My leadership blog tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011-09-09:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263 2011-12-03T19:34:07Z Movable Type Enterprise 4.31-en My leadership definition 11 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.325323 2011-12-03T19:33:05Z 2011-12-03T19:34:07Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be. It is being aware of your capabilities, using those capabilities, and allowing others to capitalize on their own capabilities, while in a group setting.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be. It is being aware of your capabilities, using those capabilities, and allowing others to capitalize on their own capabilities, while in a group setting.

Analysis: I am comfortable with my definition and chose not to add anything this week. Nevertheless, I was drawn to the idea of multiplexity. In the Sessions (2010) article, the author states: "the theory of media multiplexity argues that the stronger the tie between two people the more media they use to communicate with one another" (Sessions, 2010, p. 378). As I sit and think about all of my strongest relationships, I would absolutely agree with this theory. Between my girlfriend and my best friends, I either see them every day or I am texting, emailing, Skyping or talking to them on the phone. To relate to leadership, I think leaders should utilize multiplexity to create stronger ties with others, all the while enhancing communication in the process.

Works Cited:
Sessions, L. F. (2010). How offline gatherings affect online communities: When virtual community members 'meet up'. Information, Communication & Society, 13(3), 375-395. doi:10.1080/13691180903468954

]]> My leadership definition 10 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.322373 2011-11-16T22:19:43Z 2011-11-16T22:23:21Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be. It is being aware of your capabilities, using those capabilities, and allowing others to capitalize on their own capabilities, while in a group setting.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be. It is being aware of your capabilities, using those capabilities, and allowing others to capitalize on their own capabilities, while in a group setting.

Analysis: I decided not to add anything to my definition this week because I believe I have already addressed the topic of feedback and internal reflection. Despite no new additions, I did find some insightful tidbits in the Boyatzis (2006) reading. For instance, I agree with Boyatzis (2006) observation: "students, children, patients, clients, and subordinates may act as if they care about learning something, go through the motions, but they proceed to disregard it or forget it - unless, it is something which they want to learn" (Boyatzis, 2006, p. 609). This made me think about how by taking this class (which is not a requirement for me) and actually reading every article, it is proof to me that I have a desire to learn more about leadership.

Works Cited:
Boyatzis, R. E. (2006). "An Overview of Intentional Change from a Leadership Perspective." Journal of Management Development, 25(7), 607-623. doi:10.1108/02621710610678445

]]> My leadership definition 9 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.321243 2011-11-09T21:26:01Z 2011-11-09T21:26:54Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be. It is being aware of your capabilities, using those capabilities, and allowing others to capitalize on their own capabilities, while in a group setting.

Analysis: I chose to add the capabilities piece this week, because I was inspired by the Komives, Lucas & McMahon (1998) reading. What specifically stood out to me was when the authors stated that "each of us has a preferred set of practices we are most comfortable with in a group" (Komives, Lucasp. 174). They went on to describe different roles that people partake in a group. The role that I most identify with is the "Opinion Giver" because as the author's describe, I "share [my] views, feeling or ideas so the group has the benefit of [my] thinking" (p. 175). As a leader, I think it is important to know your place in a group, so that you can help the group without hindering or getting in the way of others.

Works Cited:
Komives, S. R., Lucas, N., & McMahon, T. R. (1998). "Interacting in Teams and Groups." Exploring Leadership: For college students who want to make a difference (pp. 165 - 194). San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.

]]> My leadership definition 8 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.319566 2011-11-04T17:33:53Z 2011-11-04T17:35:14Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life. It is utilizing that feedback to help maintain your goal of being the best person you can be.

Analysis: This week I decided to add the utilizing feedback piece to my definition and relate it back to my initial posting. Although I don't necessarily say it in my definition, I believe leadership involves a never-ending cycle of improvement. By following my definition of leadership, seeking feedback, and utilizing that feedback; I believe the final step in the process brings you back to the beginning and keeps the cycle going. I chose not to add any pieces of this week's reading to my definition; however, I was enlightened by Kezar (2000) piece on Pluralistic Leadership. In the analysis of the author's findings, she notes that "leadership perspectives appear to be impacted by several different aspects of individuals' identities" (Kezar, 2000, p. 739). I think what she is saying is true, and it is probably very evident in this class seeing as how no two leadership definitions are the same.

Works Cited:
Kezar, A. (2000). "Pluralistic Leadership: Incorporating Diverse Voices." The Journal of Higher Education, 71(6), Nov. - Dec., 2000, pp. 722-743.

]]> My leadership definition 7 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.318368 2011-10-29T18:31:50Z 2011-10-29T18:33:08Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others. It is continually seeking feedback from people in your professional and personal life.

Analysis: I chose to add the seeking feedback part of my definition because I agree with the Kegan & Lahey 2009 reading. In the reading, they mention that people should "conduct not just 360-degree feedback, but what we might call 720-degree feedback--including key people in your private life as well as your public life" (Kegan & Lahey, 2009, p. 64-65). I believe in this because I think most people, and certainly leaders, act differently when they are at their job vs. when they are at home. By seeking feedback in both aspects of your life, you will be able to make key improvements in areas you might not have realized if you only do a "360-degree feedback".

Works Cited:
Kegan, R., & Lahey, L. L. (2009). "Identifying Each Person's One Big Thing" (pp. 63 - 67). Boston: Harvard Business Press.

]]> My leadership definition 6 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.316532 2011-10-22T18:53:36Z 2011-10-22T18:54:48Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others. It is being receptive and showing a genuine interest in the views and inputs of others.

Analysis: This week I decided to add the receptive piece to my definition because I believe all leaders; not just servant leaders; should have this quality. The Barbuto & Wheeler (2007) piece on servant leadership makes many valid arguments for what I believe to be leadership. I agree with the authors in speaking about the listening characteristic when they mention "without good listening skills, many of the other characteristics described in this publication cannot be achieved" (Barbuto & Wheeler, 2007, p. 2). I think this is true of all forms of leadership because without being able to show that you value others opinions, it is unreasonable to expect others to value your own.


Works Cited:
Barbuto, J. E., & Wheeler, D. W. (2007). "Becoming a Servant Leader: Do you have what it takes?"

]]> My leadership definition 5 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.315264 2011-10-15T16:40:05Z 2011-10-15T16:41:12Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best.... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature. It is adaptive to the situation at hand. It is used to generate leadership in others.

Analysis: I chose to add the adaptive piece to my definition because I agree with one of the points the author makes in talk of adaptive leadership. He mentions that executives in today's world "must develop "next practices" while excelling at today's best practices" (Heifetz, R., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M., 2009, p. 64). Also, I chose to add the generate leadership in others piece because I like what the author said on the topic, in that, "you must use leadership to generate more leadership deep in the organization" (p.67). This line made perfect sense to me because I believe the more you are surrounded by leadership, the better leader you will become. *Best guesses on page numbers*


Works Cited:
Heifetz, R., Grashow, A., & Linsky, M. (2009). "Leadership in a (permanent) crisis." Harvard Business Review, 87(7), 62-69.

]]> My leadership definition 4 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.313065 2011-10-06T22:12:07Z 2011-10-06T22:14:04Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best person you can be, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature.

Analysis: Colin pointed out and made me realize that "striving to be the best" sounds a lot like being the best at everything in life. This was not my meaning, so I changed it to represent as best I could what I am trying to convey. Apart from this, I decided not to make any other changes. I believe ethics has its place in leadership. However, as much as I enjoyed this week's readings, I don't know how to convey that feeling into my definition at this time. I was enlightened this week by the Kidder (2003) article when the author mentioned how the process of determining a paradigm helps us make tough choices. In his analysis, he notes that "each value is right, and each appears to exclude the other" (Kidder, 2003, 23). I think by realizing this fact about any "right vs. right" dilemma in life and trying to resolve it, is a form of leadership.


Works Cited:
Kidder, R. M. (2003). "Overview: The ethics of right vs. right." How Good People Make Tough Choices (pp. 13 - 29). New York: Simon & Schuster.

]]> My leadership definition 3 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.311293 2011-09-30T22:34:40Z 2011-09-30T22:40:06Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is being transparent. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is being transparent. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do, while remaining transparent in your motives. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. It is derived from a spiritual nature.


Analysis: Just as I mentioned in the mastery check this week, I strongly believe leadership is spiritual. The main reason I believe this is because I think in order to have leadership one must, as Terry (2001) puts it, "find some kind of home for yourself that provides meaning and a sense of faith and possibility that allows you to remain engaged in life" (p.38). I highly value the Terry (2001) reading for this week. It has forced me to make some easy and tough choices about leadership that I never really thought about before. Making these choices has given me more awareness of my leadership definition.

Works cited:
Terry, R. (2001). "Deciding what you believe." Seven zones for leadership: Acting authentically in stability and chaos (pp. 20 - 40). Mountain View, CA: Davies-Black Publishing, Inc.

]]> My leadership definition 2 tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.309715 2011-09-23T17:20:03Z 2011-09-23T17:21:52Z Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told. This week's definition:... meil0025 Last week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told.

This week's definition: I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is being transparent. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told.


Analysis: In Rath and Conchie's (2009) article, Brad Anderson's key to building trust is being authentic, even if that means letting people see his flaws. I agree with this statement and that is why I chose to add the transparent part of my definition. Also, I still value my definition from last week and chose to keep everything with one minor addition. On a final note, I am starting to enjoy reading other's view on leadership because it helps me define leadership for myself by connecting with some of the views from the course readings.

]]> My leadership definition tag:blog.lib.umn.edu,2011:/meil0025/myleadershipblog//14263.307165 2011-09-09T15:29:45Z 2011-09-09T15:37:26Z I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told.... meil0025 I think leadership is setting a good example in everything you do. It is striving to be the best, while simultaneously lifting others up to their best. It is taking action without being told.

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