Frisbee Golf

Last time we played Frisbee golf. It was very difficult because of the wind. I'm not really good with a Frisbee either which was obvious from the very first hole! It was pretty difficult but with a good attitude we managed. The first reading in MYB talked about different shades of blue. The distinction between a leader and a manager seems subtle but in actuality is a clear one. In application to our last activity, the leaders not only explained the game but actually walked us out there to our first hole and answered any of our unanswered questions. In my opinion that's a good manager and a good leader (in my eyes as a follower that day).

The second article, mastering the game of management talked about the best ways to become good leaders. We learn from our past experiences yes, but we can grow and learn more through others who have mastered different skills. This is where our Leadership program as a whole comes into play. We are learning by reading about other people's leadership styles and what Patterson is teaching us. More particularly our each team’s class the leaders of the activity have the opportunity to build on past experiences and decide what was effective and what didn't work so well. Also it helps when the leaders of the activity have experience or know a lot about what they're teaching us to do. The exception of course is when we're assigned an ambiguous task in order for us to work together and learn another aspect about individuals and our roles in certain group settings.

The type of power the last group leaders had in my opinion was Referent and Legitimate. We all have respect for each other so that in turn it will be granted to us when were leading our activities but also when it is our turn to present, we have that positional power; "These are the leaders appointed for this class time".

Also, in our leadership class so far I haven’t seen anyone who was a pusher, using threats and coercion to get us to do what they want. It's good to have my eyes open to that though, because out of a class room setting, needing a group of people to do something is going to be a little different especially if they don't really know you and vice versa. It seems obvious that a leader should influence, not push people to do thing but it's an important point. It is more efficient and beneficial to the leader and followers if you are an "influencer" rather than a pusher most definitely. I have seem both in my life as far a bossy people making you do what you don't want and I have seen influencers that are our in the front lines whom people want to follow.

From chapter 8 in LSDWT I learned that I want to become a leader not only on the outside but through my thoughts and values as well. Actions are important but on the flip side of that same coin, so are my invisible elements such as values, vision, assumptions, and paradigms etc. This will in turn influence my actions, behavior, style, writing, and language which will in turn influence my thoughts etc.

Chapter 9 builds in this in the Theories or X and Y ways of thinking. I believe that I currently have a combination of X and Y ways of thinking which are positive yet can hinder empowering others especially when is comes time for Jarred and my activity. I would like to further evaluate these beliefs and question within myself whether their right or wrong. This feels like a weakness in me and it's really uncomfortable but it's good to be honest and evaluate myself to even start to bring about any form of change.

The example of the shepherd verses the sheep herder made me realize that I feel far away from the shepherd and closer to the sheep herder. Sometimes I will get so far in the mind set that something needs to get done that I'll become the sheep herder when it shouldn't be the case. Especially in developing SDWT's this will not work. I look forward to reading on and learning more about developing within my self to become a shepherd who can clear the way rather than a sheep herder who will be bossy just to get things done.