CSR 309

04/14/09 Class - Semester Review

2009-04-22T06:44:00.000-07:00

I cannot help but be honest when I say that the first two weeks that I sat in Physics Room 114 for CSR 309 were purely frustrating. I had no idea why I was wasting my time or allowing a non-existent professor dictate my ability to learn and my demeanor as a student. I questioned his motives, his credentials, and his ability to lead a class of around 300 students. I wondered how in the world he could still have a teaching career at a major university.

All of these feelings and attitudes quickly began to fade when Dr. Feinberg stepped in and truly took charge. He began testing us and pushing us. He made us think for ourselves and learn to exceed our own expectations of life as students. He scared us in a way that forced us to be independent and not run to someone else for the answers.

The videos and stories shared by Dr. Feinberg are so incredibly powerful to his students. I cannot count the number of times I felt a lump in my throat or tears burning my eyes from the things I witnessed or heard in this class. Never in my life have I met someone as motivating and inspiring as Dr. Feinberg. I’ve been to countless leadership conferences and participated in what seems to be an infinite number of leadership exercises, but I have never been deeply affected the way I have been from Dr. Feinberg. I have told everyone close to me what an amazing experience this has been, and encouraged all of my friends to take this “life-changing class.”
The principles of leadership that I have learned in this class, I have already put to use. I was the Vice President of Pledge Education this semester in my Business Fraternity. In previous semesters, we have had a major issue with the pledges not being professional and representing our Fraternity well. I decided to test out a few of Dr. Feinberg’s theories. Specifically, I did not give the pledges all of the answers up front. I made them work and contribute greatly to the organization before I expressed my personal care for them. I found out what motivated them and what mattered most to them in their lives. I figured out how they learn and what they wanted out of the Fraternity. And I made absolutely sure that they were rewarded for their individual and collective efforts and hard work.

I have utilized inspirational stories with the pledges and instilled in them the values of our organization. I have empowered them all with not only their own future, but the future of an organization I care immensely about and have spent three years developing into a top-notch business Fraternity. I have expressed to them my confidence in their abilities and my trust in them to carry on a 25-year legacy here at Purdue with our Chapter.

Although I have always been a passionate person, I have gone through what feels to be a life-renewal process over this past semester. It all stems from CSR 309. I take time out of my day to make others feel better. I tell everyone I care about how much they mean to me. I choose to “scoop the poop” rather than leave a pile which everyone else chooses to avoid. I no longer feel that external circumstances can keep me from achieving my goals. I surround myself with the people I love and I cut out those who bring me down. I ensure my peers, superiors, and constituents all understand my devotion to them and that I am a person they can trust to follow.

I found myself sitting in my seat after Dr. Feinberg’s last lecture on Wednesday. I did not want to leave. How do you say goodbye to a person and an experience that literally has changed your life for the better? Although I still wish I could sit in Dr. Feinberg’s lecture for another 5 years, I understand that I must learn from myself and others around me now. He has trained me to see leadership in everything, and I am inspired my even the simplest act of kindness. As soon as the last lecture ended, I drove to see my closest friends who happened to be playing a softball game. I had been crying pretty hard since leaving the lecture hall, but I felt an overwhelming need to hug all of them and tell them they meant the world to me. If I can show them even a glimpse of what I learned about life and leadership in this class, I am confident their lives will be forever changed as well.

The objective of this semester wrap-up was to discuss everything I learned from CSR 309 and Dr. Feinberg. Although I did not discuss very many principles here, I can assure everyone I learned an infinite amount of leadership techniques and strategies. I just find myself so emotionally moved that I enjoy discussing the personal relationships which are vital to being a great leader. If I tell my constituents why they should follow me, and I fight tooth and nail for them, my organization will be better off and everyone in it will be fulfilled.

All in all, I have grown immensely over the past semester, and I am forever grateful to Dr. Feinberg for that. There are several big events coming up in my life that will truly test my ability to put what I have learned into practice. I can’t wait to go out into the world with my new found passion and knowledge. I can’t wait to begin changing the lives of others. I can’t wait to hit the ground running full speed ahead. And I can’t wait to do my small part to change the world.

04/12/09 Class

2009-04-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

Today, I found myself at the beginning of my most stressful week of the semester. I knew I would not have a spare second to breathe due to the many projects, exams, presentations, and meetings I had. Like every college student toward the end of the semester, I had a beautiful plan laid out for this week several weeks ago, but everything still seems rushed and packed into my schedule tightly. So why is it that I'm not having a panic attack about everything I have to accomplish? Because I've learned over the past 3 months how to deal with stress like a true leader would.

When people rely on me to give my best effort and keep an organization in tact, I cannot appear stressed out or overwhelmed. I have to keep my cool for my constituents. I have learned from Dr. Feinberg that leaders must be a model for success. They must demonstrate professionalism, level-headedness, and poise. I am so incredibly happy with my demeanor these days as I have come to realize what is important in my life and everything else seems to be secondary. I do not feel the same stress levels I used to feel, and I am a much happier person in my current disposition. So, to all you college students who still think acing every single exam or assignment will make or break the rest of your life or career....chill out. Have some fun. Enjoy your family and friends. Take a breather. Have a drink (or whatever relaxes you). Watch a sunset. Talk to a long lost friend. Enjoy life's simple gifts. Then, you will see, people will naturally want to follow you.

04/08/09 Class

2009-04-11T11:41:00.001-07:00

Today's class was interesting for everyone because we studied the fundamental differences between men and women. In a society where women are earning a higher education, attaining upper-level managerial and leadership positions, and outperforming their male counterparts in some professions, it is important to understand and work with these differences. Although Professor Feinberg shed an entertaining light on the situation, he has taught us the serious nature of the gender inequality in the workplace.

Being a female in the business world, I still unfortunately hear about and experience first-hand negative perceptions of women in leadership positions. Some men continue to believe that women are incapable of surviving and thriving in business, and that often stems from their general attitude toward the female population. I hope that our society will continue to take strides in encouraging all races, ethnicities and genders to work toward greatness rather than discriminating against them. Our world will never make progress if we focus on the negative stigmas that should only live shamefully in the history books.

04/06/09 Class

2009-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

What is the breaking point of being an encouraging leader and knowing when to cut members from your organization? When does a leader realize he or she cannot possibly encourage a constituent anymore in a way that will produce results? I have been learning this lesson over the course of this semester, and I feel much more comfortable making the decision to either stick with one of my constituents or cut ties in the best interest of the organization.

Being a leader puts individuals in a position of scrutiny and criticism. If a person wants to take on a leadership position, he or she must understand that people will not always agree with, like, support, or appreciate his or her efforts; therefore, it is vitally important for leaders not to expect to always be the most popular person, but rather put himself or herself in the position to be respected for doing what is best for the collective whole.

04/01/09 Class

2009-04-06T08:16:00.000-07:00

Three years ago today, I lost a very close friend of mine to a horrible and extremely rare disease. She was the mother of one of my best friends, and I grew up with her always around encouraging us at school functions, sports games, and social gatherings. Before her passing, the only other time I had to deal with the loss of a loved one was when I was 5 years old, and I was too young to understand what was going on then.

How can the loss of someone close to you teach you something about leadership? Because leadership is about first finding your inner self. It's about creating a satisfying and fulfilling life spiritually and emotionally before venturing out to impact the lives of others. No one can effectively encourage or inspire another person without first leading his or her own extraordinary life.

I miss my friend's mom dearly. I still find myself looking at a beautiful sunset and wondering what she's doing in Heaven. I still think of her warm smile and contagious laugh, and it brings my own face to a smile. I still ache for the family she left behind as the kids are starting to get married and do not have their mother at their weddings, children's births, or holidays. But I know that she is not suffering anymore and that God has instilled a strength in her and her family for them to be able to carry on from their experience. And despite my relentless efforts to be successful in school and in my career, I know that life is too short to be anything but happy. I know that my family and friends are the most important people in my life, and no matter how stressed I can be on some days, they keep me grounded and focused on the important things in a genuine perspective. I appreciate everyone around me and make sure they know it because I never know when God has a change of plans in mind.

03/30/09 Class

2009-04-06T07:52:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, leaders are tested. And sometimes, leaders are discouraged and put in uncomfortable positions as a result of those tests. I was tested yesterday and today. I made a decision as a leader in my business fraternity that had a significant impact on the members of the chapter as well as the pledges. I had to bring the chapter to vote one of the pledges out of the program due to lack of performance and participation. What came afterward, I had not expected, especially from the particular people in question.

One brother, who happened to be a friend of the pledge, completely abandoned me on my performance of officer responsibilities. He chose to fire back at me personally because his ego was a bit hurt from his friend not performing. Although I was simply trying to do my job and uphold the high standards people over 25 years at our chapter have worked toward, this member of the chapter chose to make things personal as an attempt to lick his wounds. I went through two days of shock and pain that this member turned his back on me and tried to blame me for doing what was in the best interest of the chapter and pledge class.

Being in leadership positions, I am continuing to learn that you cannot always please everyone. You will always be criticized and scrutinized because your every move is under a microscope. Although it is not a desirable position to be in, I am learning to deal with it a little better each time a difficult situation arises. Sometimes, you can't be the most popular person in the organization with your decisions, but as long as the integrity and betterment of the organization are the driving forces in the decisions, everyone will be stronger in the end.

03/25/09 Class

2009-03-28T09:37:00.000-07:00

How effective are peer and leadership reviews? Can they truly change the trajectory of an organization if necessary? What does a leader and her constituents have to do in order to make sure the right changes are implemented?

I was left with all of these questions after class today, and that makes me extremely nervous for the last two weeks of CSR 309. Each group met today in class, and the group leaders passed out two exercises to obtain feedback on our group's progress thus far in the semester. Although our leader listened to everyone's feedback and took notes, is it too late in the semester to effectively make changes? I feel that with only two weeks left in this class, the only people who will benefit will be students who take this class in future semesters rather than us. I have learned so much in this class about leadership, yet I feel that our group did not successfully demonstrate all of the principles we learned.

I have actually tried a number of leadership strategies I have learned in this class with a student organization I am an officer in, and the strategies have worked brilliantly. So why can't we make them work in our group within CSR 309? I am curious to see how the next two weeks develop our group and if we can all pull together in a way that Dr. Feinberg would be proud to recognize. If we don't, if we just stay in a place of mediocrity, then we have failed. Failed ourselves, our class, Dr. Feinberg, and Purdue. And I think we are capable of being extraordinary.

03/23/09 Class

2009-03-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

Today was the day I finally saw my hard work as a leader pay off through another individual. As Vice President-Pledge Education for my business fraternity, I am responsible for educating the pledges on the history of our fraternity and helping them coordinate required events for their pledgeship. The pledges must elect a president and four other officers, and I have been waiting to see my leadership qualities influence those of the pledge class officers. After five weeks, I did.

The pledge class president is only a freshman, so I was a bit concerned that the upper classmen would not be as willing to follow him. Throughout the past five weeks, however, he has done an unbelievable job of taking charge, encouraging everyone, and empowering his fellow pledges to take responsibility for their own positions. Instead of doing everything his way, he met with every individual to see what they wanted for their pledgeship. He then gave them their own power to see those goals through and has been providing positive feedback every step of the way. We have not had a pledge class president build cohesiveness and bring everyone together like this in three years.

It is so nice to see a young person be confident enough in his own abilities to pull more experienced people together and not only accomplish their collective goals, but accomplish them in a way that is much more successful than any other pledge class in the past three years. I am excited for my business fraternity, for Purdue, and for my generation because their are people like this young man willing to take charge in pressuring times. Hooray for the "fight in the dog" rather than the "dog in the fight," and hooray for someone eager to learn how to be a leader the right way!

03/18/09

2009-03-18T11:59:00.000-07:00

Well, the majority of my friends are enjoying themselves on a beach somewhere in Florida or Mexico while I'm sitting in my room in Greenwood, Indiana. Where in the world will I find something leadership related to blog about today? That's what I would've said three months ago before I started taking CSR 309. But now, I see small forms of leadership everywhere!

As I have been enjoying a week at home, I have witnessed my mom become proactive in something that is very difficult for her to face. She has been struggling with endless health-related issues over the past four years, and although she is extremely tired of the battle, she keeps fighting. She gets up in the morning despite everything in her mind and body screaming at her to stay in bed; she takes her medication and new concoction after new concoction; she listens to everyone around her complain about their trivial problems of the day; she consoles business acquaintances as they worry about their businesses failing in the current economy; but somehow, she continues to not only exist, but impress the hell out of me, my dad, and my brother (the three people who actually witness her constant struggle).

How do people change the world? Do they sit down, draw out a plan, get a few people on their side, and then venture out into the masses? Or are they inspired by some internal struggle they've had, in turn inspire everyone around them to forget miniscule issues, and then change the hearts of dozens, then hundreds, then thousands, then millions of people? Do they start with others, or do they start with themselves?

I think I know now...no one can be great without first destroying their own internal demons and creating a contagious light within themselves. No one can inspire others without first overcoming something with bravery and courage which transforms the outlook of those around them. And no one can tell others to face their fears and accomplish their dreams without first living those words themselves.

Because I have seen a woman take charge of her life in a way that no one but her could, I know that if I ever want things to be different in my life, I need to shut my mouth, stop complaining, identify what I want, and take the necessary actions to make it happen. Great leaders don't point fingers and tell everyone else to do the work for them. They pave the way with their vision, passion, and sheer determination to see the project through. If ever a finger is pointed, it is at him or herself to recall the previous struggles and utilize that inspiration to continue pushing forward and never return to a place which was far darker than the place where progress allows light to shine brightly.

03/11/09 Class

2009-03-18T11:39:00.000-07:00

Sometimes leaders screw up. Sometimes they have too many things demanding their attention, and they just forget something. Though they wish it never happened, reality ensures that is does. So, what's plan B when plan A never fully develops? Make sure you have some damn good people working for you, above you, and beside you.

Today, I had a 5-hour-long interview in Bloomington, IN, then had to drive back to West Lafayette, finish two papers, plan several things for a meeting this evening which I was in charge of, go to class, go to the meeting, and then come home and finish a report due by 9:00am tomorrow morning. How in the world am I going to complete all of this and still remain somewhat sane? I have no idea...

So, the interview went well, the drive back was relatively smooth, my papers were finished in the last few minutes before my class, but I had no time to prepare for my meeting which was directly after my class. Uh oh. So I get ahold of someone on my committee within the organization that my meeting is for, ask her to put a few things together, and tell her I will bring the remaining items to the meeting. Only, guess what? I forgot them at my apartment in my rush to make it to class on time.

Long story short, my roommate brought me what I forgot in the brink of time, perfectly on cue with our transition to those items on the agenda, no time was lost, and no one even knew anything was wrong. How in the world did my heart rate not cause a heart attack or my whirlwind of a day not effect my performance at any of my tasks? Because I had excellent people around me. With every great leader there are at least five people making sure he or she accomplishes the organization's goals. Even if they are involved in the most minute ways. I knew I had great people on my committee for a reason! And I made sure to reward them all appropriately in my own way. Just another fine lesson in leadership...if you're going to screw up, make sure your coworkers can help you make the mistake one that is behind-the-scenes rather than on center stage.

03/09/09 Class

2009-03-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

I often wonder why people become jealous of others. Today, I found myself in the middle of an ugly situation with a family member who is applying for an internship with a company I accepted an internship offer from last fall. Why would my family member be jealous of me instead of happy for me? I am ecstatic at the idea of being able to work with him, so why isn't he just focusing on obtaining the job rather than coming up with excuses for why I already have my offer secured and he doesn't?

The more I though about this, the more I realized there was a huge opportunity for me to step up and show him a few of the leadership skills I have learned (especially from CSR 309). While on the one hand I could sit back and take no action to help this family member achieve what he wants to, everything inside of me wants to act on my second option: do everything in my power to utilize what skills I have gained to develop him into a candidate no company wants to pass up. So, the journey begins...

I review and critique his resume and cover letter. I make sure he understands how to dress, speak, shake hands and present himself professionally. I mock interview him, ensuring he is prepared for behavioral-type questions and has prepared questions to ask his interviewers. I tell him all the do's and don'ts that this company in particular looks for. In essence, I am simply enhancing skills he already has, and providing him with some added punches he has never had to think about before.

At the end of the day, isn't this what a great leader does? I recognize great potential in this person (and not simply because he is a family member). Being an employee of the company he is applying to, I could either gloat in my comfortable position of already having a job, or I can do everything in my power to encourage someone with a world of talent to spruce up his professional skills so he can prove to others what an incomparable contribution he can make to the company.

Today, I feel good. I feel like I dodged a sticky situation, turned it into a positive one, and helped bring out the best in one of my potential future co-workers (and lifelong brother). Today, I chose not to partake in family rivalry, and it may just turn out that we both get what we want and the company who is taking a chance on both of us could benefit greatly from its decision.

03/04/09 Class

2009-03-08T11:46:00.000-07:00

Today, I was forced to think about something I am normally terrified to consider...my death. Specifically, how my death would affect those around me. What would they say? What legacy, if any, will I leave behind? Will anything I have done up to this point in my life actually have mattered outside of my own mind and heart once I'm gone?

From my early childhood years until I was 21 years of age, I focused on how I could grow and develop myself personally, educationally, professionally, you name it. It wasn't until my mother's health and a sudden health issue of my own arose that I really began questioning my life. I felt like I was going through the motions simply because they would make me "more successful" in the end. What people would have said about me before that life-altering period would have been how I was always focused on achievement and that I was a workaholic. Now, however, I am paving a new path. Though I know all of my previous hard work has allowed me to relax a bit in the job and graduate school search, I am taking time to work on my inner self. That renewed sense of inner happiness is allowing me to help others fulfill their own ideas of happiness.

I think if I were to die today, people would recognize this new side of me and attribute my life to my desire to enhance the lives of others. My mentoring and coaching of those who are experiencing some of life's difficulties has shown others the caring and devoted person I am. My personal sacrifices to others have allowed them to feel a sense of peace rather than stress or exhaustion. And although I am satisfied with this improved inner self of mine, I am going to continue striving to make the world a better place one life at a time. Maybe then people will have been touched in some extraordinary way by my time in their lives and want to carry on whatever personal legacy they were inspired by from my own life.

03/02/09 Class

2009-03-08T11:35:00.000-07:00

When corporate recruiters visit a college lecture, there are typically a number of students interested in the opportunities they present and the remaining majority honestly could not care less about their company. Two recruiters joined our CSR 309 lecture this day and presented their company as well as ways to stand apart from the crowd on paper. Surprisingly, I found myself focused not on the presenters, but rather Professor Feinberg the entire time...in a non-creepy way of course.

What I found truly interesting was that these recruiters did not set themselves apart from other recruiters. Why should I work for Macy's? Why should I follow these people? Why should I be passionate about what they are doing as a company? I think Professor Feinberg has taught us well to not only lead in a uniquely effective way, but also seek out those qualities in those whom are currently leading us.

Sure, Macy's has an excellent corporate structure and all, but based on these recruiters' presentation on how to sell yourself, it seems they are simply average or standard in their recruiting practices. Maybe these people need to take CSR 309 by Feinberg to understand how to really "wow" their prospective followers.

02/25/09 Class

2009-02-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

Every once in a while, there are personal encounters, stories, and occurences which absolutely change your life in an instant. One of these moments impacted my life on Wednesday. As I was reading a document featuring brief stories on all types of leaders in today's society, the last story on the page completely took my breath away.

A young boy had been diagnosed with a rare disease earlier in his life, but in his survival, he developed the necessary antibodies to fight the disease and become immune to it. His younger sister was then diagnosed several years later, and because her older brother's blood contained those life-saving antibodies, she needed a blood transfusion from him. As the doctors asked him if he would go through with the transfusion, he immediately agreed to it. Toward the end of the routine procedure, the boy, misunderstanding the nature of the procedure, asked when he would begin dying.

Wow. A young boy only knows his sister is sick and needs his help, and without hesitation, is willing to sacrifice his life for her. Again....wow. Shouldn't we all be selfless in this way? Shouldn't we all get over ourselves, our pain, our fear, our personal crusades, and realize how we can truly give our lives meaning...how we can make someone else's time on this earth significantly better? Why is everything today about personal gain, seeking a competitive edge in all aspects of life, and striving to increase monetary wealth?

For the first time in a long time, I stopped. Stopped worrying about my exams, my projects, my insignificant crises I thought were of the utmost importance, and I called three people I knew had been going through a difficult time. I asked them how I could help them. I lied about not having a busy week and I brought one person coffee and funny quotes from our favorite TV show while she was studying for three exams, helped one work on a large student organization project with a quickly approaching deadline, and allowed one to forget about recently being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis for a few fun hours. Although none of these situations involve me in a situation of making the ultimate sacrifice, in the eyes of the people I helped, I in some small way saved a part of their lives this week...and it feels pretty damn good.

02/18/09 Class

2009-02-22T08:42:00.000-08:00

The time has finally come...our first chance to meet and evaluate our group leader for the first time. Will he make a great first impression on his constituents, or fold under the pressure of pulling about 15 people together to build a structure which resembles the group in a mere 20 minutes?

Although our group was a bit behind because we were not emailed a place to meet within the classroom or made aware of our task for the day, we seemed to start the task relatively strongly. Several people jumped forward to begin discussing the structure we were going to make with the materials we had available. Others took charge of creating decorations for the tower once is was constructed. Once everyone was indulged in the creation process, someone asked where our leader was because she had a question for him...and he was nowhere to be found.

It was disheartening to find out our leader was helping a lost student find his group instead of overseeing our very first project as a group. Hopefully all current and future leaders in our group learned a valuable lesson in that a leader should always make his or her followers believe they are important and worthy of the time and recognition of the leader. Additionally, leaders should be enthusiastic to participate in the group's projects rather than simply counting down the time we have left to complete the task. I learned how unpleasant it is to be following someone that is not willing to provide guidance or put forth the effort that inspires the followers to perform at a high level for the leader.

02/16/09 Class

2009-02-22T08:31:00.000-08:00

What makes a great leader? Is it character? Is it enthusiasm? How about experience? Perhaps the simple selection by a group of people? Some leaders grow and earn their positions through hard work and proven results, while others are thrown into such a position in a time of dire need of leadership. Is there a difference in the overall performance of leaders who attain power through different methods? I guess, in CSR 309, we will see.

I admit I am a bit skeptical about the performance of my leader simply because I have found that those who seek attention and desire a high-profile existence within the classroom are often times the people who do the least amount of work. They are already getting all of the attention, so what does it matter to them if they have a group of "followers" completing the work? All I can say is I am remaining optimistic that I will be pleasantly surprised...

02/11/09 Class

2009-02-13T15:43:00.000-08:00

The competition among today's college students has reached new heights. With the economy and job market in one of the poorest states in recent history, graduates are forced to sell themselves more than ever. But how do we separate ourselves from the competition? How do we make sure we stand out and are remembered by recruiters? How do we ensure our two-minute self sell or twenty-minute interview are virtually perfect and land us the offer?

Wednesday's class interestingly displayed a few of the characteristics recruiters truly seek out in job candidates. Upon viewing a video resume on YouTube and comparing it with the entrance video submission of Elle Woods from 'Legally Blonde,' I learned a very important lesson in seeking admittance into an organization: be sure to vocalize how important my leadership skills in progressing the rest of the organization toward its common goals. It does not matter what my GPA is or what I can accomplish individually, but rather how I can make those around me better. I am glad I learned that lesson now when I can effectively utilize it in job interviews and try to obtain a position in a poor job market.

02/09/09 Class

2009-02-13T14:46:00.000-08:00

What if I told you that you had to attend a four and a half hour lecture after a full day's worth of work? Would you be annoyed? Enthusiastic? Would you be optimistic about the presenter's experience and the lessons he or she was capable of teaching? Or, perhaps, would you think it was impossible to truly learn about leadership by sitting in a chair for that long without interacting with others or even saying a word the entire time?

After Monday's class, I know exactly what I would do. I would be optimistic and attend the lecture with an open mind. There is always something to learn when listening to others, especially when the topic is leadership. Kirk Weisler is a man who has a great deal to say. As a guest in our Monday class, he spoke of his life experiences and shared both success and failure stories. Kirk was extremely motivational and inspiring, and it is evident that a person who can hold the attention of around 300 college students for nearly five hours has figured out how to be a successful leader.

Kirk's book is one of the best I have read on the subject of leadership, and clearly the shortest and simplest. Maybe that's precisely what leadership is in today's society...making even the most difficult subjects seem simple. When people feel empowered to do things they normally do not think they are capable of accomplishing, they are more willing to put forth their best effort in an attempt. Kirk undoubtedly made all of us feel that we were capable of being the best leaders of the future-simply by taking initiative and holding ourselves accountable instead of pointing fingers at others or at the problem.

02/04/09 Class

2009-02-05T20:59:00.000-08:00

The interviewing process for any position can be intimidating and out of one's comfort zone. In today's class, those striving to be group leaders went through their second round of interviews in front of the class. It truly is amusing, yet a bit frightening how similarly groups of people and the individuals who make up those groups act in situations. The first and second group ignored what everyone was trying to tell them and kept themselves huddled at the front of the room whispering to each other about their "task."

An extremely important lesson in leadership was learned by watching these two groups. They were not acknowledging their followers, and when they did, they would not take feedback or opinions seriously. They were talking at us and not with us. How are leaders supposed to motivate everyone to accomplish organizational goals when they are the only people whose voices are heard? No one wants to put forth effort if it will not be recognized or considered legitimate.

02/02/09 Class

2009-02-05T20:44:00.000-08:00

Are leaders born or are they created? For decades, this exact question has been debated, and we continue to learn about it in our college courses. I have come to the conclusion that although some people are fortunate enough to have innate abilities which are evident from an early age, anyone can choose to be a leader. A person can have an intense desire to lead others and work toward understanding how to motivate others.

Today's class was one which provided a platform for those in the class who said they wanted to be leaders. Specifically, this platform was a "30-second personal sell" of each individual to the rest of the class on why we should follow them. Honestly, I was disappointed as most of them simply bragged about themselves instead of convincing me that they would listen to my opinions and take my background and experiences into consideration. It was evident that most of the class was exhausted by the end of all the speeches because they were all the same and we were not influenced by any of them.

As I was sitting there watching the presentations, I reconsidered my decision not to be a leader in this class. I actually am still glad I chose to be a follower in this situation because I am learning much more by taking note of what works and what does not in motivating others. Although I always strive to be a leader and challenge myself to a higher level, I understand the importance of a leader remembering what it is like to be a follower. Despite the risk of not getting an "A" because of my choice not to go through this "interviewing" process, I feel I will be a better leader in the future for taking the position as a follower and remembering exactly how I feel and react to different leadership styles.

01/29/09 Class

2009-02-01T21:11:00.000-08:00

Not too often in a college class does a student find herself staring at a piece of chocolate the teacher has just given her as a part of some future assignment. In this class however, that is the exact position in which I found myself. I wondered for some time how this would eventually relate to leadership. Fortunately, we did not have to wait long to indulge in our assignment of eating the chocolate.

As I let the candy melt in my mouth, I began contemplating the unknown purpose and hidden message within the exercise. Though this was a simple and enjoyable exercise, it actually had a very powerful lesson for us all. It became evident that the chocolate represented a task that the leader (each student) was in charge of accomplishing. As the leaders stayed focused on the task and did not worry about the unfocused minds of those around them, they easily completed the job. Those who allowed their minds to wander, chewed the chocolate despite being instructed not to, and did not take the task seriously were not successful. This is a very important lesson in leadership: stay focused and give your best effort to complete the task at hand despite the sometimes seeming insignificance of it.

01/26/09 Class

2009-01-28T08:41:00.000-08:00

What if someone could describe a college lecture that not only was entertaining to attend, but also filled its audience with a sense of urgency to make something of themselves; pursuaded them to become the best citizens of this earth while they reside here; and instilled the most basic principles of a respectable human life which we so often forget? I honestly feel that today's class was a lecture which successfully accomplished all of these objectives.

Too frequently, I go to class, hear a lecture on how "professionals" conduct business, how the best marketers in the world sell their products, an how successful businesspeople make ethical choices. After three-and-a-half years of college, I finally was inspired to look within myself and my own life and create an honorable path in the short time I have left to live. I did not think about climbing the corporate ladder or making enough money to lead a comfortable life. I thought about the "legacy" I want to leave behind and the example I want to set for my family, peers, and even superiors.

I have been re-inspired to "make the little things count" each day. Just as when I was a child and my parents told me to do my good deed for the day, I feel that I can make a difference in a life every single day. I wish today's lecture had been recorded somewhere so that I could show my family and friends, but my vivid recollection of the hour I devoted my full attention to will suffice and hopefully create a lasting impact on them as well.

01/21/09 Class

2009-01-23T14:03:00.000-08:00

We began watching the movie titled "The Queen" during this class period, and I learned a great deal about the Royal Family that I knew very little about previously. The movie is focused around the death of Princess Diana and how the Queen of England in particular handles the situation.

The Queen's leadership style is one of the most interesting aspects of the movie. She is clearly overwhelmed with jealousy toward "The People's Princess," and does not wish for her country's people to pay tribute to her life even if that is the most honorable path to choose. Leaders are not always going to enjoy the company of those beneath them, but it is their responsibility to respect them and do what is best for the organization, or in this case, the country.

Because of her actions in the movie, the Queen lost the respect and admiration of people around her in the government and the citizens of England. For the period in time in which this movie takes place, it seems that there was a disconnect between the leader and the followers. As a result, England was probably a little vulnerable. A leader should never allow this to happen.

01/19/2009 Class

2009-01-23T14:02:00.001-08:00

Although we did not meet for class on this day, I learned a great deal about leadership. Through the assigned readings and podcasts about Martin Luther King, Jr. and Dan Ponder Jr., I learned of the importance in taking a stand for what is morally right rather than what is popular or even expected. Dr. King is known for his work toward racial equality and peaceful interaction among all Americans regardless of the color of their skin.

Representative Ponder is not as well known, but should be regarded very highly as a result of his courageous action on a piece of discrimination legislation in the state of Georgia. Regardless of the expectations set on this man by both political parties within the state, he made a heart-felt and convincing speech about a black woman who loved him unconditionally when he was a child. His speech resulted with an overwhelming 116-49 vote in favor of abolishing hate crimes and racial discrimination.

Leadership can be seen in all forms and on all issues. Dr. King and Representative Ponder are simply two examples of courageous individuals who fought for the unity and freedom of all Americans. Due to their efforts, our country has become one of the most racially diverse and highly-regarded nations in the world. I am sure that the recent inauguration of Barack Obama as the first African American President of our nation is only one symbol of the success of brilliant men like these.

01/14/09 Class

2009-01-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

As I progress through college, I realize that some days are more productive, beneficial, and energizing than others. Yesterday, unfortunately, was one of those days where very little was gained. I went to class thinking we were going to learn from our last meeting and put our lessons to good use. Instead, my belief that Monday’s class was the most unproductive class I have ever attended was proven wrong.

After what seemed like ten different people getting up in front of class yesterday and trying to run things their way, the frustrations of over 200 people reached a new height. With mass confusion once again finding its way into the classroom, we continued to talk in circles until we could finally just leave for the evening.

Everyone knows that a group of people needs a leader and followers who buy into the leader. The problem yesterday was that none of the “leaders” had the same idea, and none of the “followers” wanted to commit to their shaky directions. Yesterday, it was more evident than ever that we need a qualified leader to give us some sort of direction as to what we are supposed to accomplish in this class; otherwise, we need the authority to decide for ourselves what the mission of the course is without fearing whether our decisions are right or wrong.

01/12/09 Class

2009-01-14T10:52:00.000-08:00

Most college courses begin on the first day of the semester with the professor introducing him or herself and reviewing the course syllabus. Going into Monday's class, I was expecting the same scenario. Little did I know that our professor would not be there, an unseemly video would be shown, and mass confusion would fill the remainder of the time allotted for the class that day.

After the class watched a video regarding a seven-step process on changing our lives, we were unclear if we were permitted to leave class for the afternoon or remain for further instruction on the course. With what seemed to be half of the class leaving, the other half remained questioning the agenda for the rest of the day. One student finally stood in front of the class and shed light on our confusion. We were informed that we had an assignment due that day, and that the reason we were waiting unknowingly in the room was because those who knew of the assignment were to inform the rest of the class and express leadership skills.

Though most of us were a bit upset with the scenario, we understood the meaning and learned that leadership does not always begin when we are prepared, but when it is needed. I would say that was one of the most pivotal lessons I have ever learned on a first day of class.