Last week, I visited with someone close to my age (40s) about people in their 20s. The topic of generational differences came up, and I was reminded of the pervasiveness of the current stereotype many of us have about people in their 20s:
Entitled, lazy, hyper-connected, always with the earbuds in, leaving work as soon as possible, doing the minimum necessary, always
Still on vacation. Something to share with you, though: This woman has a fantastic blog that is great reading for anyone who cares about public education. Check it out: Expected freedoms.
No original thoughts from me this week, as I’ve been ill and have focused my energies only on 1) family needs , 2) current clients, and 3) getting myself well [that is, sleeping a lot!].
Thanks for understanding; I’ll be committed to the weekly Wednesday updates in the new year, I assure you.
In the past few weeks, a few of you have let me know that you look forward to the weekly post, though, and so this week I’ll provide a post from
Came across this — another take on that same topic: Kindness At The Office – Forbes.com.
Thought evolves, the world changes, and research keeps on happening.
Are you going to “stick with what works” or “change with the times”? Neither solution is right all the time, of course, so how do you decide?
Stay well-read, and keep thinking, and talking, and networking, and make up your own mind.
Last week, we
A major shift in my teaching effectiveness occurred after I absorbed and applied “The Leadership Challenge” by Kouzes and Posner. I especially embraced their concepts of “inspiring a shared vision” and “encouraging the heart” as ways to increase my own effectiveness at rallying students to stay attentive and hard-working. Being enthusiastic and affirming as a way of doing things, which is the opposite of what I had done before, was like changing the world from black and white to being in color. This shift marked a measurable difference in my engagement of students.
And yet, every once in a while, I would be frustrated
Sometime, when people are urged to take a positive approach to leadership, there is some push-back. Some people seem to equate “positivity” with being super-nice, but being kind is much deeper than a spewing of empty compliments like “good job” or “nice work” or “super!”
You can’t be too kind. But, you can be too soft. That is the difference, and I’ll admit that I have had trouble sometimes helping folks understand the difference. I just read Good to Great and have taken quite a liking to Jim Collins’s phrase “rigorous, not ruthless.” This is the message for leaders who would like to be positive. In fact, participants in Group Dynamic workshops are often trained in the art of “behavior –> outcome” statements. (Covered in an earlier post). This focus on behavior, and the high standards of the organization, can be done in a way that is positive, not negative. In a way that is rigorous, not ruthless.
So many believe that leaders are “visionary”. It’s true – but a problem is this:
The concept of vision is “out there”, esoteric, hard to grasp. Aren’t visionary leaders somehow “special” in that regard? How can you “teach” vision?
A working definition of “Vision” as it applies to leaders:
Vision is a two-fold ability:
1) the ability to accurately see the current reality of the organization/situation, and
2) the ability to creatively see the possibilities of the organization/situation.
What’s your biggest current dilemma? If you don’t have one, then…
What one thing on your to-do list do you keep procrastinating on because you are unsure how to proceed? If you still don’t have something, then…
What is one decision that you have yet to make this week?