Audio Tidbits

This is a fun tidbit for kids and for the child in all of us.

Are you familiar with Simon Says? If not, just think of Simon as your friendly advisor. This is a podcast for those who are serious about their success. Enjoy!

This is a fun tidbit for kids and for the child in all of us.

Are you familiar with the idea that leaders produce more leaders? In this podcast, James focuses on that notion and points out that leaders do not produce more leaders any more than summer produces more sun shine.

Leadership & Dark Matter

 

Abstract: Leadership

is a product of the dark matter in the world of organizations. Like the dark

matter in the cosmos, leadership is hypothesized to exist, although its

existence can, for the most part, only be inferred from actual observable

conditions, events, and circumstances that include successful conclusion of

“leadership events.” Thus, leadership actualizes as a transactional event that

occurs between the leader and his or her colleagues. (Northouse, 2004, p. 3)

Putting the point in a different frame, teams and team work (leadership events)

are not just the best leadership strategy, they are the only leadership

strategy available to us.

 

Background:

A long while ago, in what seems now

like another life, I was a graduate student at The Ohio State University and

taking a class in rural sociology. The Professor had assigned a book, the title

of which I no longer remember. To tell the truth, I do not recall much of

anything about the book or the course, for that matter. Both were likely quite

good since I do remember the Professor, Howard Philips, whose teaching I respect

all these many years later.

Dr. Philips gave us an assignment

that I thought at the time was silly and high schoolish. The instruction was to

select any ten declarative statements in the book not attributed to someone

other than the author. The ten statements were asserted as true and factual

without further support beyond the context where I found them.

I do not remember what we were

asked to do with the ten statements, but do realize that the exercise was far

from high schoolish, since it had an important and lasting lesson. Over the

years and to this day, I take in any simple declarative statement with a

certain measure of skepticism, regardless of the source or context. Perhaps

that was Professor Philips' point.

Fast forward to a year or so ago. I

was making one of my periodic visits to the mental space where I seriously

question whether anyone in a leadership position actually knows what he or she

is doing. Many people do what they do extremely well; but even so, it is not

necessarily the case that they understand the whats and whys of it. I am

suspicious that they, like me, are mostly making it up as they go along.

A trip to the library, of

course. -- I confess. I have never quite gotten over being a graduate

student. I originally thought it was a temporary condition cured by graduation

but have come to understand that the condition is chronic. The best I can do is

symptomatic relief through occasional library visits.

This time, the short visit I

intended turned out to be many visits over several months. My library of choice

was BookShare.org, a library of "Accessible Books and Periodicals for

Readers with Print Disabilities." It is not in the same class as the main

library at OSU; but it is quite substantial. I discovered a good selection of books

related to leadership; and, as is my bent, I read them all. -- The only

drawback turned out to be that not all of the books were correctly paginated.

The result is that I occasionally only include the author and publication year

when appropriating the words and ideas of the many leadership experts who have

taken the time to generously share their thinking and experience.

 

Strategy:

I was interested in leadership, in

leaders, and in ideas and thinking associated with leading. Through my inquiry

process, I captured those passages that I thought declaratively stated what the

This is an Irish blessing that you will likely find pleasing. If it is a message you want to share, please pass it along to those special people in your life.

This is an Irish blessing that you will likely find pleasing. If it is a message you want to share, please pass it along to those special people in your life.

We all know that character is a quality well worth cultivating but how that interplays with leadership is somewhat less than obvious. In this podcast, James slices and dices the issue and makes it perfectly clear. If being a leader of character appeals to you, listen and learn how it's done.

I am sure you are pretty smart, especially since you have decided to go Skidooing with me. Here is the question? Are you as smart as Gary's guide dog? Take a few minutes to listen and you will find the answer to this world changing question.

I am sure you are pretty smart, especially since you have decided to go Skidooing with me. Here is the question? Are you as smart as Gary's guide dog? Take a few minutes to listen and you will find the answer to this world changing question.