Having grown up as more of free spirit in theater (which I really want to spell theatre) and reading as many books as I could possess momentarily (still a vice) math came later with the move into sales and marketing in the 80's. Working with small businesses and entrepreneurs one had to show the expected ROI and the bottom line along with developing relationship and trust to meet sales goals. Even now the major portion of my time at work not typing data/instructions without support staff is spent crunching data to see if the sale makes sense to the client. It always makes sense to the organization (at least in my case). Yet in engaging my graduate and undergraduate students I am overly passionate about two things:
Don't confuse academic language in peer reviewed journals or theory with actual practice in the world of teams and organizations;
Learn to understand the math or you'll be out of business, but never forget that every number in some way represents an employee, a team, a town, a community or some other human impact.
Nothing overly prejudicial about MBA's but what was taught in most programs from the 1970's through today created the global financial crisis, dramatically increased poverty, social injustice and even the Arab Spring. Crunch the data down to the minute detail of quarterly profits so the shareholder's will be happy, the
upper management get their bonuses and never mind the layoffs which lead to higher unemployment, less funding for education and police departments, and neighborhood deterioration. By basic math, some organizations could have saved 10,000 jobs if the CEO would have simply gone from 400 million to $350 million in annual salary (and some have or even more). That would have been real leadership.
Of course, teaching in a Master's of LEADERSHIP program while pursuing the PhD in Organizational Psychology that kind of thinking comes naturally. It's a passion for people purpose, because all of the profits in the world at the cost of community will only buy one so many desert islands to hide from the increasing pain and suffering being created and ignored along the way. Not by everyone or every major corporation of course because there are many shining examples. Well, some at least. But if one can't see far enough into the future from our present paths to see the social inequality causes of the Arab Spring approaching Western societies then spending time studying history as well as in soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and neighborhoods far less fortunate than our own is required. Doing something is even more important.
Roman Krznaric below talks about the age of outrospection in the current era as opposed to the "me" philosophy of the last forty years. Worth consideration, a listen or reading some of his work if seeking sustainable growth and a better tomorrow, today.
Transformational Servant Leadership Innovation Cycle (Wallace) I was asked this week to post some thoughts on transformational leadership relating to community development and innovation in a forum on Facebook. That format is a little more limiting and doesn't quite give the opportunity for graphics. Thus this morning's thoughts for your review and feedback here. The graphic on the left is a model of my own making describing one path to individual and organizational change. Although they follow slightly different tracks for academics and consultants/practitioners, Transformational Leadership and Servant Leadership are closely intertwined with similar meanings. One must certainly say that Servant Leadership is transformational in scope and outcomes. Both theories and practices are discussed in detail and endorsed (if you will) by such organizational and individual change experts as the late Stephen Covey , Peter Senge , Ken Blanchard and Margaret Wheat
One of the more magical moments in my life (of many) was before digital cameras and smartphones at Fort Lamar in Lamar Park, Wyoming Michigan. I became a fan of Yes by the age of 15, along with early Genesis , Marillion , Camel , Porcupine Tree (recently), and I suppose even some of Gino Vanelli's early work. Their ability to take you places through music, or music and lyrics, particularly with big headphones on or a quadrophonic stereo.The progressive rock movement for me is an extension of my love of Tolkien and Lewis as a child. You and I may never meet in person. Yet we are still connected in so many ways beyond this life's existence on the same planet in this time frame and the various atoms and molecules that make up our physical structures. That you would take a few moments of your time to spend here connects us by spirit. And for me, regardless of your beliefs, philosophy or theology, we are connected by His spirit as well. The outdoor facility
Most of us have felt rejected at one time or another. By a potential mate, spouse, friends, jobs we've applied for, coworkers or bosses. In my case certainly there were times over the decades where my thinking and behavior deserved being fired or turned away. Other occasions though the rejection doesn't have anything to do with us, but the paradigm of those dismissing our opinions or relationship. Those who've struggled to find meaningful work during the last five years of the current recession know first hand, often applying for hundreds or thousands of jobs with no feedback or even "thank you but we're going in a different direction" after multiple interviews. If one doesn't have both spiritual and internal fortitude rejection can easily become a self fulfilling prophecy as the attitude and posture exude "I'm not worthy" where we go. I've never met anyone who wasn't worthy as a human being, in part because
Comments
Post a Comment
Thank you for sharing your worldview.