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Showing posts from 2011

Leading within a new organization

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When entering into a new organization, a leader must examine the culture of the organization, set professional presence, continue the achievement of the organization’s mission and develop the organization through the development of its members. These elements seek to improve the function of the organization from an individual and collective viewpoint. This blog seeks to provide a greater understanding of these components. By examining the culture and dynamics of the organization, a leader can assume a more bias point to continue the mission of the organization and/or improve the effectiveness of its mission. By studying the culture of the group, it provides a layer of appreciation for the biased strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the organization. With this information, a recently joined leader may have a more objective point of view of the organization that may prove to be advantageous to the development of the group as whol

Get Rice Online [Video Edition]

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Get Rice Online [Video Edition]. Get Rice leadership principles, theories and evidence based practices discussion are going video. The purpose of using this type of media as well as BlogSpot is to ensure that information is obtained in the best fashion for those who are passionate about building their leadership skills. Also, at the request of the readers of this blog, video allows for others, professors and professionals, to provide relevant information on leadership. I hope you guys enjoy. Follow the link for introductory video for the site. Get Rice Online [Video Edition]. Let's lead the WORLD. Click here to visit the youtube page.

Leadership: Rebuilding organizations through self

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Various experiences have shown that there is a calling for moral and ethical self-leaders. Many may have opinions and derogatory statements in reference to leaders’ decisions; however, leaders have to live with those decisions. This blog post is addressing the tenacity, resourcefulness, vision and the ‘not listening to others’ to achieve success model: self-leadership. The term self-leadership is described differently in the field of academia and the leadership profession. In this blog, self-leadership will be approached from the Furtner, Rauthmann, and Sachse (2010) definition “managing one’s own thoughts and behaviors in order to intrinsically pursue goals effectively and be productive (p. 1191).” By focusing on Furtner and colleagues description of self-leadership, it may allow for a greater understanding of the possible implication of autonomy and self-directed learning that one could engage to guide their success regardless of field of study or career. Within prese

Leading a dying organization

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Being a leader within a dying organization is a tough pill to swallow and it takes a special individual to do it. At some point or another, an individual becomes part of organization that is heading downward. However, with the right tools, one can make a positive difference. Some steps one can take to move the company into the right direction can include: assess the situation, approach the members of the organization, devise a plan together, make sacrifices to implement the plan, implement the plan, analyze the results, reward the members of the organization and restructure based on results obtained. These steps are not guaranteed; however, these are some steps that one can make to ensure that the organization’s growth is stabilized and increased. In present day society, companies are facing a lot of financial uncertainties and high unemployment rates. Organizations of every background are dealing with restructuring to ensure future success of the company. Assessing the

Chase your passion, purpose and dream as if your life depended on it because it does.

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Chase your passion, purpose and dream as if your life depended on it because it does. In present day society, mediocrity has become the norm for many. Due to financial breakdowns in large corporations, dishonesty in community leaders, and other issues, the masses have felt a huge need to become complacent. The feeling to not venture out the box is coupled with a higher sense of guaranteed lifestyle. However, this is one of the greatest deaths to a society and economy. Without a person who has a passion for a specific career choice, it is hard to continue a productive society. If there is no one who is willing to perform the duties of medical doctor for the reasons of helping people, then there may be an increase of individuals who are in the medical field because of the wrong reasons. Instead of working in the career one enjoys, many work in a career for money or other immoral reasons. This creates disgruntled employees, low satisfaction levels in the workplace, and low levels

Small beginnings

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An ancient text states do not despise the day of small beginnings. In leadership, this passage is applicable within any organization. Many may want to see the bottom line of the company increase overnight while others may want everything handed to them on a silver platter. But, the leader who allows time for programs, budgets and organizations to grow over time from an infancy stage may have far more greater satisfaction, success and appreciation at the end. Success is not about making the most money or obtaining the biggest building. It is about serving people and the needs of the community. Whether that community is a neighborhood, state, country, or the world, success and leadership is about serving people who has needs. In order to serve those needs, it is essential for leaders to start from a fundamental platform in which someone is listening. Leadership connects the needs of the people to the idea of the individual who is listening. This can be seen with companies such as

Being a leader through children

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As a leader it is important to integrate children into roles that they may fill in the near future. Often times, companies fail to properly create and engage in a successful succession planning model. The recent death of Steve Jobs, former CEO of Apple, shows the importance of succession planning. Given the fact that succession planning is needed, how does one go about engaging in one? There are many types of succession plans, but one of the most important methods or means is that of grooming children. The Child Savings Account Program (CSAP), Rice a recent facilitator, is an excellent method of helping the future leaders of tomorrow to develop the skills needed to hold leadership positions. CSAP is designed to teach students to save money by matching the amount of money that is placed into a savings account at local bank. Some may think that a program as simple as this is too ‘elementary.’ Furthermore, some may think that programs such as CSAP cannot have a significant effect on le

Are you being a controlling or helpful leader?

Some may view a leader in an organization as either being controlling or helpful. What is the difference between being controlling and helpful? There are several distinguishing features including level of strictness within the organization, services rendered, organization’s growth, levels of creativity, and diversity. These are some statements one can consider when leading a company while determining some controlling or helpful perspectives. This post will either help one to transform from being a controlling to a helpful leader; or become a more helpful leader. Being a controlling leader can have severe effects on the organization including little to no creativity displayed within the company, low levels of productivity, and low periods of positive growth. If the leader controls too many aspects of the organization, it may decrease the level of creativity by not allowing new ideas, new methods of completing task, and new organization structures to be tested. Next, a controllin

Labor Day: Are you enjoying your labor?

Labor Day is the recognition of American’s hard work that is provided throughout the years. In this post, Labor Day is going to be dissected in terms of employees’ enjoyment. During a time when job security seems to hide from many, even beyond the United States population, how does one find joy, fulfillment and purpose within a profession? Many explanations can be given in regards to finding joy, fulfillment and purpose in a profession. Some include knowing the reason for working in the environment, looking for entrepreneurial avenues to earning income, answering questions of job satisfaction, reevaluating line of work, believing in better styles of earning income, strategically planning success, understanding transitioning and/or increase productivity, and finding personal worth within employment opportunities. In all of these suggestions, there are some key elements to focus on when developing an appreciation and enjoyment for a profession which includes: becoming a producer;

Starting from the beginning

Starting from the beginning isn’t as bad as many may think. Starting from the beginning may provide a lot of insight to a person’s role in an organization. When one starts from the beginning, there are several advantages and disadvantages attached to doing it. The advantages include reconnection with the purpose of the organization; shaping and molding the future of the company, and leaving a personal mark on the organization. On the other hand, some disadvantages of starting from the beginning is the amount of work needed to involve everyone in the process, a necessary period of perceived unproductive work to reacquaint others with the vision, mission and goals of the organization; and potential resistance from those who don’t understand the broad approach of the process. The advantages of starting from the beginning include reconnecting with the purpose of the organization, shaping and molding the future of the company, and leaving a personal mark on the organization. Reconnectin

Leadership: Being an agent of change.

Leadership means being who you are regardless of outside beliefs. Sometimes others may feel that they have the answer to every problem, which turns into another problem,. Individuals rarely provide solutions that brings more good than bad. This is common within small towns and cities that refuses to grow because of unforeseen and unequivocal reasoning. So how does a leader sharpen their skills within such an environment? Simply, change the way that one think and others will inevitably follow. It may take time for others to understand the things that a person is doing, but as long as a leader believe in the change that is needed, the change will happen, eventually. Of course, there is a moral aspect of the decision to engage in change, providing that the need is positive and ethical. The challenges that leaders face while engaging in a positive and ethical change are dormant mindsets, behavioral and cognitive support, a belief for change and the procedure to change. Dormant mindsets

Leadership: Integrity and purpose

In leadership, one can view two characteristics of a person to make a safe assumption of the type of leader they will be: integrity and purpose. Addressing these components of a person character will allow for others, leaders and followers, to develop an effective and successful organization, regardless of the industry. This post will seek to identify and develop these characteristics of the leader. In regards to integrity, it may be hard for one to judge one’s personality off appearance alone. However, a person can discover the leader’s integrity by observing the fruits bore within the leader’s life. Leaders have a tendency to breed success and high levels of productivity in almost every area of their life. For example, a small business owner develops their customers, business partners and competitors by leading with high integrity. The owner develops the customers by providing the best service and/or product with given resources to ensure that the customer has a pleasant experienc

Being a leader means knowing and following your passions

Leadership means following your predestined passion. Whether it is leading a non-profit organization or running a Fortune 500 company, follow your passion . When life gets closer to the end, you might find yourself asking the question, “why am I on this earth?” Answering this question may take a systematic approach of self-leadership behaviors. During a recent doctoral assignment, I was asked to speak on the topic of interviewing Donald Trump, Warren Buffett, and Lee Iacocca. This was a complex assignment because no one thinks about interviewing such high profile individuals within a doctorate program. However, it got me thinking, what would I ask? My current program of research popped in my mind: self-leadership. Address the issues of self-leadership? Many consider Trump, Buffett, and Iacocca as great leaders. However, few think of them in terms of improving oneself as leader. For some reason, many associate business and money as being an effective leader. One can have both, but lean

Strength-based Leadership

Anyone who has served in a leadership role knows serving in it means being strong mentally, physically and emotionally. Basically, being an effective leader means being tough. Being a leader means being strong in more ways than physically as well. One has to be welling to withstand adverse situations and changes within the organizations. One could study organization development and leadership for years while remaining ill prepared as a leader. Leaders have to withstand bad forms of communications. Being a strong leader means being able to hold one’s vision, goals, and objectives when others (followers and colleagues) may want to give up on the idea. It is essential for leaders to have enough strength to see the future of themselves and the organization when others may be in doubt. Also, it is advantageous for one to have the strength to act from a high level of integrity and character. Many of the world’s greatest leaders have dealt with turmoil and negative statements made by other

Leadership: Patience or procrastination

To become an effective leader, one should operate in patience and be patient. Patience is something that should not be confused with procrastination. Patience allows leaders to see the good in others. It allows followers to see the vision of the leader. It allows plans to become actuality and a reality. These are some of the few advantageous to patience. The difference between patience and procrastination is that one (patience) is actively waiting for thoughts to become actions and the other (procrastination) is knowingly not engaging in a behavior expecting a result. Knowing the difference between these two can determine the perceive leader effectiveness in the workplace. How can one measure the amount of patience they have? And how much patience should one exert, especially with a follower? The following link is an attempt to measure the level one has of patience: Dudley (2003) . Also, there is no current method to determine when and the amount of patience that should be shown to