"From P.T. Barnum to Mary Kay: Lessons From 5 Leaders Who Changed the World" by Avery Forman, dated October 24, 2023The article delves into the distinctive leadership styles of five influential figures and their impacts on the business world. It offers insights into how their methods can be applied in modern management.
Reflection: The leadership traits discussed in the article, particularly their visionary and tactical approaches, resonate strongly with me. The figures outlined, including Steve Jobs and Sarah Breedlove, exemplify the balance between creativity and strategic execution, which stands out as both surprising and inspiring. Their ability to see beyond the immediate challenges and envision a transformative future is particularly intriguing. It challenges me to think about the long-term implications of leadership decisions rather than just short-term gains. This idea has direct relevance to my studies in business leadership, where strategic vision combined with effective execution is emphasized as crucial for sustained success. Furthermore, understanding these historical figures' approaches offers practical lessons that I can apply in future leadership roles, emphasizing the importance of vision, courage, and innovative thinking in navigating complex business environments.
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Good leadership is an act of kindness by Boris Groysberg and Susan Seligson, published on 01 November 2020The article "Good Leadership Is an Act of Kindness" discusses the essential, yet often overlooked, role of kindness in effective leadership. It emphasizes that even amidst the challenges of layoffs, market disruptions, and crisis management, the simple acts of kindness can foster a more positive work environment. This approach has been supported by prominent leaders and is likened to strengthening a muscle, which enhances compassion and the ability to respond supportively to others' needs.
Reflecting on the importance of kindness in leadership resonated deeply with me. It's surprising yet refreshing to see kindness highlighted as a powerful leadership tool, contrary to the typical portrayal of leaders as merely decisive and strong. The emphasis on kindness being akin to muscle training that improves with practice intrigued me, especially considering the high stress and quick-tempo environments typical in corporate settings. This article taught me that integrating kindness into leadership is not just beneficial but essential for maintaining a healthy, productive workplace. It challenges the conventional perception that kindness may signify weakness, illustrating instead that it is integral to building resilient and supportive teams. This lesson is particularly valuable as it aligns with personal experiences where kindness has visibly improved cooperation and morale within teams I've been part of. As I progress in my career, I plan to actively incorporate these insights into my leadership style to foster an environment where empathy and support are prevalent. "How Do Great Leaders Overcome Adversity?" by Anthony Mayo, published on March 26, 2024What was the article about? The article recounts Raymond Jefferson's challenging journey after being wrongfully accused of ethical violations, leading to his resignation and an eight-year legal battle to clear his name. It explores his decision to re-enter government service, highlighting his resilience, vulnerability, and leadership qualities.
Reflection: Reading about Raymond Jefferson's ordeal and subsequent triumph was both inspiring and enlightening. The narrative stood out to me because it embodies the true essence of ethical leadership — standing firm in one's values even when faced with adversity. Jefferson's story is a powerful reminder that true leadership is not just about making decisions from a place of power but also about facing challenges head-on, with integrity and courage. What surprised me most was Jefferson's unwavering determination to return to public service after enduring such a traumatic experience. This choice speaks volumes about his commitment to serve, despite the personal costs. It has made me reflect on the importance of resilience and ethical integrity, not just in leadership but in every aspect of life. Jefferson's journey is a testament to the idea that adversity can forge stronger leaders, provided they remain true to their principles. His story resonates with me personally, as it underscores the belief that challenges and setbacks can indeed set the stage for greater achievements, provided one maintains a steadfast ethical compass. This narrative aligns with the leadership principles discussed in class, particularly the emphasis on ethical leadership and resilience. Jefferson's experience offers a real-world example of how these principles manifest in challenging circumstances, providing valuable insights for aspiring leaders. The knowledge gained from Jefferson's story will undoubtedly influence how I approach future challenges and leadership opportunities, emphasizing the importance of resilience, ethical decision-making, and the courage to face adversity with integrity. The article titled "A Nike Executive Hid His Criminal Past to Turn His Life Around. What If He Didn't Have To?" by Dina Gerdeman, published on June 1, 2023This article narrates the compelling journey of Larry Miller. Despite committing murder as a teenager and concealing his criminal past, Miller managed to significantly transform his life, achieving notable success in the corporate world, including senior positions at Nike and the Portland Trail Blazers. The piece explores the profound challenges faced by formerly incarcerated individuals, particularly Black men, in reintegrating into society and the workforce, underscoring the immense potential that lies in giving these individuals a second chance.
This article resonated deeply with me, illuminating the stark realities and systemic barriers that individuals with a criminal record must navigate. Larry Miller's story is not just a testament to personal resilience and transformation but also a critical commentary on societal and organizational practices that often perpetuate stigma and exclusion. Most surprising and inspiring was Miller's ability to keep his past hidden for over four decades while climbing the corporate ladder, which speaks volumes about both his determination and the fear that disclosure of his past would ruin his career. It challenges the reader to reflect on the dichotomy between society's demand for accountability and the genuine capacity for personal change. I learned about the significant impact that education and employment opportunities can have on reducing recidivism, and the stark statistics surrounding the employment barriers faced by the formerly incarcerated were eye-opening. Drawing parallels with what I've learned in class about ethics and societal rehabilitation, Miller's journey underscores the ethical imperative for businesses to adopt more inclusive hiring practices. This story not only inspires hope for redemption but also calls for a collective effort to dismantle the barriers that prevent capable, reformed individuals from contributing positively to society. Why Boeing’s Problems with the 737 MAX Began More Than 25 Years Ago, by Bill George published on 24 Jan 2024read an article entitled "Why Boeing’s Problems with the 737 MAX Began More Than 25 Years Ago" by Bill George, which traces how change from engineering excellence to an overall focus on cutting costs at Boeing has decisively affected the corporate culture of the company, once lauded for its focus on engineering excellence. This shift has brought forth a series of crises, notably with the 737 MAX, bringing in question what steps are necessary to remedy the reputation of the company. Reflecting upon this article, the idea that hit me the most was there being long-standing issues in the corporate culture of Boeing that have had to do with their recent challenges. It is interesting and at the same time quite disappointing to observe how an organization, by now very well known for its engineering and safety standards, gradually compromised its values in light of the cost efficiency and market competitiveness. This story jumped out at me because it really does underline the critical balance between cost management and the ability to maintain product quality and safety standards in manufacturing. Equally surprising, to the extent with which those issues had become rooted in the decisions of many decades ago, evidencing long-term leadership and strategic choices on the trajectory and reputation of a company. This underlines the importance of a strong, value-driven corporate culture and, at the same time, the likely consequences if this would be eroded. It provided a stark reminder of the delicate interplay between the leadership decisions, corporate culture, and product safety, with valuable lessons about maintaining core values and the potential impact of shifting from core values. This reflection has far-reaching relations to my own life and observations within the place of work where decisions made in leadership and the culture of a company have a very great impact on operational practices and the morale held by the employees. It resonates with the classroom discussions on the ethical responsibilities of leaders and the need to correlate strategic decisions with core values for long-term sustenance of success and reputation.
from the articles I have read, I learned about flat hierarchies. Previously, I only thought that traditional hierarchie existed, with minor changes here and there. Flat hierachies was something I hadn’t even considered since a new employee having a lot of power did not make sense to me. However, after reading the articles, I understood how they worked, and although lower level employees do have more power, it doesn’t eliminate upper level workers entirely. Although there are much less promotions, flat hierarchies make sense since they require less workers to produce the same outcome, and allows new employees to feel more useful, despite having less raises. Flat hierarchies are the main thing that I learned from the past articles.
Digital citizenship means being mindful of how our actions might impact others and how we can protect our own privacy and security. By being responsible with our online behavior, we can help create a safer and more positive digital community for everyone. This includes being aware of online safety tips, such as using strong passwords, avoiding phishing scams, and being cautious when sharing personal information online. Additionally, it's important to be respectful and kind to others online, and to think critically about the information we encounter. By using the acronym THINK, T(true) H(helpful) I(inspiring) N(necessary) K(kind), we can make sure that what we are posting makes us good digital citizens. There are many positives and negatives to posting online. It is good because it can improve your digital footprint, and offers job recruiters an insight at the type of person you are. However, this could also backfire, since posing negative and hurtful content may result in losing a potential job. By practicing good digital citizenship, we can help ensure that the internet remains a valuable resource for years to come.
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