What is leadership?

Almost of all groups asked the question "what is leadership?" at the first of their presentation. Although we have learned the leadership during this term, we found it difficult to explain it in a word. It is because there are many types of leadership. And also because, in a different situation,  different age, what is required for leader is different. In other words, because we have learned a lot about leadership, we know that it is difficult to explain it shortly. 

Fortunately, I have got the chance to put my learning into the practice in my club. I started the leader of my cheerleading club as same times as the class begun. At first I was really worried about being leader. There were times when I wanted to give up my job. But this class encouraged me. The fact that I learned leadership in this class gave me some confident as a leader!  

So I am really glad to taking the course. I was stimulated from Ken, my great classmates and many leaders. The excellence of my classmates surprised me and sometimes I felt in a sense of inferiority, but it was really nice meeting. I appreciated dearly of our meeting! 
At last, I want to tell you the words that encouraged me most. 

Fake it, until you make it! 

To know oneself is very important, and it is necessary to accept one's weaknesses. But sometimes it grows my lazy mind. This phrase inspired me the way I am. 

Feedback of Brent's Lecture

Last wednesday, we had an interesting and stimulative lecture of Brent. 

He told us the importance of self awareness, and we did his mini test to know ours types of personality.There are four categorize of characteristics in his test. These are Integration, Development, Baser and Result type. I marked highest score on(?) development type. 

However, as I said to Brent, I'm not so creative, inspiring nor a long-term thinker. So at first I could not believe that I was a developer. But what was interesting was that my weaknesses were the same as people of development type! For example, fuzzy, time optimistic, careless and whimsical. Wow! It's me! 

In addition, although my essay theme is relationship between leaders and followers, I had lowest score on the Integration type that focus on followers most! Thinking about the result, I noticed that I was occupied with my own things so I don't have time (afford?) to worry about others. It is a serious problem for me writing about followers and as a leader of club, isn't it? The test was very enjoyable, but at the same time, it made me think about my weaknesses. 

After the class, I sent an email to Brent, and got his impressive reply.
He said many people focused on only their weaknesses, but people who are likely to success and enjoy their life focus on the strengths and natural talents while they regards their own weaknesses. Also he says, as a leader, it is important to be aware others' strengths. 

"Be proud of what you are." 
Brent told me that at the end of the mail. 
His mail, his lecture encouraged me. 
I thanked for him sooooooo much!

Maaarshmaaalollw Challenge!!

On Monday, we enjoyed marshmallow challenge! Because the theme of this class is  leadership, I did the challenge with thinking about leadership. 

In our group, I was not the leader. I waited to be told something by someone. Ei and Hiromi had ideas and suggested plans. I actually had no plan, and I left on others. In such situation, I'm really poor at conceiving of any ideas. I don't have creativity. I wanted to win the challenge, however, I tried not to disrupt. How negative attitude I was...! 

In the first challenge, we were the No.1, made 50cm marshmallow tower. 

But for the second challenge we failed to make higher tower. We build 40cm high. Why did we unable to make higher tower? 

Before the second challenge, Rab told us the secret strategies of success. For example, to look at other team, not to waste time to discuss or to ask whether we get more materials. 

We tried to put these strategies into practice, but we were a little bit too constrained these strategies. I thought we sometimes had better go our own way. 

Thinking of myself, I had to have my opinions. 

It is easier to leave making decision on others. 

However leaders should not avoid deciding when they face serious situation. 

I really enjoyed this challenge, however. I'd like to praise myself in this point...(^^;)>

Lighten up!

Strategy 8 is "Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about."  

In this chapter, the author says that even if celebration is the furthest thing from anyone when a situation is grim, it is crucial because celebration ( lighten up) break a spiral of depression and stimulate creativity. 

Shackleton had great ability to find something to celebrate. For example, "Empire day," " Dog Derby" and so on. These fun events contributed to the sense of cheerfulness and optimism. 

Such celebration is most important in the darkest days. I was impressed that Shackleton's act which he took when the 1 year anniversary of starting the expedition day came. At that time, their ship was crushed and they were in the disappointment. However he celebrated the day and  then the depression atmosphere turned better. Ceremony build hope, confidence, and morale, the author writes.

The author also says Shackleton had the ability to find something to laugh and had great sense of humor. According to the author, humor is consistently effective tool for dealing with adversity. Shackleton made the worst situation change by his a kind of black humor. 


Our cheerleading club likes to celebrate the event. On Halloween day, we put on the halloween color T-shurts and pants in practice. On Valentine day, Christmas, and so on we enjoy these coordinate. 
I want to continue this convention. And also the sense of humor, it is not my strong field, I try to learn to cheer members up! ( To tell the truth, there are more cheerful and interesting members than I, so I want to leave this role to them.) 

Charisma

Ei's comment on the making of "the RIDGE" really impressed me. She said that we could not know that he made effort and did practice if we did not watch the making. And like him, those who are called charisma don't show these effort, failure or fear and so on. So that people regard him as a charisma and  they attract us. Yeah, it's true. Charisma must make a lot of effort which we can't imagine, but we never see that they boast or show their exertion. 

On the contrary,  I tend to show off both my effort and especially appeal my failure to other members  of my club. Although I try not to make complaints, I apt to give notice that I can't do well.  I thought  being expected can be strong pressure, so I wanted to avoid. 

There is a meaning that avoiding cutting my own throat, but moderate expectation can be motivation. Avoiding pressure or expectations can be the cause to neglect making effort. I need not to be a super charismatic leader, but at the same time, I don't want to flee. In order to be trusted as a leader, I have to quick saying something negative and  showing weak attitude... 

awareness

There was something shocking the other day.

When I talked with an executive member of my club, I asked her to make a practice plan partly. I expected that she agreed with me like "I want to involve in the making practice plan! And you're busy, so I help you!" However she said, "It's your work, isn't it?" and she continued, " If you don't decide it, you have no work!" 

I was shocked. (What? I'm busy for other works of  captain even if she doesn't know!!)

It was shocking for me but, I should have thought about it from other perspective.
The first point is that I didn't tell her my reason why I asked her to decide the practice plan. I want others to Good reason has a power to move people. 
The second is that I didn't care that she as well as me, is very busy, because she is in charge of other important position. In addition I have not told what is my job clearly.

I focused on only myself, and I was convinced she understood what I want to say. 
I have to try to know others and be careful of others. (probably not only as a leader but also as a good person)

My ideal relationship is every member has leadership and everyone should be involved in the process of decision-making. However if I want them to do so, I have to make effort involving them, I think.

I know easier said than done...!

Feedback 1

My captain life has just started from yesterday. On January 17, cheerleading club Angels begun to the first practice  of this year. I was very naive the day before yesterday. It was the first time for me to be leader. 

                                   This orange person is me:*)

However I'm learning the leadership!! I put some strategy into the practice. At first, I tried to share information to others. I told 18 (ichihachi) members what we, executive members decided during winter  vacation. I share message  with other 17 members 

Also I tried to involve everyone  in the meeting, which we did before the practice. To tell the truth, every member is active and speaks opinions voluntary, but I pick up some opinions consciously. 

Some strategy I did not do that. Really, there were more things that I couldn't do than what I could. For example, I could not find good solution when a certain stunts failed. A member looked loosing confidence. I was aware that, but I could not do anything for her at that time. 

Now I make new practice menu like she and other members  get back confidence. 

Still I'd like to be able to change the bad mood. I tend to give up and rely on others soon, but I have to change such my attitude as a leader. 

There are many things that I can't yet, but be optimistic! I try and try and try! I make effort to be better!

My reseach proposal

    This is my first proposal.

    When we discuss leadership, we are sometimes unaware of the followers. One of the most important things for leaders is how to be followed in a group, team or office. It is impossible to argue leadership without thinking followers. I will focus on the relationship between leader and followers in this essay. What is the best relationship, and in order to establish it, how should leader behave? The resonant leadership can be one of ways that makes leaders closer to followers. Similar concept is suggested as horizontal leadership, transformative leadership and so on. These relatively new leaderships focus on more inspiring or involving followers than controlling them. 

     Daniel Goleman’s paper, “Primal Leadership”, introduces us to resonant leaders. Boyatzis and Annie McKee guide the resonant leadership more practically in their book, “Resonant Leadership” (2005). “The Power of Followership” thinks about leadership from the light of followers (1992).  Dinesh Sharma discusses the transformative leadership focusing one person in “Barack Obama in Hawai'i and Indonesia: The Making of a Global President” (2011). McKee’s essay, “Mindfulness, Hope and Compassion: A Leader's Road Map to Renewal1” focus on the stress that leaders feel when they take over the leadership (2006). By using these sources, I will write my paper and look for the answer my questions about leadership. 

     I'd like to know how to inspire followers rather than how to be a good leader, because I tend to focus on only myself, and leave others behind. While there are followers, there is leader, I think. For followers, other members, I want to be a good leader. 

     I am going to be a captain of my cheer leading club just from 'this' Saturday!! I want to put the knowledge acquired through this class and my research to my real life as a captain!  

'Gratification'

I have never known the word gratification before Ken told us. 
Gratification is the state of feeling pleasure when something goes well for you or when your desires are satisfied____from Oxford Dictionary.

Gratification is different from pleasure, which is brief, emotional, little thinking. On the other hand gratification is engaging, absorbing, and thinking. This is what Ken explain to us, but it was difficult for me to understand the difference clearly.

Then we talked about our own gratification. Because I did not understand the concept well, I did not come up with good idea, but the members who I talked with had very interesting and fantastic gratification in themselves. 

Ei said her gratification was  writing and checking the posts in the facebook and so on. I think she is  gratified to get new idea and to express her thought. 

Reiko's gratification, she said, was teaching Japanese to her friends. Teaching something requires skills and time, but at the same time, it gives teachers sense of achievement, I think.

Yu said his gratification was music! It seemed that music was really important part of him, and he loved it. He also said he liked planning! Planning for cooking, maybe  for studying, tasks whatever. I like to plan too, but never complete it... ;(

Hearing their interesting talk, I think, I have been focusing on only pleasure. For example, eating, shopping, watching TV or movies, reading comics etc. I feel the happiest when doing these things. When I talked at class, I said my gratification was making greeting cards, collage of photos and sending them for friends and family. However I wondered it could be my true gratification.

What can be my gratification? The question is deep for me. I think understanding our own gratification makes our lives better.  So that, I intend to think about what is my gratification from now on.


When I thought that↑, I found an image ↓. There are many various ideas around the concept! 

Optimism & Reality

'If there is one quality that makes the difference at The Edge, it is the ability to remain optimistic in the face of daunting adversity.'

Perkins, the author of  Leading At the Edge, writes that at the beginning of the chapter 3.
According to him, optimism is necessary to overcome hard situation, and positive outlook encourage people and makes people believe that they can do it even at the Edge.

Shacklton was an optimist and sometimes he was too optimistic to be depressed when he was in the mess. His positive look gave energy to other members. He made them engaged with lively discussion, and it kept the members focusing the future.


When the expedition was stranded in the middle of the Antarctic sea, he proposed planning to the next expedition to Alaska. His proposal encourage the group. In addition the planning could be a promise that there would be other adventure!! His optimistic gave hope to the group!!!

How important the optimistic quality is!
What a optimistic person Shacklton is!

More important thing, however, is spreading the spirit of optimism, I think. As Perkins mentions, Shacklton was able to infect the members with his optimistic.  I think, a group cannot be successful even if only leader had positive perspective. Leaders have to make himself understood by followers. A group can overcome an adversity only after all of them share the characteristic. 

I am an optimist luckily. However there was a case that only I believed a good result and the others did not.  At that time I felt I was isolated and the others may have feel they could not follow me. I was not a leader then, but when I become a leader, I have to spread optimism. As a leader, I'd like to avoid being self-satisfied.


There is another impressive advise for leaders in chapter 3.
It is that leaders should not share their uncensored doubts and inner feelings when faced with adversity.

It is important for leaders to share feeling with followers, but there is a time the attitude of the leader is powerful impact to the others.
Shacklton stuck to the attitude, I mean, he had never shown his fear or scare to the crews. Even when he knew that the ship was going to sink, he enjoyed the party not being noticed his anxiety. 

I think It is the responsibility that leaders have to take. 
It seems that we need to be strong in order to be a good leader.