Caroline's Blog

Enables Others to Act

2010-02-18T16:42:00.000-08:00

"The conductor of an orchestra does not make a sound...his true power derives from his ability to make other people powerful."
This quote speaks of leaders who have the ability to inspire others and then conduct them so that they may achieve their goals. Also, it is saying that leaders bring out the best in others and can harness the power of those who he/she is leading. The leader does not have to dominate the task,only model the way so that others may realize their full potential.
Whenever I am choreographing in my dance class, I take into account the opinions of others. I have the ability to inspire others and give them the opportunity to have a say in the choreography. I orchestrate, no pun intended, them so that their individual abilities shine through the final piece.

Leadership Spotlight

2010-02-16T19:47:00.000-08:00

For a while now, we have been working on a leadership project to research and discuss know leaders who have used emotional intelligence to lead. I did mine on the founders of a micro financial lending organization, Kiva.
Here is the link to my glog;

Challenge the Process

2010-02-16T13:04:00.000-08:00

Recently we studied our third practice, Challenge the Process. This practice is the most interesting leadership practice to me because it is about those who continually grow and improve, often pressing the envelope of the social norm. First, we read a passage of the 1930s Salt March, where Gandhi led his followers against an injustice brought upon by the harsh English government. We found certain points off of our practice sheet throughout the passage. Then we watched several clips from the movie Patch Adams to identify similar traits. Both Gandhi and Patch were not satisfied with the status quo and fought with new methods and ideas to change these environments. Gandhi used the technique of non-violence and resistance against brutality, something that have never been done before. Patch brought humanity and a personal touch back to medical care, while humorously reminding other doctors why they are a part of the profession to begin with. Also, Both Gandhi and Patch had the desire to make a difference and then inspired others to follow in their vision.
A personal experience for challenging the process would be when I was at my old school that was easier for me and some of the other kids. Instead of slacking off and taking the easy way out, I worked and studied hard to have the top grades in my class. I challenged the process in that I went against the norm of slacking and taking a free ride and instead studied. I gained smaller victories by earning high grades on tests and report cards. I had the vision of one day coming to a more competitive school like Parish, where I could continue my work ethic with greater results. Although I did not face adversity from my parents and teachers, some of my peers tried to hinder my progress with negative slander. Ultimately I challenged the process and yielded great benefits.

Inspire a Shared Vision

2010-02-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

Having a vision is a central component to being a leader. Some of the qualities that are essential to getting others to follow you and your vision include being; trustworthy, forward-thinking, and inspirational. Credibility enables trustworthiness in that once a leader establishes themselves as being someone who will do as they say, the trust will follow. In Commitment 2.1, leaders must be forward-looking so that they can mobilize others to act towards a common goal. If the leader does not believe the vision is attainable, how will others want to follow? Inspiration is key with leaders who are working towards a shared goal. For example, in Remember the Titans, Coach Boone cannot bring the team and eventually the community together without the help of the white defense coach. Together they inspire the team to come together and in turn, the community follows.
For whatever leadership position I may find myself in, I would fully encompass the qualities that I had previously listed. Because I would have to motivate others to believe in my vision, I would have to utilize my emotional intelligence to feel out my followers and find the best way to mobilize their individual talents in order to more effectively attain the goal.

Model the Way

2010-02-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

Both the ESPN video clip Mr. Monaco showed us and Pay it Forward helped in visualizing what "Model the way" is. Through the clips we could identify both Commitment one and two, and also decide which one each character followed. The coach in Mr. Monaco's clip set the example by establishing credibility and giving everything he had to his team, which falls under 1.7. He was constantly there to support his team, and because he had been such an indelible part of the team, they continued his support with the hat they placed on his seat every game. Although young, the boy in Pay it Forward recognizes that if you are going to Model the Way, you must establish credibility so that others may lead by example. The boy follows 1.10 in that he sets the chain reaction so that it continues to spread beyond his own life.
The characteristic of a Model the Way leader that is the most striking to me is 1.6; leaders set the example. In order to have others follow you, or to be a leader at all, you must establish credibility. Without it, a lack of trust will leave your followers reluctant. Since we have recently written our Personal Credos, I think it will be easier to see what must be done to establish our own credibility by doing what we say we will do (DWYSYWD). In turn, we will have the ability to model the way.

Personal Credo

2010-01-18T08:27:00.000-08:00

We had the assignment of creating personal credos so that we could better understand our personal goals in becoming a leader. When you write out your core beliefs, it is then easier to work at them everyday. Personally, this exercise has helped me greatly in identifying the kind of leader I wish to be.

Continual Growth: By harnessing my core beliefs that to live is to perpetually reach for a higher level of being, I will have the capacity to help others. I will, in turn, bring purpose to my own life.

Strive to Make a Positive Influence: No matter the magnitude of the effect of my actions, they will be to enlighten and strengthen not only myself, but all those who I meet.

Gratitude: To never forget what I have, or undermine my most treasured intangibles: the love of family and the opportunities I have been given. By being grateful for every gift, I can fully optimize my independence, liberty, and individuality.

Optimism: I learned from my father that being optimistic is a way of life and the way to accept any challenge. Remaining optimistic will allow me to grow continually, strive to make a positive influence, and be gracious.

Values: Family, education, friends, knowledge

Daniel Goleman Reflection

2010-01-15T13:24:00.000-08:00

"No creature can fly with just one wing. Gifted leadership occurs where heart and head - feelings and thought- meet. These are the two wings that allow a leader to soar."
-Daniel Goleman
I agree with Goleman's stance on the balance of head and heart in order to make an exceptional leader. So often leaders are often more one than the other, but it is when they have the ability to use both that allows them to be most effective. To me head means vision,understanding,and forward- thinking. Heart is more on the level of relationships and also the passion, drive, or need to be a leader. When a leader possesses both, they are able to work well with others, while sustaining their efforts to move forward.
The partnership that Bea Salazar and Diana Franzetti have, reflects and proves the validity of Goleman's words. While Bea has the desire and the passion for her organization, Bea's Kids, she is not capable of handling the business aspects of running a charitable organization. In order to continue the growth of her foundation, she enlisted the help of a professional and friend who could allow Bea to be as successful as possible.

"The Me I Always Wanted To Be"

2010-01-07T13:31:00.000-08:00

When people remember me, I hope that words they use to describe me include; caring, kind, intelligent and loving. I hope that they remember how I loved my family, cared for my friends, and always strove to leave an indelible mark on the world. The description that would make me the proudest, would be about how I always worked toward bettering myself in order to positevely affect those around me. I consider my greatest gifts my self-awareness and also an awareness that reaches beyond my own close circle. Also, my generosity and persistence. My core beliefs are reflected in my daily actions as well as how I view my surroundings. Although I could make an entire list of all my beliefs and ideals, they are all based upon the belief that every individual has the right to achieve a higher level of intelligence, and therefore a higher standard of living. I have more domestic passions such as dance and travel,but international relations is what I wish to pursue. Following this passion I plan to address some of the largest global problems facing our generation including; world poverty, hunger, and global warming. In understanding that these confortations are easier said to solve then do, I have allowed myself to fully commit to working dilligently to solve them.

How Has Your View of Leadership Changed?

2009-12-16T15:06:00.000-08:00

Through the excercises we have done inside and out of class, my understanding of leadership has changed greatly. I now not only associate leadership with executive titles, but am able to identify it in everyday situations. With that, I have regained a new sense of respect for not only authoritatve leaders but those who work silently or "behind the scenes." By clarifying the definition of leadership, and the charcteristics that accompany it, I have been able to look inward and find my own leadership strengths. Yet more importantly, I have been able to see what I have work on to evolve into a more effecitive leader. Working in groups has been interesting, because we are able to feed off each other's ideas, to reach higher understanding of what leadership really is. The most beneficial excercises, I believe, has been the personal best leadership experience and the leadership interview. These excercises have allowed us to look first within and then outward to the community, to better understand leadership. The most interesting aspect of this class has been the blogs because they allow us to share and interact as a class.

Leadership Interview

2009-12-10T18:28:00.000-08:00

For the local leadership interview, I chose my father, Raymond Pittet, who is the owner of two small businesses. He was born in the small farming village of La Joux in Switzerland, with 3 other siblings. Being a poor farmer boy, he worked on the family farm from a very early age, allowing him to evolve into a strong and humble individual who would forever value education, even though his subjection to it was limitted. Being financially disadvantaged and severly dyslexic, he was always doubted and told that he would be a farmer for the duration of his life. Yet with determination and vision, he traveled the world as an agent for the Swiss government living in countries including Afghanistan, Australia,Turkey, and Denmark, until he came to Berkley, California to sell antique carpets and textiles. He finally settled in Dallas 1987, and oponed Pittet Company (antiques) in 1991, and then Pittet Architectuals (fountains, doors, etc.) in 2004. Raymond's unique knowledge of European antiques and humble and generous personality, has earned him features in Dallas Design Magazines and local television programs.

Questions:
Please describe to me what your leadership position entails?
-"To make my two businesses profitable, while ensuring the well being of my employees, who I consider family. It is important to me to ensure they live comfortable lifestyles and can provide for their own families. This is why I am very liberal when it comes to insurance, covering my employees entire family."

Do you believe you were born into this role, or you arose to the position when it was presented to you?
- "Both. One of my old bosses said to me 'you seem like you are the kind of person who is waiting for an opportunity.' And when it came, I took it. I still remember that moment. When I saw the chance, I took it. I wasn't born to be a follower. I had to be a leader because I always wanted to be independent."

What traits were you born with to become a more efficient leader?
- "personable, good communicator, international experience, good listener. Being a good listener is important part of being a leader. It allows the ability to make decisions based on obeservation."

What tools have you learned that made you become a more efficient leader?
- "I learned how to compromise and be decisive."

What does it mean to you to be a leader within the community? To your family?
- "It's a lot of responsibility to measure my deciscions on certain risk taking ventures, based on perserving stability for the company, my family, and my employees."

What qualities, do you believe, are essential to being a leader?
- "Hard-working, discipline, vision and understanding of surroundings, and most importantly, communication."

How do you get others to follow you?
Raymond originaly employed 10 men and woman, but due to the economic downturn, has cut back to 5.
- "To motivate them to participate in profit sharing and allow them to express themselves. It's important that they have the ability to evolve themselves within the company. Also, rewards of a good salary and benefits."

What/ Who most inspired you to become a leader?
- "What. It was the idea of independence (never a follower) and the belief in myself to become more prosperous, knowing that I would only thrive if I did it my own way. I didn't want to depend on others to make my vision a reality. Only then could I inspire others to help me abtain my goal."

What experience leading has influenced you the most?
- "It was when I was first getting my first business off the ground. To grow from one vision to two companies of ten employees in a considerably short amount of time."

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a leader?
- "To keep the growth of my businesses up in the down- turned economy."

To learn more about Raymond Pittet and his companies, go to http://www.pittetarch.com/.

Personal Best Leadership Experience

2009-12-08T20:55:00.000-08:00

One of my most recent and memorable leading experiences was from freshman year, when I became the underclassmen representative for the Active Students club. It was one of the several clubs that I had joined that year, but was the most intriguing. The club focused on students getting involved in issues that they wanted to get involved in. Two major events sponsered by the club were, a can food drive and a coffee house that benefitted the charitable organization of our choice. I ran for the office of Underclassmen representative and was soon appointed. As an officer, I communicated with certain faculty that sponsered and helped the club. Also, I contributed my ideas on ways to improve already existencing club traditions, and ways to carry on the club. An important tool that I not only exercised, but improved on, was communications. Being a freshman working with mostly seniors, communication was crucial in getting my oponions and thoughts through to the other officers and fellow club members.

Are leaders born or made?

2009-12-03T12:01:00.001-08:00

This is my respose to the question; "Are leaders born or made?" The phrases within the statement that stand out most to me are that leadership is observable and is able to be learned and "those with the desire and persistence to lead- to make a difference- can substantially improve thier abilities to do so." Based on this statement, Kouzes and Posner believe that leaders are made through observation. I believe people are born with certain characteristics of strength that allow them to become efficient leaders, yet leaders are shaped daily by multiple forms of influencial institutions and life-altering situations. Looking back at other responses to this question, I saw a repeated emphasis on nature versus nurture, also an equally compelling debate. Initially, I would say that nurture and environment carry a greater weight in regards to levels of influence. Through a deeper analysis (a Mr. Mazzella lecture) I see that it is the balance of the two that shapes and models most leader.

Leadership Interview

2009-12-03T11:32:00.000-08:00

Questions:

Please describe to me what your leadership position entails?
Do you believe you were born into this role or you arose to the position when it was presented to you?
What traits were you born with to become a more efficient leader?/ What tools have you learned that made you become a more efficient leader?
What does it mean to be a leader within the community? To your family?<
Additional questions from class:
1.) What qualities are essential to being a leader?
2.) How do you get others to follow you?
3.) What/ Who most inspired you to become a leader?
4.) What experience leading as influenced you the most?
5.) What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a leader?

In consideration for possible candidates to interview, the most obvious choice was my father. He is the owner of two small businesses; Pittet Company and Pittet Architectuals. He came from a small farm in Switzerland, travelling the world until he settled in Dallas. I am not choosing him just because he is my dad, but because of how he came to be a leader.