main point I got from that one is how as a leader we should act in times of uncertainty and change. It is important for us to be apart of the organization, present a calm, steady front, and give a strategy or plan in how we are going to recover and move on. I don't care if you like President Bush or not, you have to admit he is a great leader.
On a different note, my group leader, Amanda Hoff, has made me a subgroup leader. I'm excited to take on this role and do well at it. That's it for today.
On a different note, my group leader, Amanda Hoff, has made me a subgroup leader. I'm excited to take on this role and do well at it. That's it for today.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
1/30/2008
Today's class was about selling yourself to potential employers. If you don't have a compelling reason why a company should hire you, they won't. Plain and simple. We should all be prepare with a scripted five reason why we should be a great asset to a company, you never know when you will need it. Once you have a scripted reason, you can easily find a place to put it in a conversation with an employer, thus making us the candidate any employer would want. Selling ourselves is key.
We finished up class with the leaders being announced and the leaders were assigned to put everyone in groups by next class. They better do it, since if one person is left out then there is a penalty, assumingly for the whole class. So don't let us down already leaders.
We finished up class with the leaders being announced and the leaders were assigned to put everyone in groups by next class. They better do it, since if one person is left out then there is a penalty, assumingly for the whole class. So don't let us down already leaders.
Monday, January 28, 2008
1/28/2008
Today we began the process of organizing the class. Dr. Feinburgh asked for those who wanted to be leaders to stand and come to the front of the class. I did not, with no reason why, but my own insecurities. As Feinburgh said, opportunites present themselves all the time and we have to decide what to do. We have to take the opportunities or live with the fate we have chosen. Whatever our reasons, we just need to get over it and our fears, if we don't we won't get the big figure jobs.
We interviewed our potential leaders with using more of an interviewing scenario with Feinburgh asking a question and the applicant answered with a minute time frame. We scored the responses and after all fourteen went we moved on to the next exercise. Feinburgh divided up the fourteen and had them do an exercise to allow us to see how they would react in a practical situation. After the first ten minutes the second group went for the same amount of time. We again scored the exercise and totaled them up. The scores will be evaluated and our leaders announced next time.
Finally we wrote down what we learned for the day for extra credit and that was class. So my final thought for the day, get over your fears, they will do nothing but hold you back!
We interviewed our potential leaders with using more of an interviewing scenario with Feinburgh asking a question and the applicant answered with a minute time frame. We scored the responses and after all fourteen went we moved on to the next exercise. Feinburgh divided up the fourteen and had them do an exercise to allow us to see how they would react in a practical situation. After the first ten minutes the second group went for the same amount of time. We again scored the exercise and totaled them up. The scores will be evaluated and our leaders announced next time.
Finally we wrote down what we learned for the day for extra credit and that was class. So my final thought for the day, get over your fears, they will do nothing but hold you back!
1/23/2008
Today there was no class due to schedule conflicts with Feinburgh. Our assignment for the first individual memo was given, which was to watch the wonderful animated film Ratatouile and answer the provided questions. I must admit this is an assignment I can really enjoy.
Monday, January 14, 2008
1/14/2007
Today was considered the fist real day of class and it was very interesting. We talked about how the class will be and how this class will change our lives if we stick it out and put forth the necessary effort. Leadership is all around us and without it we would be "dead." We all have the countless opportunities everyday to make ourselves and our lives better. I can honestly say that I am looking forward to completing this course and change my life for the better.
Oh, and Mom, I love you!
Oh, and Mom, I love you!
Saturday, January 12, 2008
The first week is over
Well the first week of the 2008 Spring semester is over and for CSR 309 it was interesting. The first day was full of infomercials. These informercials are the ones that sell the make life amazing in every single way in just days kind but they had a point, well one that I saw anyways. The point was that the successful people in this world have a plan or a strategy that guides them to their many successes.
The second class day was definitely interesting. The assignment was to talk about leadership in the here and now in large groups. Obviously the entire class missed the point, myself included, as to what we were supposed to do. All that was accomplished was a lot of people trying to take control without any power to do so and all the chaos that the situation creates.
Now that I have completely read the syllabus, I am interested on what the rest of the semester will bring.
The second class day was definitely interesting. The assignment was to talk about leadership in the here and now in large groups. Obviously the entire class missed the point, myself included, as to what we were supposed to do. All that was accomplished was a lot of people trying to take control without any power to do so and all the chaos that the situation creates.
Now that I have completely read the syllabus, I am interested on what the rest of the semester will bring.
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