Leadership Metaphors

Emerging Leaders 2013

Leadership Metaphors - Blog Activity #4

For this blog assignment, you will be using your creativity skills to showcase your own leadership metaphor.

Here is your blog assignment:

For this blog assignment, think about the key elements that combine to make up your personal definition of leadership. Once you have thought of your own definition of leadership, consider different analogies you could use to express your idea to others. For example, The Art of Possibility uses music as a metaphor to explain Zander’s personal definition of leadership.

Using a hobby or interest that you are passionate about, create your own leadership metaphor that showcases your definition of leadership. For example, Alex loves to cook, so he might create a “recipe for successful leadership.” Also, Saani loves to step, so he may put together a “step program,” with various steps of leadership. You do not have to use any examples or practices from either textbook we have used in class. Instead, try to be creative and come up with a metaphor based upon your own experiences and understanding of leadership.

The answer to this blog should include both graphics and text.  Use some form of graphic (picture, video, song, etc.) to showcase your metaphor. In addition, write a paragraph describing why you chose the metaphor you used and how it relates to your personal definition of leadership.

Remember, for this blog we are pushing creativity. In addition to your paragraph, you are asked to use a visual. Please be creative.

This blog entry will be due on Wednesday, November 20^th, 2013 by 11:59 pm.

Happy Blogging!

Saani & Alex

Activists and Leadership - Blog Assignment #3

Emerging Leaders 2013

Activists and Leadership - Blog Assignment #3

For this blog activity, you will choose one of two options to blog about. You will be making connections between the leadership practices you have read about and someone you have witnessed.

Here are your two options for this blog activity:

1.) If you went to see Joan Trumpauer Mulholland, reflect on the video you saw and the story she told. Consider the leadership practices that you have read about, blog about which practices Ms. Mulholland displayed. Explain how her testimony impacted your view on leadership. How did her story impact your style of leadership? Use videos, pictures, or other media to help explain your answer. Be creative.

 

2.) Think of your favorite influential activist or figurehead. Why is this person your favorite? Consider the leadership practices that you have read about, blog about which practices this person displays. How has this person impacted your view on leadership? How have they impacted your styles of leadership? Use videos, pictures, or other media to help explain your answer. Be creative.
 

Remember, for this blog we are pushing creativity. We all know you can write a paragraph about either option, however, we ask for more. Try to think outside of the box for this blog entry. Use pictures, videos, etc.

This blog entry will be due on Wednesday, October 16, 2013 by 11:59 pm.

 

Happy Blogging!

 

- Saani & Alex

What makes you come alive?

This semester, we have talked a lot about the importance of being authentic. This relates to this week's chapters because every good leader must know what they believe in. In order to truly lead another person, you must be able to identify what matters to you and practice what you preach.

Please watch the following short video, which shows Benjamin Zander alluding to a few things from his book that we have read this week.

After watching, I want you to consider what is it that makes YOUR eyes shine. What is it that you are passionate about? What is it that you enjoy doing? What is it that makes you excited to work with other people?

 Harold Whitman once wrote,

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

Please write a reflection on your own blog by Wednesday, September 25th at 11:59 pm. This reflection is all about telling us your story of what makes you come alive. Conductors may be silent, but you don't need to hear their voices to understand their investment. To recognize their passion, all you need to do is look into their eyes and look at the way they move. In the same way, I want you to tell me what moves you, maybe in such a way that people don't need to hear you talk about it... they just know based on how you live your life. It can be anything in the world, but I want to know what lights up your eyes and lights up your life. This will provide immense insight to other people who work with you, to your instructors who want to understand your perspective, and to yourself as you plan your future career path.

You may utilize any media (quotes, pictures, videos, songs, etc.) in your blog post as you deem relevant. This is YOUR blog. Be creative. Be original. Be authentic.

Happy blogging!

-Alex

"1963 is not an end but a beginning."

I watched a video where the author of The Art of Possibility, Benjamin Zander, said the following:

A leader does not doubt for one moment the capacity of the people he is leading to realize whatever he’s dreaming. Imagine if Marin Luther King Jr. had said, “I have a dream… of course, I’m not sure that they’ll be up to it.”

Today is the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech. This speech is arguably one of the most important speeches ever spoken for innumerable reasons. While I could explain to you the importance of this speech, I would rather you take 17 minutes and watch it yourself.

You can also find the full text of the speech here.

Please take time to watch this video when you can clear your mind and focus on the words being said. Consider all the things going on at that time. Consider past events, speeches, and documents that set the foundation for that speech. Consider the future that you are currently living 50 years later, and the implications that the speech has had on the lives of you and others you know. Consider what made that speech so important.

Please write a reflection on your own blog by Wednesday, September 11th at 11:59 pm. All I ask is for you to say what that speech means to you. Here are some questions you can consider if you don’t know where to start: What does this speech have to do with leadership? What does this speech have to do with possibility? What does this speech have to do with the Emerging Leaders program and Finis Origine Pendet? Why was this speech so effective?

You may utilize any media (quotes, pictures, videos, songs, etc.) in your blog post as you deem relevant. Be creative. Be original. Be authentic.

Happy blogging!

-Alex

IT'S ALMOST MOVE IN!

It's almost Move-In Day! Remember that as you move-in you are to pick up your EL binder and t-shirt from the front desk when you sign in. Also, if you have any questions or need help with anything, feel free to contact Alex or Saani! Here's a little countdown!

COUNTDOWN WIDGETS

HAPPY PACKING :)

Can You Guess Who I Am? Blog Assignment #1

Emerging Leaders 2013 Summer Blog Activity

In the fall semester, the LEAD 175 course will be using a class blog to post assignments, interact with one another, and ultimately create a leadership forum for others to see. With that being said, this blog will be a way for us to get to know one another better as we progress through the semester.

To get you all familiar with the blogging website, as well as to get you all further connected before retreat, we have an interesting summer activity for you all to engage in via blog.

In this activity, you will create your blog using the blogging website (www.blogger.com). You will answer “getting to know you questions” in an interesting way, you will create a collage, and you will have fun.

Here are the directions as to how to set up your blog:
1.)   Type in www.blogger.com.
2.)   On the top right hand corner hit “sign up.”
3.)   Set up an account by filling out the form with your name, birthday, etc.
4.)   Click next.
5.)   Add your profile picture; update your profile information…etc.
6.)   After editing your information click the “back to blogger” button.
7.)   Click “new blog” button.
8.)   Enter in the title of your blog; what you want your address to be, etc.

YOUR BLOG IS NOW CREATED!

9.)   If you wish you can add a layout, etc.

The reason each of you is making your own blog is because there is a general 2013 Emerging Leaders blog page. The EL blog web address is www.wuemergingleaders.blogspot.com. Each of your blogs will be added to the EL blog so that you can click on each other’s blog pages and comment, interact, etc. This interaction will be part of the first blog activity.

Directions on creating a collage:
You can be as creative as you want in creating your collage.

1.)   You can place pictures side by side on Microsoft Power Point and save it as a .jpg (if you need help doing this, call me).
2.)   You can use whatever app or website you want

Be sure that your pictures are mixed up and randomized. We do not want your pictures to be side by side in the same order as the questions. You will understand why in the directions.

The following will give you the detailed instructions about the first blog activity.

BLOG ACTIVITY #1
You will be asked twenty questions (questions are down below). You will answer each question by providing ONE picture that best answers it (the pictures can be as random as you would like, but keep them appropriate). At the end, you should have twenty pictures, each picture answering one of the twenty questions. You will then take the twenty pictures and create a collage out of them, to create one large picture collage.

Upload the collage, and include with it a sentence that tells your name, major, and favorite soda brand.

After the deadline for everyone to post their blogs is up, we will begin interactions. You are to visit two of your classmates’ blogs, look at their collage, and try to answer at least 5 of the questions based upon their pictures. So after August 5, you would visit a classmates’ blog and say “I think the picture of rock climbing is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity.”

If someone already has two comments, please try to go to someone else’s blog who does not have any comments or only has one.

You are welcome to comment on more than two people’s blog if you wish, however, you are only required to comment on two different blogs.

The twenty questions are:
1.) What is the number one song played on your iPod/MP3 player?
2.) What is one of your favorite quotes?
3.)  What is your least favorite mode of transportation?
4.)  If you could choose anyone, who would you pick as your mentor?
5.)  When you have 30 minutes of free time, how do you spend it?
6.)  If you won the lottery, what is the first thing you would do?
7.)  If your life had a soundtrack CD, what song would be number one?
8.)  What did you do growing up that got you in trouble?
9.)  What is your favorite indoor/outdoor activity?
10.) What is your favorite sport to watch?
11.) Mountain hideaway or beach house?
12.) If you could witness any event in the past, what would it be?
13.) What do you miss most about being a kid?
14.) What is your favorite food?
15.) If you were reincarnated as an animal/drink/ice cream flavor, what would it be?
16.) Where IS Waldo?
17.) What is your special talent? (and yes, we all have one)
18.) Summer or winter?
19.) What is your favorite dessert?
20.) What is the farthest away you have been from home?

The deadline to have this blog posted will be MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 by 3 pm.

If you have any questions, comments, or concerns contact Saani through phone or email.

GOOD LUCK! J

Welcome to Winthrop!

Welcome to the 2013 Class of Emerging Leaders at Winthrop University! We are so happy to have you!

In the coming days we will post directions on how to create your own blog using Blogger. We will then add your blog to this one, so we can create one big blog world where we will get to know one another better, discuss assignments, post ideas, etc.

Get excited, as this will be an interesting and innovative way to connect and expand our leadership skills outside of the classroom.