Comments for Center For Leader Development http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog Everything Leadership Development Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:54:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Comment on Leadership is… by JD Friel http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784&cpage=1#comment-44846 JD Friel Thu, 29 Apr 2010 20:54:55 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784#comment-44846 In its most basic sense you are a leader if someone is following you. If you exercise influence over those followers then you increase in leadership strength. So I agree with you yes it depends. Is Obama a leader? Most definitely. Is Obama an influential leader? Definitely! Is Obama a good leader? that depends! JD In its most basic sense you are a leader if someone is following you. If you exercise influence over those followers then you increase in leadership strength.

So I agree with you yes it depends.

Is Obama a leader? Most definitely. Is Obama an influential leader? Definitely!
Is Obama a good leader? that depends!

JD

]]> Comment on Leadership is… by Renata http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784&cpage=1#comment-44661 Renata Sat, 24 Apr 2010 14:26:31 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784#comment-44661 Interesting Post! On the topic of leadership you might want to see this video post "the irrelevant boss" by Vineet Nayar http://www.vineetnayar.com/the-irrelevant-boss/ Renata Interesting Post! On the topic of leadership you might want to see this video post “the irrelevant boss” by Vineet Nayar http://www.vineetnayar.com/the-irrelevant-boss/

Renata

]]> Comment on Leaders & Followers by Nathaniel http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791&cpage=1#comment-43642 Nathaniel Thu, 01 Apr 2010 14:56:01 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791#comment-43642 Great quote. The first few followers are extremely important. Another great quote "The first follower transforms a lone nut into a leader. We have a great video on our blog, that highlights the importance of the first follower. It's funny, and tremendously insightful! Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy http://bit.ly/bWCupK Great quote. The first few followers are extremely important. Another great quote “The first follower transforms a lone nut into a leader. We have a great video on our blog, that highlights the importance of the first follower. It’s funny, and tremendously insightful! Leadership Lessons from Dancing Guy http://bit.ly/bWCupK

]]> Comment on Leaders & Followers by Rachel Clarkson http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791&cpage=1#comment-43560 Rachel Clarkson Tue, 30 Mar 2010 18:22:33 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791#comment-43560 Great insight! Need to check that book out. Thanks for all the great info! Great insight! Need to check that book out. Thanks for all the great info!

]]> Comment on Leadership is… by motivational leadership http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784&cpage=1#comment-43226 motivational leadership Tue, 23 Mar 2010 16:51:04 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=784#comment-43226 I believe that a true leader is a person who is self-motivated and motivates his/her sub-ordinates as well. Motivated people always achieve success in life. Motivation is undoubtedly, one of the qualities that makes a leader successful. A great leader communicates his/her vision to others, effectively 'infecting' them with the idea, and then this creates a sustaining motivational force in others towards a common goal. I believe that a true leader is a person who is self-motivated and motivates his/her sub-ordinates as well. Motivated people always achieve success in life. Motivation is undoubtedly, one of the qualities that makes a leader successful.
A great leader communicates his/her vision to others, effectively ‘infecting’ them with the idea, and then this creates a sustaining motivational force in others towards a common goal.

]]> Comment on Leaders & Followers by Brit Erslev http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791&cpage=1#comment-43108 Brit Erslev Sun, 21 Mar 2010 17:10:41 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791#comment-43108 Mr. Chaleff's comment should be obvious to most people, especially folks in the military, but sometimes it takes someone to write an observation down in order for it to sink in. It took me several years in the Army to fully appreciate the importance of the follower in the leader-follower relationship. I reflect back on my college experience in ROTC and my years as a lieutenant and realize I was very internally focused. I worked on how to hone my specific leadership skills and how to project those, but not so much on how to read or react to how my efforts were received by others. Basically, I took the reaction for granted--easy to do in a compliance-based organization. All leaders, regardless of level of "natural skill" (an amorphous concept in itself), require time to further develop their skills through experience and socialization. I did not truly start to "get" the leader-follower relationship until I was a company commander between my seventh and eighth years of service. As a CO I became more aware of how my actions were watched and perceived by my soldiers. A few months after a particularly trying weekend, one of my non-commissioned officers told me point blank that the soldiers were watching me, as the new commander, to see how I would handle the situations. Then, I entered graduate school and started to study the life of a Civil War general. Especially after the war, he was consumed with what other people thought of his military leadership. In his opinion, what followers thought of him made or broke his reputation. Studying his experiences convinced me of the power of perception in the leader-follower relationship, and how what the follower thinks or is perceived to think can greatly influence the interaction. There has always been a certain level of dialogue in the Army between the leaders and the led. Now, the Army is more openly embracing that dialogue. This in turn creates another challenge for leaders in terms of balancing ideas from lower echelons with the prerogatives of the chain of command. I am still trying to figure out that balance, and I know with certainty that my growth as a leader is far from over. MAJ Brit Erslev, Student, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government. Mr. Chaleff’s comment should be obvious to most people, especially folks in the military, but sometimes it takes someone to write an observation down in order for it to sink in. It took me several years in the Army to fully appreciate the importance of the follower in the leader-follower relationship. I reflect back on my college experience in ROTC and my years as a lieutenant and realize I was very internally focused. I worked on how to hone my specific leadership skills and how to project those, but not so much on how to read or react to how my efforts were received by others. Basically, I took the reaction for granted–easy to do in a compliance-based organization. All leaders, regardless of level of “natural skill” (an amorphous concept in itself), require time to further develop their skills through experience and socialization. I did not truly start to “get” the leader-follower relationship until I was a company commander between my seventh and eighth years of service. As a CO I became more aware of how my actions were watched and perceived by my soldiers. A few months after a particularly trying weekend, one of my non-commissioned officers told me point blank that the soldiers were watching me, as the new commander, to see how I would handle the situations. Then, I entered graduate school and started to study the life of a Civil War general. Especially after the war, he was consumed with what other people thought of his military leadership. In his opinion, what followers thought of him made or broke his reputation. Studying his experiences convinced me of the power of perception in the leader-follower relationship, and how what the follower thinks or is perceived to think can greatly influence the interaction.
There has always been a certain level of dialogue in the Army between the leaders and the led. Now, the Army is more openly embracing that dialogue. This in turn creates another challenge for leaders in terms of balancing ideas from lower echelons with the prerogatives of the chain of command. I am still trying to figure out that balance, and I know with certainty that my growth as a leader is far from over.

MAJ Brit Erslev, Student, Command and General Staff College, U.S. Army Combined Arms Center, Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas

The views expressed in this blog are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the Department of the Army, Department of Defense, or the U.S. Government.

]]> Comment on Leaders & Followers by davidburkus http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791&cpage=1#comment-43040 davidburkus Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:25:45 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=791#comment-43040 Love Chaleff's work. Good post. Love Chaleff’s work. Good post.

]]> Comment on Authentic Leader? by davidburkus http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=780&cpage=1#comment-42504 davidburkus Tue, 09 Mar 2010 04:10:17 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=780#comment-42504 You could argue that Obama is finally being an authentic leader. That's what's causing a lot of the ruckus. He is being open and pursuing his mission and values even if they appear to be misaligned with the populations. His authenticity may be his downfall, but at least he'll walk out with his head high. You could argue that Obama is finally being an authentic leader. That’s what’s causing a lot of the ruckus. He is being open and pursuing his mission and values even if they appear to be misaligned with the populations. His authenticity may be his downfall, but at least he’ll walk out with his head high.

]]> Comment on Bad Leadership by Dana Jarvis http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=755&cpage=1#comment-39267 Dana Jarvis Fri, 04 Dec 2009 22:03:46 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=755#comment-39267 These are good insights. As an Adjunct Professor, I have taught ethics for years and repeatedly I see the same patterns across organizations. Specifically, those organizations that have a code of ethics with a program to bring the core values to life tend consistently out perform those that do not. Values drive decision making, action and results. When employees demonstrate values on a daily basis, it increases the quality of the interactions and ultimately the results. If an organization is looking for a way to jump start their mission, putting together a meaningful ethics/values program can make all the difference in the World. Check out www.danajarvis.org for more. These are good insights. As an Adjunct Professor, I have taught ethics for years and repeatedly I see the same patterns across organizations. Specifically, those organizations that have a code of ethics with a program to bring the core values to life tend consistently out perform those that do not. Values drive decision making, action and results. When employees demonstrate values on a daily basis, it increases the quality of the interactions and ultimately the results. If an organization is looking for a way to jump start their mission, putting together a meaningful ethics/values program can make all the difference in the World. Check out http://www.danajarvis.org for more.

]]> Comment on Bad Leadership by Jason Shick http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=755&cpage=1#comment-37116 Jason Shick Wed, 16 Sep 2009 03:09:41 +0000 http://www.centerforleaderdevelopment.com/blog/?p=755#comment-37116 I think it was Zig Ziglar who made the comment that corporations need to stop trying to teach people "ethics" and put the focus on "integrity". The study of ethics seems to hint at the idea that if a behavior can be justified it may be okay depending on the situation. Leaders then look for loopholes. Integrity is less about the specific details of the action and more about the intentions of the leader committing those actions. The focus of integrity is to do what is right, with the right motive and intention. If a leader in an organization is acting in accordance to this definition, that company or organization will be faced with far fewer of the sticky ethical situations we so often read about. I think it was Zig Ziglar who made the comment that corporations need to stop trying to teach people “ethics” and put the focus on “integrity”. The study of ethics seems to hint at the idea that if a behavior can be justified it may be okay depending on the situation. Leaders then look for loopholes. Integrity is less about the specific details of the action and more about the intentions of the leader committing those actions. The focus of integrity is to do what is right, with the right motive and intention. If a leader in an organization is acting in accordance to this definition, that company or organization will be faced with far fewer of the sticky ethical situations we so often read about.

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