Can you offer our class some insights into the capabilities you believe public leaders need to develop in order to participate in discussions about globalization, from those who serve at the very local level to those with international responsibilities? Just curious -- WWW

Same to the dressing style, leaders need to develop good habit in good way. I think it is one of leadership elements of leading your self in your own way. Our former prim minister Zhou Enlai used to have very strict rules for his face and dressing style. He continued his good habit everyday for several decades. That’s why he earned the handsome leader in China. It is not easy for average person to continue something over decade. If you can, I am sure you will be next famous leader.

On a different, but similar note...I think that it's obvious that corporate globalization is bad and has only improved the lot of a small handful of people at the expense of millions of others. There's no argument there.

What I think what we're missing in the discussion is how globalization (beyond the economic frame) is creating a social network with enormous power. I used to only see globalization in the context of the market and that lens was ugly and unjust and I was completely against the flattening and homogenization it promoted. Now I'm seeing the power of social globalization; the unification of diversity to heal what western hegemony has done to the globe.

Globalization is an unavoidable force compelled by our natural interconnectivity. We are Gaia's immune system compelled to connect in order to heal our collective disease. This is the science of synchronicity or self-organized criticality.

There is no point in arguing against globalization. We have always been globalized because we've always co-existed on this one planet. Globalization as a rhetoric of modernity simply means we are beginning to actually understand our co-existence.

For any leader at any level, this means understanding that everything is about "we," not "us" and "them."

This blog allows us to see who posted, how many responses there are, in a relatively organized format. The threads format shows entire sentences indented one after the other, until it's a big blob of words to my eyes. Here I can see what I'm doing far more clearly.

I think part of the problem with this wiki has simply been the incredible number of posts and comments. My 2 cents...

Scott Dauner

This blog allows us to see who posted, how many responses there are, in a relatively organized format. The threads format shows entire sentences indented one after the other, until it's a big blob of words to my eyes. Here I can see what I'm doing far more clearly.

I think part of the problem with this wiki has simply been the incredible number of posts and comments. My 2 cents...

S Dauner

Your comments about impressions being contextual are right on. In California no one would question Al Davis's attire. Here we have a different expectation. What I'd point out is that wearing non-contextual clothes can get in the way of our leadership goals sometimes, but can also serve as a way of making a specific point by being out of the ordinary. It's always situationally contextual.

S Dauner

Context is very important for me when choosing an outfit for a business meeting. If it is the first time, I always wear a well coordinated suit and tie. I consider this a respectful gesture, sort of the tradition of wearing 'Sunday Best' to church, temple or mosque as a sign of respect to god or at least the institution. Just as important, it is a the uniform of professionalism in business, law, accounting, academics, etc. I always wish to identify myself as part of a professional class of some sort, even if it is simple as a sales representative. Once I have established a professional relationship, I will shift my dress to reflect the culture who I am visiting. This is also respectful and shows an adaptive quality. I once visited a client in California where it was permissable to wear shorts on Friday. I showed up for my Friday meeting in shorts an was welcomed as one of the family.

I remember a Ronald Reagan campaign ad showing him wearing a plaid flannel shirt, clearing brush on his ranch. We were supposed to view him as a regular guy who could roll up his sleeves and go to work. He won two elections because he could adjust his image to appeal to a broad range of the electorate. We now observe Obama chuggin beer and H. Clinton slamming shots of brandy in working class bars across Indiana and Ohio. Dress is augmented with props that also indicate an identification with the voters they are wooing.

On the surface do appropriate trappings of dress and props mean that the person sporting them is a good leader or competent professional? But as signs of respect for another's values and culture, they will earn the attention of whoever one is trying to influence.

And as Kun says, if you are going to be a leader, you may as well be one that is not only looked up to, but pleasant to look at.

Don't get me wrong, replying to posts on this blog is easy. I had trouble figuring out how to post a new entry though. Could it be set up so that somewhere on the posting page that 'POST' is an actual option rather than save or edit? Or am I way out in left field?

For the last 6 semesters I have taken at least 1 class each semester that was on-line. They used WebCT and I loved it. I could do my responses as word docs and then import them. Can't do that on this blog without it looking like crap. I like the communication, I just never got accustomed to this blogs quirks. Or are they mine?

Case in point, most recently on Sunday, I was at the May Day festival going on it's thirtieth year or something long like that, http://www.hobt.org/mayday, leading the way to innovative grass roots activism. With the use of puppets, theatrical performances, celebration, recognition, and ritual, they are exemplifying K & P's idea of chapter 12 to wonderfully creative extremes. The whole focus of the event empowers participants by delivering relevant information, stories, and networking, encouraging the leaders of tomorrow towards responsibility in becoming fully engaged in glorious splendor and diversity. This yearly event tackles the notion of connected consciousness and enlightenment towards making a world worth living- "the awakening of a species whose clumsy gropings would result in either destruction or the flowering of a great civilization" -Csikszentmihalyi

How can we judge who's a leader in that milieu of craziness? Not by first sight alone. This appreciation of innovation must be nurtured through conversation and relationship! This parade, the pageant following, and traversing the path round the lake to visit all the different food vendors from eco-coffee, to West Indian curries, to cheese curds, booths with every local indigenous peoples to extremist activist groups, and artists and live entertainment the most soul-filled participants and performers, 30,000 strong all represented in one spot. This event has truly become a watering hole, to reunite with friends not seen, or revel in community of choice, all groups diverse in appearances, yet united by common goals of peace and progress towards a sane and sustainable future. So many people are hugging and kissing each other in greeting with an echo of "Happy May day" cheerily bantered in the exchange everywhere you turn. How do you tell the leaders among them? By getting to know them. Not as efficient as the other leadership standard we have come to expect and acknowledge that colors our perspective and judgment, yet maybe more effective in the end result. Connection through networks and communities, relational power is so under rated in hierarchical circles. (Cherrey and Allen)

Yet, when the official leaders do show up, and the radical ones do every year in the parade, they aren't wearing May Day colors, but stick with the safe stuff of shorts, plaid shirts, and blue collar traditional fare and rely on banners to alert the audience to their station. They are walking with others in glorious colors, some wearing nothing but a barrel, or feathers, or a myriad of costume combinations. It's the best blend of power I have witnessed in a parade. Yet there is one group growing in influence for their innovative leadership and underground networking, off the radar of suspecting critical eyes that intrigues me most.

The collective group of bikers that grow in numbers yearly by increasing the display of their creative prowess, through the most unusual bicycle contraptions one must see to believe. Some are as high up in the air as twenty feet, some push a couch seating four people, others are bedecked with utilitarian features to aid in daily living and some pedaled by four people at once contain a tin shack big enough to hold a five piece band! They are an incredible sight to be seen! The drivers of these bicycles are even more to behold. Though mainly represented by under 30's, there is an abundance of children and the older generation too melts in with their interesting combinations of attire. Some would judge them as "grundgers" or "goths", but that would not be an accurate delineation. Would I dress like them? I couldn't because it isn't me, yet I admire their boldness and unique style. I am trying to figure out each year who is in charge? From what I have learned through the grapevine, no one is. (Crosby & Bryson) They hold anarchy to be the highest form of organizing and highly value innovation in beating the system. People are revered for their scavenging and do it yourself skills. They have a highly sophisticated system of communication that isn't advertised or marketed. Some hierarchical groups have begun to wonder and take note at this underground trend nation wide.

Yet, I will suggest that if the current hierarchical system we count on and take for granted ever crashes, best look to someone on an unusual bicycle despite their off-appearance, wild multicolored dreadlocks, leather, and vibrant tattoos. For they just might have the power to solve the problems you need immediate answers to survive. Better come with something to trade too, a skill or some supplies as your appearance might throw them off trusting your intentions of cooperation. Or maybe to suit the occasion, don a faux-hawk.

I couldn't help but comment here. I have lived this entire scenario. In my younger years living in the Boston area I spent my youth in Harvard Square with green Mohawk.

No one (my professors, employers etc) ever took me seriously and it was frustrating. One day some friends and I did a 'study'. We had one person wear a suit and tell the person at the 'T' (subway) that they left their wallet at home can he please ride for free. The attendant said sure, go ahead. Then another friend dressed 'down' did the same thing with the same attendant, he got a big no, sorry we don't do that.

Society has gotten a lot more accepting to the tattooed, multi-colored hair look but back in the 80's (dating myself now) it wasn't as accepted in 'business'. Over the years I was 'forced' to change in order to be accepted (or basically get a 'real' job) in a business environment. I have 'walked the walk' with what people expect. But, now it’s my artistic side that is frustrated by having had to conform.

All in all not to rattle on about my life what makes me smile is knowing deep inside my philosophies have not changed just my appearance that young 'punk-rocker' is still here but now I have 'credibility' in societal eyes. The big question is who won?

Have a great summer.
Irene