Leaders keep their eyes on high goals. They strive to make the efforts of their followers and themselves contribute to the enrichment of personality and the improvement of the community around them.
Leaders are flexible rather than dogmatic. They believe in the unity rather than conformity. And they strive to achieve consensus out of conflict.
Leaders demand much of others, but also give much of themselves.
Leaders use their heart as well as theur head. They must strike an appropriate balance between the individual needs of group members and the productivity of the group.
Leaders are self-starters. They create plans and set them in motion. They are both people of thought and action.
Leaders assume no one set of ideas and values is better than another.
Leaders provide answers as well as direction, offer strength as well as dedication, and speak from experience as well as understanding the problems they face and the people they work with.
Leaders are open to new ideas, but they explore their ramifications thoroughly.
Leaders who have the respect for other people at all levels of an organization, for the work they do, and for their abilities, aspirations and needs, will find that respect is returned.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Communicating via Blog
I have never used a blog and was not pleased about having to create and maintain one as part of this course requirement. However being able to post your thoughts, stuff you might have been afraid to say in class while being brutually honest was great. I was also fun looking at other blogs and learning about people even though i'm still not sure who some of them are in class as
without the blog i very honestly would have know even less.
For blog activities, depending on the structure of the blog question we were responding to, each person basically said the same thing at times making it impossibility hard to respond more than four sentences to that person…..example of this is when we had blog 4, the power of vision. As a responder to my blog pointed out we all basically want the same thing and therefore have similar visions.
The professor’s blog however were very interesting reading material. I would have never though of wizard the Oz in any other way than creepy (seriously it creeped me out as a kid watching it). I also had never heard of Attila the Hun and even though I did not agree 100% with the hypothetical advice that he would have possibly given to his men I was nonetheless intrigued to read it.
After my second blog I relaxed a bit more about having to do it. I was bubbling with all the fun I had in class and would have been very contented to just write a million exclamation points and feet contented that my feelings on Eggs-cellent way to plan were well communicated. It wasn’t hard in the least to just write my thoughts and secure 20% of my grades. As I wrote I did not keep in mind that this was actually me having my grade amount in my hand, I just viewed it as assignments that needed to be done. The best part for me was finishing mines and reading others, not others in general who I could clearly see through but those that sincerely told a tale.
Further blogging for me would depend on my time availability which is almost none existence through poor time management and procrastination. But blogs should remain a part of this course. One of the benefits of coming to America to go to school is the wealth of things you learn outside of the traditional textbook. For me blogging was one and even though I may not be a typical American in not knowing how to do it already, it’s nice to be a well rounded individual and as I would have never initiated this on my own it’s nice to be able to say I have one....I did it.
without the blog i very honestly would have know even less.
For blog activities, depending on the structure of the blog question we were responding to, each person basically said the same thing at times making it impossibility hard to respond more than four sentences to that person…..example of this is when we had blog 4, the power of vision. As a responder to my blog pointed out we all basically want the same thing and therefore have similar visions.
The professor’s blog however were very interesting reading material. I would have never though of wizard the Oz in any other way than creepy (seriously it creeped me out as a kid watching it). I also had never heard of Attila the Hun and even though I did not agree 100% with the hypothetical advice that he would have possibly given to his men I was nonetheless intrigued to read it.
After my second blog I relaxed a bit more about having to do it. I was bubbling with all the fun I had in class and would have been very contented to just write a million exclamation points and feet contented that my feelings on Eggs-cellent way to plan were well communicated. It wasn’t hard in the least to just write my thoughts and secure 20% of my grades. As I wrote I did not keep in mind that this was actually me having my grade amount in my hand, I just viewed it as assignments that needed to be done. The best part for me was finishing mines and reading others, not others in general who I could clearly see through but those that sincerely told a tale.
Further blogging for me would depend on my time availability which is almost none existence through poor time management and procrastination. But blogs should remain a part of this course. One of the benefits of coming to America to go to school is the wealth of things you learn outside of the traditional textbook. For me blogging was one and even though I may not be a typical American in not knowing how to do it already, it’s nice to be a well rounded individual and as I would have never initiated this on my own it’s nice to be able to say I have one....I did it.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Creativity....my Poem
New boss, first day, what am I going to do, what am I going to say?
Productivity is low, inter-office communication is slow
The board wants to see changes, they don’t care who, how or what wages....instantaneous CHANGES!!!
I placed a call to motivation, can you pay a visit to my organization?
I need to create more than a monotonous 9-5 atmosphere, I’ll show these people that I care.
I’ll use money but that’s not all, I’ll listen to and involve my workers, personally giving each a call.
Tell me your ideas, my good lady/ man, let’s rebuild this company, ground up, working together hand in hand.
Good Management calls for planning, leading, organizing, control,
each helping the other creating the whole.
My workers now feel valued and as such commit, their time, effort, suggestions and even wits!
It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t fast but because of knowledge gained from Management 3120 I know my changes are going to last.
Productivity is low, inter-office communication is slow
The board wants to see changes, they don’t care who, how or what wages....instantaneous CHANGES!!!
I placed a call to motivation, can you pay a visit to my organization?
I need to create more than a monotonous 9-5 atmosphere, I’ll show these people that I care.
I’ll use money but that’s not all, I’ll listen to and involve my workers, personally giving each a call.
Tell me your ideas, my good lady/ man, let’s rebuild this company, ground up, working together hand in hand.
Good Management calls for planning, leading, organizing, control,
each helping the other creating the whole.
My workers now feel valued and as such commit, their time, effort, suggestions and even wits!
It wasn’t easy, it wasn’t fast but because of knowledge gained from Management 3120 I know my changes are going to last.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
McDonald's Management...burgers and fries
At 8:16pm I entered a McDonald’s in Brooklyn and proceeded straight to the cash register, for the place was practically empty. I smiled to myself as I though about what I was about to do and what this lady cashier would think of me.
A deep breathe….can I have a hamburger with FOUR pickles and a small fries with NO salt, I stated in a clear loud-ish voice just to make sure I did exactly what the assignment required and that she heard what I said and that the words I placed emphasis on stood out. Four pickles? She asked. Yes. It must be exactly four pickles and also NO salt on my fries I repeated. She was a bit perplexed. I thought it was because she was wondering, what kind of request is that? Four pickles! I held my breathe. But as it turns out she was unsure of how to punch it into the machine. She slowly began to tell me that my order of FOUR pickles would be considered extra and asked if that was ok, I asked how many do you normally put on the burgers then quickly added it doesn’t matter I just NEED FOUR pickles on my burger.
The supervisor who was by the fries but who was listening came over with a small fries in his hands and asked if and who had requested a small fries no salt. As it turns out he was about to salt the fries when I was placing my order and had stopped, listened, then filled the order. I therefore got my fries in about 30 seconds.
As the supervisor was there the cashier asked how she should enter my request of FOUR pickles into the machine. He responded simply punch this in, and showed it to her. The total time taken to get my fries and burger was 1 minute 8 seconds. As I was collecting my change I sheepishly asked, can I have a packet of salt?
I stayed in McDonalds to eat my food and quickly took my burger out to count how many pickles I had. I must say I really expected to get exactly FOUR pickles, however I got 8 ½ pickles on my burger! And I wasn’t even charged extra (if that’s what they do). I now had to salt my own fries and I much say they weren’t as tasty when self-salted.
In total it took three people to complete my order. The cashier, supervisor and a preparer and the cashier was quite, surprising, regular in that she did not become frustrated nor impatient with me, she was calm and give me her full, unhurried attention.
Because my order was not correct to the T, communication in McDonalds could be improved between the cashiers and the preparers. However I believe because of the machine they use it’s hard to show “special” orders such as FOUR pickles, as I do not believe there is any button on the cashier’s machine to state such a fixed amount, the closest maybe an extra pickle’s button which may explain why I got 8 ½ pickles. However co-ordination between staff, order preparation and customer service was commendable.
As a consultant to McDonalds the only suggestion I would make to them would be in the communications department. For orders outside the range of the standard options given on their machine they should speak to the preparation staff verbally stating the customized order. If everyone was suppose to do this then it may be chaotic but then realistically it’s not every minute of every hour that “special” orders arise so then it would not be so difficult to deal with them and make sure they are done as stipulated.
A deep breathe….can I have a hamburger with FOUR pickles and a small fries with NO salt, I stated in a clear loud-ish voice just to make sure I did exactly what the assignment required and that she heard what I said and that the words I placed emphasis on stood out. Four pickles? She asked. Yes. It must be exactly four pickles and also NO salt on my fries I repeated. She was a bit perplexed. I thought it was because she was wondering, what kind of request is that? Four pickles! I held my breathe. But as it turns out she was unsure of how to punch it into the machine. She slowly began to tell me that my order of FOUR pickles would be considered extra and asked if that was ok, I asked how many do you normally put on the burgers then quickly added it doesn’t matter I just NEED FOUR pickles on my burger.
The supervisor who was by the fries but who was listening came over with a small fries in his hands and asked if and who had requested a small fries no salt. As it turns out he was about to salt the fries when I was placing my order and had stopped, listened, then filled the order. I therefore got my fries in about 30 seconds.
As the supervisor was there the cashier asked how she should enter my request of FOUR pickles into the machine. He responded simply punch this in, and showed it to her. The total time taken to get my fries and burger was 1 minute 8 seconds. As I was collecting my change I sheepishly asked, can I have a packet of salt?
I stayed in McDonalds to eat my food and quickly took my burger out to count how many pickles I had. I must say I really expected to get exactly FOUR pickles, however I got 8 ½ pickles on my burger! And I wasn’t even charged extra (if that’s what they do). I now had to salt my own fries and I much say they weren’t as tasty when self-salted.
In total it took three people to complete my order. The cashier, supervisor and a preparer and the cashier was quite, surprising, regular in that she did not become frustrated nor impatient with me, she was calm and give me her full, unhurried attention.
Because my order was not correct to the T, communication in McDonalds could be improved between the cashiers and the preparers. However I believe because of the machine they use it’s hard to show “special” orders such as FOUR pickles, as I do not believe there is any button on the cashier’s machine to state such a fixed amount, the closest maybe an extra pickle’s button which may explain why I got 8 ½ pickles. However co-ordination between staff, order preparation and customer service was commendable.
As a consultant to McDonalds the only suggestion I would make to them would be in the communications department. For orders outside the range of the standard options given on their machine they should speak to the preparation staff verbally stating the customized order. If everyone was suppose to do this then it may be chaotic but then realistically it’s not every minute of every hour that “special” orders arise so then it would not be so difficult to deal with them and make sure they are done as stipulated.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
The ABC's of DISC
I took the leadership/management diagnostic conducted in class seriously I was quite curious to see what the results would tell me about myself. For the first two questions i applied the words presented to how i see myself i nthe work environment but then i started to view the words and make my choices based on how i saw myself in my relationship with my significant other. That was foremost in my mind so i figured why not.
My test results was I high D, which states that my emphasis is on shaping the environment by influencing or persuading others. Some of the description do reflect how i see myself but i doubt the accuracy of it based on the results that some of my classmates got which could not be ANY stretch of the imagination represent who they were. But maybe thats me judging people after all i'm only with them 1 hour and 15 minutes twice a week.
Also as in horoscopes i think people read these things and because they're kind of general can turn and twist them or remember some situations when what is written applies to them. I therefore really don't believe in any test that's suppose to tell me about myself but i can see myself taking a few more simple becuase i'm always curious to see what would be "revealed".
I however wouldn't have wanted to be any of the other profiles as i think I high D is a perfect mix...being dominant sounds to pushy and conscientious and steady sounds like fancy words for saying an easy pushover.
My test results was I high D, which states that my emphasis is on shaping the environment by influencing or persuading others. Some of the description do reflect how i see myself but i doubt the accuracy of it based on the results that some of my classmates got which could not be ANY stretch of the imagination represent who they were. But maybe thats me judging people after all i'm only with them 1 hour and 15 minutes twice a week.
Also as in horoscopes i think people read these things and because they're kind of general can turn and twist them or remember some situations when what is written applies to them. I therefore really don't believe in any test that's suppose to tell me about myself but i can see myself taking a few more simple becuase i'm always curious to see what would be "revealed".
I however wouldn't have wanted to be any of the other profiles as i think I high D is a perfect mix...being dominant sounds to pushy and conscientious and steady sounds like fancy words for saying an easy pushover.
Monday, October 29, 2007
The Power of Vision
Did you know vision built the world? Not only that but it was the important “material” used than even the steel, stones and cement. Without vision everything else would have simply been matter occupying space!
Vision is defined as a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation and the video seen in class “The Power of Vision” showed how important having a vision/visualizing the future i.e how thing could be, before attempting something. Vision was important to the birth and development of Countries, achievements in Children, survival of Individuals under the most horrendous conditions (Jews in Nazi concentration camps) and in the Business World at large.
In thinking of my own 5 year goals/visions that I hope to accomplish the following comes to mind:
1 – To graduating in May 2009. In order to do this given that I am only a sophomore at the moment I have to attend winter and both summer intercessions this year from now until 2009 and I have to keep up a 15 credit course load.
2 – To get at least 2 different internships before I graduate. I present have an internship, my first ever, and I’m quite comfortable here but I don’t think the work is challenging enough nor am I learning (in my opinion) anything connected to the field I hope to enter. As such I would like to have at least two more internships both relating to Marketing but both focused on different aspects of the Marketing Industry. So far I have joined the Marketing Club to interact and learn from others and to be informed of Marketing opportunities. I have also made the decision within myself that a paycheck isn’t all of it, at the moment, my internship is paid but I’m willing to have an unpaid Marketing internship that would be both exciting and knowledgeable.
3 - As an International Student, I can work in the U.S one year upon graduation but I require sponsorship to work longer. I am working towards this at the moment by going to presentations on this issue that would better inform me of my options and how I may go about getting sponsored I am also networking with people that I come in contact with at my present job etc. Also I’m joining and actively participating in clubs and doing/intend to pursue internships to better equip and market myself.4 – As an alternative to being sponsored my intended Marketing degree would allow me to work in the Ministry of Tourism in my Country, affording me countless opportunities to travel, market and assist in the development of my country.
5 – A Bachelors degree is nice but to stand out more in the job market I need more. Upon acquiring more funds through working (whether in the U.S or home) I intend to get a Masters Degree. This is the last thing I have set for myself to accomplish in a 5 year period.
Vision is defined as a vivid, imaginative conception or anticipation and the video seen in class “The Power of Vision” showed how important having a vision/visualizing the future i.e how thing could be, before attempting something. Vision was important to the birth and development of Countries, achievements in Children, survival of Individuals under the most horrendous conditions (Jews in Nazi concentration camps) and in the Business World at large.
In thinking of my own 5 year goals/visions that I hope to accomplish the following comes to mind:
1 – To graduating in May 2009. In order to do this given that I am only a sophomore at the moment I have to attend winter and both summer intercessions this year from now until 2009 and I have to keep up a 15 credit course load.
2 – To get at least 2 different internships before I graduate. I present have an internship, my first ever, and I’m quite comfortable here but I don’t think the work is challenging enough nor am I learning (in my opinion) anything connected to the field I hope to enter. As such I would like to have at least two more internships both relating to Marketing but both focused on different aspects of the Marketing Industry. So far I have joined the Marketing Club to interact and learn from others and to be informed of Marketing opportunities. I have also made the decision within myself that a paycheck isn’t all of it, at the moment, my internship is paid but I’m willing to have an unpaid Marketing internship that would be both exciting and knowledgeable.
3 - As an International Student, I can work in the U.S one year upon graduation but I require sponsorship to work longer. I am working towards this at the moment by going to presentations on this issue that would better inform me of my options and how I may go about getting sponsored I am also networking with people that I come in contact with at my present job etc. Also I’m joining and actively participating in clubs and doing/intend to pursue internships to better equip and market myself.4 – As an alternative to being sponsored my intended Marketing degree would allow me to work in the Ministry of Tourism in my Country, affording me countless opportunities to travel, market and assist in the development of my country.
5 – A Bachelors degree is nice but to stand out more in the job market I need more. Upon acquiring more funds through working (whether in the U.S or home) I intend to get a Masters Degree. This is the last thing I have set for myself to accomplish in a 5 year period.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Decision Making
We got had gotten back our grades on Wednesday and i was none to happy. The professor said that on Monday we would have a chance to appeal the grades and argue an answer we choose as long as we could back it up from the book. Well that sounded a bit better i thought, i should be able to move up a grade....no correction... i WILL be moving up a grade i asserted with confidence, not just with myself but with what i wrote and why i wrote it (after all i may not have read the slides but i certainly know what that $68 textbook said!). Not only did the professor said this but he was a bit secretive in what he said next....that we wouldn't want to miss Monday..hmm
On Monday all was revealed.The professor was going to let us decide what he should do with the grades we got (a curve, an extra credit question etc).we also got to gave inputs as to the format of upcoming exams. POWER!!!!! we had the whole period, over an hour, to come up with our proposal that the professor would look over and give us feedback if necessary so that we could make changes.easy right? the catch however was that EVERYONE had to 100% agree to EVERYTHING that we wrote in our proposal...o oo.
A self-selected student went up to preside over the proceedings, gathering our suggestions etc etc etc.from here on in,total pandemonium. There was about 8-10 majority voices that went back and forth as the rest of us looked on, from time to time turning to the person sitting next to us and commenting. why? because these voices' suggestions was in the favour of us all, there was nothing to lose and seemingly unending benefits to be had.
As time ticked by however there seemed to be no consensus in sight, except for the curve (which was given by the professor if we decided to accept) everthing else failed to get 100% vote,frustration grew and with it the voices of the minorities. In order for everyone to benefit everyone had to start compromising with on what they would be willing to accept. In the end i myself, quiet and laid back at first, just taking in everything, had to project my voice at what i felt was an unfair proposal based on the selfishness of a very few nameless individuals. why should what they want be given preference to what i want? was it because in the blink of an eye they went from being in their seats to infront the board with a marker?
At 7:05 there was no accepted decision and even quick strokes of the hands weren't enought to erase the parts people refuse to agree with in hopes of salvaging our proposal. talk about a lot of collaboration a little to late.However at that point i didnt care much,my grade wasn't THAT bad, i could live with it and myself for not being bullied into accepting someone else's dream/beneficial package.
As the professor was leaving those of us who did stay back, after most of the self-serving people left managed to 100% agree on a package in about 1 minute that was accepted by the professor.truthfully the agreement more than likely came about because of desperation...even just having the curve was MUCH better than nothing and everything else proposed.
the other way to handle our conflict in the class to get a more desirable outcome was to at the very begin work on majority collaboration of realistic proposals that were fair instead of wasting so much time on seemingly whatif analysis.
On Monday all was revealed.The professor was going to let us decide what he should do with the grades we got (a curve, an extra credit question etc).we also got to gave inputs as to the format of upcoming exams. POWER!!!!! we had the whole period, over an hour, to come up with our proposal that the professor would look over and give us feedback if necessary so that we could make changes.easy right? the catch however was that EVERYONE had to 100% agree to EVERYTHING that we wrote in our proposal...o oo.
A self-selected student went up to preside over the proceedings, gathering our suggestions etc etc etc.from here on in,total pandemonium. There was about 8-10 majority voices that went back and forth as the rest of us looked on, from time to time turning to the person sitting next to us and commenting. why? because these voices' suggestions was in the favour of us all, there was nothing to lose and seemingly unending benefits to be had.
As time ticked by however there seemed to be no consensus in sight, except for the curve (which was given by the professor if we decided to accept) everthing else failed to get 100% vote,frustration grew and with it the voices of the minorities. In order for everyone to benefit everyone had to start compromising with on what they would be willing to accept. In the end i myself, quiet and laid back at first, just taking in everything, had to project my voice at what i felt was an unfair proposal based on the selfishness of a very few nameless individuals. why should what they want be given preference to what i want? was it because in the blink of an eye they went from being in their seats to infront the board with a marker?
At 7:05 there was no accepted decision and even quick strokes of the hands weren't enought to erase the parts people refuse to agree with in hopes of salvaging our proposal. talk about a lot of collaboration a little to late.However at that point i didnt care much,my grade wasn't THAT bad, i could live with it and myself for not being bullied into accepting someone else's dream/beneficial package.
As the professor was leaving those of us who did stay back, after most of the self-serving people left managed to 100% agree on a package in about 1 minute that was accepted by the professor.truthfully the agreement more than likely came about because of desperation...even just having the curve was MUCH better than nothing and everything else proposed.
the other way to handle our conflict in the class to get a more desirable outcome was to at the very begin work on majority collaboration of realistic proposals that were fair instead of wasting so much time on seemingly whatif analysis.
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