Blog Entry 11 – Big Picture Leadership

As the semester comes to a close, so do a lot of other things in life. Friendships, housing contracts, and seasons of life are all coming to a close. When I think back about what this semester has entailed, I realize how quickly it has gone by. I can think back and remember most of my accomplishments, while at the same time be left wondering how I am already ending my junior year of college! One of the most important things that I have learned throughout this entire second semester of my junior year is that analyzing the big picture is key to leading myself on a daily basis.

A lot of the time I will get into the mindset that my opinion does not matter. My vote does not matter. I do not matter. And then I combat those feelings by realizing that if everyone had those thoughts and acted upon them accordingly, nothing would get accomplished. I realize that everything that I do makes a difference, even if it is a small one. I set multiple goals for myself throughout this semester. I succeeded in some of my goals and I failed in other ones.

One of my main goals was to always get to bed early. My plan was to get to bed by midnight on Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays because I have to get up at 8:00 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. I also wanted to get to bed by 11:00 p.m. on Monday and Wednesday nights because I have to get up even earlier on Tuesday and Thursday. I was very successful at fulfilling this goal for the first two weeks of the semester. I think I only missed one or two days, and I did not miss my goal by much time at all. I began to think that the amount of sleep that I was receiving was not as important and I fell off of the track. I recently got a device called a fit bit. It tracks my sleep and I realized that instead of sleeping around 8 hours like I wanted to, I now sleep only around 6 hours a night. This is something that I am not proud of because I know that it is affecting my health. If I am going to lead myself properly, I need to get enough sleep now to prepare myself to be healthy in the future.

Another one of my goals this semester was to work 50 times at Bob Evans. I am a full time student and I wanted to set the bar high for myself. I just looked around at other Purdue students and realized that a lot of college students are simply lazy. I knew that if I used my time correctly and followed a strict schedule, I would be able to accomplish my goal. I had to work 3 days a week and two of the weeks I had to work 4 of the days. I am happy to say that we have exactly two weeks left until finals are over and I have worked a total of 45 days! I am one day ahead of schedule with 6 days of work left. This means that I will likely beat my goal. I set this goal for myself because I wanted to be financially prepared for this summer. I knew that working only one or two shifts at Bob Evans would not make that much of a difference, but if I worked 50 or more times…. then that would make a BIG DIFFERENCE!

The video below shows how important it is to think about why you are doing what you are doing. I know that I had to keep my mind on the big picture to get out of bed every day and go to work. I live 20 minutes away fro Bob Evans, so a forty minute drive and getting up super early was not at the top of my priority list.

This work ethic that I had this semester ties back to my belief that every little thing makes a difference in someone’s life! I know that the little things add up. My opinion matters. What I say matters. What kind of a difference I can make matters.

Blog Entry 10 – North Leadership

When being a leader, directing followers in the right direction is what matters. Being a leader includes letting go of responsibility to empower the followers. Trusting followers to complete the tasks in front of them takes trust and time, but is the only way that followers can grow. In class, we learned that leaders need to show the followers which was north is! How does the leader expect you to complete your tasks? What is the reason behind completing these tasks? What is the overall goal of what you are doing, or your overall mission?

Telling followers what you expect as a leader is essential. Employees can achieve great things if they have the right tools and learn how to accomplish their tasks efficiently. Without any direction on which was is north, they are left swimming around in an open sea like a lost fish! Mr. Feinberg discussed why it is so important for leaders to lead with direction and tips along the way. One the the things that he referenced during his in class discussion was something that I had never heard of. He discussed how we as people, need to BE A TRIM TAB!

If you are like me, you have probably never heard of what a trim tab is. A trim tab is the name of a small piece on the tip of a ship that can dramatically change the ship’s course in the water. Here is a quick clip showing more about what being a trim tab is about and how it can greatly affect a ship and your life!

What I take away from the trim tab concept is that by making a small incremental change in your life, you can drastically change the outcome. This comes into play in the business world with employees choosing to all do their best to make their company better, and it has ample effects throughout the company. This comes into play in leadership when a person chooses to consistently make better life decisions and make small incremental changes to greatly improve their well being. This can include consistently going to bed on time, eating healthy, completing homework way ahead of time, studying for exams throughout the whole semester, complimenting others, etc. The list goes on and on about how every person can be a trim tab in their life and others!

Blog Entry 9 – Discussion and Gossip

Discussion. Discussion is such a unique thing. Discussion creates opportunities for closed doors to open and for relationships to be built upon. I have learned throughout my college career how essential discussion is. Living with other humans is not always easy, but having fruitful discussion and taking the lead in creating a discussion tends to mend relationships, rather than hurt them. I passionately believe and know that it is essential to talk with others to learn what their perspective is on a situation and why they believe that way. This is important because once you understand their perspective, you can begin to understand why the have acted in a certain way or believe what they believe.

Leading a relationship is though work. Taking the lead on solving a problem is not an easy task, but almost always results in emotions being let loose and understanding on both sides. You see, when I came to college I did not understand this concept as much as I do now. I was very confused when I ran into people who acted certain ways that frustrated me. Why do they act that way? What good are they doing? I wanted to be a leader in the house that I call home, Fairway Cooperative, but I had personal issues with some people and I was not sure how to best handle it. In the Bible, Matthew 15:18 says, ““If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.” This verse has helped me learn that I need to talk to my brothers at Fairway when they have done something that is out of line, when I believe it is best to talk to them about their actions.

Taking this course of action has proved to be very fruitful. I have realized that having these conversations has not always changed the other person’s perspective, but it leaves no doubt in my mind that they know how I feel about a situation. Through having conversations with other guys, I have learned why they have issues with certain actions I have taken. Sometimes it is not the action I took that upset them, but their perceived reason of what was behind my action. I once received a review from a house member that was quite unpleasant. I discussed matters with him and identified that I could explain my reasoning behind certain decisions better and he in turn would have a better understanding.

Eliminating gossip is key in leading relationships or mending broken ones. Gossip churns up strife and anger between humans. Instead of gossiping, I believe it is best to go straight to someone and talk to them about what is bothering you. Talking behind someone’s back creates a lack of trust. I am not perfect at this at all, but I know that I have learned from past experiences that gossiping is not the solution to a problem. Leaders lose respect from followers when they begin to gossip about others. A great question is.. If someone always gossips to you about others, what are they chances that they do the same to you behind your back? Instead of gossiping, discussing things with one, two, or even three people can create very productive results from a  relationship standpoint!

Blog Entry 8 – Leadership and Team Work

Leadership is essential to encourage teamwork. Goals are accomplished when leaders step up and let the team know who is in charge and the direction they are headed. Throughout history, thousands and thousands of teams have accomplished great things, and the only reason they did do is because certain individuals were leaders, and these leaders bonded together to form a team.

College basketball is a great example of how leaders and teams need to work together. Basketball takes multiple individuals working together to win a game. Dribbling, passing, and shooting abilities are all personal and individual characteristics that someone needs to have to play basketball. The ability to communicate with each other on the basketball court is what makes the dream work. Knowing your teammate’s timing, ability to make plays, and overall compatibility with each other is key in basketball.

Michael Jordan is known as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He has learned throughout his career that when a team fails, or when he fails, you have to just keep working to succeed. He is quoted saying, “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.”

In the picture above, it is clear what “the best” player ever in basketball thinks about how important teamwork is to succeed.

I think that this quote is the foundation of my thought process of how crucial teamwork and leadership is. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.” reemphasizes that a person is better off working in a cohesive team.

Blog Entry 7 – Ethics and Leadership

If a leader is not ethical.. then who will be? A leader being unethical increases the chance that the followers will follow in their negative footsteps. As Professor Feinberg stated in an e-mail, “The military has a very well-conceived and very effective process of build followers and leaders.” This process is not done through leaders neglecting followers in times of need, rather it is done by leaders laying their lives down for fellow comrades and being willing to sacrifice their well-being. Marines are taught from the very beginning to lay down your life for your brother in arms if you must. This is something that so many of us Americans take for granted and something that is far too unappreciated.

I believe that this video clip is significant because it shows how much of a leader he was in the blink of an eye. He did not wait to try to figure out if he was more important that his service brothers, but instead he acted on courage and strength.

Whether in the military, in the education world, or in the business world, leaders and followers need to be willing to trust each other. Ethical leadership is conducted by being honest and transparent with others. It takes courage and strength. Followers typically fall into the mindset that leaders want them to do whatever it takes to help them get ahead. It does not matter if it is unethical, illegal, or even harmful, the mindset in some circumstances is that the company that you are working for is the only one that matters. The truth is that many companies need more ethical leaders in their leadership departments. Leaders need to be trusted with finances, inventory, and circumstances. An ethical leader does what is right in front of other people and when no one is watching. When I first saw the clip posted below, I was taken back. It is one of the first times that it really struck me that businesses need ethical leaders that can be trusted.

You see even though Javier thought that his boss wanted him to lie, he did not give in to his boss’ requests because of his beliefs. His ethical behavior ended up helping him receive not only a job promotion but a pay promotion as well! The end of the clip is quite entertaining as well, but this clip just goes to show that being an ethical follower and leader at all times is important.

Bolg Entry 6 – Communication

Communication in leadership can help create transparency and fluidity with everyone! As Dan Oswald put it, “Communication my be HOT. That’s Honest, Open, and Two-Way.” I really enjoy this quote because it makes the boring topic of communication seem spicy and… HOT! One person can try to communicate something at one other person or a group of other people, but in the end, communication does need to be honest, open, and two-way.

If a leader is trying to communicate something to an audience, it is very hard for the audience to trust him or her unless the leader is being honest. Earning trust is something that is accomplished through constantly being a reputable person while staying true to your word. Honesty does not always mean that the audience or followers will like the leader in every way, but it definitely ensures trust.

Being open to hearing feedback and responses is something that is critical in the art of communication and leadership. I know in my personal life I expect certain responses when I ask a question. This is a certain area that I could grow in when discussing leadership because in those moments I am not open to all of the possibilities that surround me. I am consumed with how I am going to respond or object to an idea that I do not agree with, therefor flawing my judgement. This is a common problem when leaders try to communicate ideas to followers and is one that can be overcome through being open.

Two-way conversations are the only way that both parties involved fully understand what is happening and understand why it is happening. When a teacher is giving instructions, the teacher needs their students to give feedback on whether they understand the task that lies before them or not. For example, if a person were removed from a room and instructed to tell around 300 Purdue students how to draw a plethora of shapes, the task would be hard to accomplish. The leader reading the instructions on how to construct the shapes might be doing the best they can, but by being out of the room, the walls create a barrier. The walls eliminate two way communication, therefor resulting in almost everyone failing an easy task. The truth is that there are many barriers, or walls, to two-way communication. With technology growing the way it is today, distance is a wall to communication that is quickly being torn down!

Emotions, past experiences, expected future experiences, and prestige are all walls or barriers to two-way communication. One of the best ways to break through these walls is to introduce the talking stick. The talking stick allows the leaders, followers, or even teammates simply have their chance to state their ideas, hopes, and goals without being interrupted. Once done talking, that person can hand the talking stick off to someone else. Then, the person with the talking stick is free to discuss whatever they would like as well. The idea of the talking stick is that it gives everyone a chance to not only be heard, but to feel like and know that they has their chance to give their valuable input. Communication isn’t always easy, but it is if it is HOT!

PS: Like we saw in class on Mr. Feinberg’s slide show in class, we have two ears and one mouth!

Blog Entry 5 – Delegating Leadership

Leaders can lead in an active role or can take on more of a passive role of leadership when necessary. Part of being a leader is realizing that leaders cannot do everything by themselves and that delegation is REQUIRED in most circumstances. Delegating does not mean making others do tasks that a leader is not willing to do, and it does not mean giving up responsibility for the eventual outcome. It simply means giving others the opportunity to serve alongside the leader to accomplish all of the goals and achieve greatness. When a leader delegates certain areas of work to others, it allows the leader to continuously analyze where his or her group is headed and to figure out what needs changing.

Instead of making others do tasks that leaders do not want to do, a leader needs to find out the strengths in others and help them actively pursue their strengths and the group’s goals. Leaders need to fulfill the duties that they know are only possible to complete if they complete them themselves. As I referenced to earlier from http://www.leadershipnow.com/minute0001.html, “Only do those tasks that nobody else can do. Determine what it is you will delegate. Look at what you do and ask yourself if this is really where you should be spending your time. All routine activities and minor decisions should be delegated to others. Also, any tasks that should be performed when you are not there or unavailable are also candidates for delegation.” This brief summary clearly and simply explains how leaders can properly delegate tasks.

Delegating leadership means giving up micro analyzing every single thing that you have input on. As this funny and short clip shows below, delegation is one of the keys to success in business.

Obviously, this gentlemen was overworking himself when he could of just let his coworkers handle certain phone calls and meetings. Although the humor in the video is quite dry, the video clip does an excellent job of showing what can happen if tasks are not delegated properly in the business world.

At Purdue University, I am a leader in various ways. I serve on the executive board as Director of External Affairs. This means that I plan events for literally hundreds of people at one time. Delegating tasks to others around me is key to having everything turn out just fine without anything being stressful. I quickly learned over the past year and half, in my leadership role, that I cannot do everything on my own because I did not have enough time, just like the video clip above shows.

At the beginning of the Fall semester in 2015 at Purdue, I was in charge of planning a paint party for over 1,000 Purdue students. This took so much preparation and hard work. I delegated tasks and construction of objects to certain guys that live in my house. The task simply could not of been completed if delegation and cooperation were not involved. I hosted an event last week that involved having 50 ladies from Purdue’s Purduettes choir. Our house not only had them over but we planned and ate a dinner with them as well as sang songs to them. They performed some of their songs to us as well. The evening went fantastic and I was extremely thankful for the outcome. The truth is, if I did not have multiple guys that were willing to help serve, then the dinner would of been a failure. I delegated tasks such as picking up tables and chairs, setting tables and chairs up, moving couches and sounds equipment, and even the food purchasing and preparation. This event stands out in my mind as one that was only possible because of delegation of leadership among different men. Delegating tasks not only helps leaders grow in leadership, but it also helps goals become achieved!

 

 

 

Blog Entry 4 – Focusing on a Vision

Where are we going? How are are going to get there? What is the reason why we are doing what we are about to do? These are ALL questions that a leader needs to address for a leader’s followers to have a clear and cohesive goal in mind. A lot of people get a goal in mind and may barely start to work at it before they face difficulties, and then they just up and quit. It is time for leaders to lead by example and think about their overall vision. Leaders remember that obstacles and difficulties arise, but that does not throw their vision off course! Kid President discusses how we need to keep going and going to achieve our goals, and how quitting early is not an option.

Michael Jordan is arguably one of the greatest basketball players of all time. One thing that Mr. Jordan did that showed true leadership was he persevered. he believed in his vision. He practiced basketball day and night. He would play against his older sister to get better because he knew he had to look everywhere for advice and help. When he did not make his high school basketball team, he still kept his vision in mind. The  following clip below is a famous but still inspirational video that shows world renowned leaders overcoming obstacles because they kept their mind on the vision.

The video clip ends by saying, “If you have never failed, then you have never tried anything new.” I believe that the point of this quote is to tell everyone that it is okay to try out new things. It is okay to push yourself to what you think is the “max” and fail. The key is to get back up and keep on pushing forward day after day.

Blog Entry 3 – Following Directions

There is really something to be said for following directions. Every day millions of mistakes are made because directions were NOT FOLLOWED PROPERLY! Many “leaders” think that they know everything but the truth is that you learn from others around you. Throughout leadership classes and tasks, leaders learn that following directions is not only necessary, BUT ESSENTIAL FOR SUCCESS!

A legendary basketball coach named John Wooden once said, “The most powerful leadership tool you have is your own personal example.” Mr Wooden discusses with an interviewer why it is essential to learn from others and not be a haughty leader. How you work with others is what he thinks it takes to achieve your goals.In the video clip below, Mr. Wooden discusses what it takes to achieve greatness as a group and following each others direction.

If his basketball players were not willing to follow his directions out on the basketball court, then UCLA would not of achieved the great victories and milestones that they did.

One of the reasons why I think following directions is so essential is because it shows the leader that you care. You care enough to not just do what you think is best. You care enough to stop, listen, and consider and obey the order that was given. You care enough to follow, and that is how you become a leader!

Blog Entry 2 – Leadership Potential

Tonight Super Bowl contenders went head to head. People who do not work hard do not just end up in the Super Bowl. It takes practice, pain, hard work, sweat, and most of all leadership for a team to reach the Super Bowl. Throughout the game there were spectacular plays that were made, hardships that were overcome, and milestones that were achieved. Peyton Manning is a well known leader on and off of the football field. Tonight, leaders emulated what it takes to reach the summit, or in Mr. Manning’s mind, win the Super Bowl. Mr. Manning discusses how believing is just the beginning, and then the hard work sets in.

 

He says, “If you don’t stretch, you cannot grow, and if you don’t grow, then others are going to pass you by. And so many others are going to pass you by  that you are going to end up standing on the sidelines watching them play the game.”

I believe this is a very concrete quote when discussing how leaders can be developed and grow over the course of their life. Many people think that situations in life have aused them to be where they are and that external factors are the only reason that they cannot succeed. Mr. Manning says the exact opposite. Hard work, determination, and accountability help leaders develop. Once leaders develop that have the capacity to inspire others to follow in their footsteps and become leaders as well. Situations might not always be perfect and the future might be unclear, but true leaders persevere through obstacles and difficulties to achieve their goals. Like Mr. Manning said, you have to work to climb the mountain and reach the summit, no one just simply lands on top.