Monday, February 21, 2011

the negative side effects of the social change model

There are many different theories that all apply to leadership. We have looked at some of these major theories in class including the Process theory. This theory states that leadership is a process that includes meaningful engagement of both the leader and the follower. This theory includes three models: the social change model, the relational model, and the Tao meditation model. In this blog, I will be focusing on the social change model and how it affects our society.
                Social change is a term that explains the concept of change big or small that is beneficial to society. Though this term is supposed to result in changes that will benefit society, it could be taken out of concept by some and result in disastrous results.  A perfect example for this would be WWII. Hitler had a great idea and plan to lead a social change in Germany, but this idea lead to one of the greatest war in world’s history. This idea would have been great if it had been placed in the hands of the right individual, it would have maybe resulted in Germany reforming its government to becoming one of the greatest governments today. This example was given to illustrate that though change is usually great, the social change could be interpreted wrongly someone.
                But why is there a wrong interpretation? What is it about the social change model that could flare negatives thoughts into an individual’s mind? If the model seeks to bring out positive changes, why have there been some negative results from individuals wanting change. In my opinion, I think the name ‘social change’ could be the reason for the sometimes negative results of social change. The urban dictionary defines social change as “a sociological term that involves alterations in basic structure of a social group.” The key word from this definition is alteration, which could be interpreted by some individuals as drastic change that alters the lives of individuals, not necessarily in a good way. When I first saw this name, I thought of a drastic social event that impacts and changes the lives of individuals. Immediately I saw the negatives of such a name. I realized that the name was so powerful; it could leave the wrong connotation in someone’s mind. It could relate to a mass killing that alters and changes the community and its individuals, but not necessarily in a g.ood way. An example close to home is the mass killing of the individuals in Tucson. The young man Jared loughner believed he was out to make a social change in Americas political system, but he used a more traumatic and unappealing approach that greatly impacted and caused a change in the Tucson.
                Though social change is a good, positive model that every leader needs to know, I believe that it needs more clear definitions and method required to achieving these changes. There are still some loose end in this model that needs to get tighten because it could be wrongly interpreted and result in a negative social change.
               



Saturday, February 19, 2011

a leader can be made!

The Behavioral theory is the complete opposite of the Great Man theory. It states that leadership can be studied because there are certain behaviors associated with the concept of leadership. This theory is more modern because it is what is used today. Many people now study and learn to become good leaders, hence the Blue chip organization. I think this theory is more accurate and more relatable than the Great man theory. I believe that many of the leaders in the near history weren’t born leaders, but they had to learn and they used a window of opportunity to breakthrough and achieve recognition. Let’s take an example of Hitler, though many wouldn’t view him as a leader today, during the German depression, Hitler was seen as one of the greatest leaders Germany had. Well, Hitler wasn’t born a leader; he was born in poverty and lived as a low class teenage boy. Hitler would have never been viewed as the ideal candidate for leadership according to the great man theory because he wasn’t born a leader. His family background definitely didn’t qualify him to become a leader, but because he had the zeal to become a leader he did. He seized the opportunity to achieve leadership.
The Behavioral theory also relates to my personal journey with leadership. I wouldn’t say that I was born a leader because in my earlier years, my timid and shy behavior caused me to follow others. Leadership was something that grew on me as I became older, and I had to learn the qualities of leaders. I have attended numerous leadership camps where I was slowly molded to become an effective leader. I joined my school’s student council and other leadership oriented organization to keep improving on these skills. This is also the reason why I joined Blue Chip because I believed that I could benefit from the skills and the lessons that this organization offers.
Also, I do associate with the situational theory. I believe that each leader has their strengths and weaknesses and while they could excel in one situation, they can also fail is put into another situation. There is no one ideal and all rounded leaders because no one is perfect. This theory supports the idea leadership is a collective process and every leader needs a group of individuals around who can supplement him in the areas where he is lacking. A perfect example could be seen through the presidential office structure. In the U.S and many other democratic countries, the President has a group of individuals/cabinet members that assist him in his duties of leading the people. These individuals all have strengths in specific areas, some of the strengths which the presidents lacks and they all work together to lead our country. This structure of government is a very good example and support to the situational theory.
- Rebel flower

Thursday, February 3, 2011

what makes a leader

For centuries now, people have had certain requiremnts and standards that they expected their leaders to uphold and meet. Looking back into history, most of the greatest leaders like Hitler, Gandhi, Martin Luther, and Abraham Lincoln each possessed certain qualities that made them appealing and welcomed by their followers. They are considered some of the greatest rulers in history because of the traits and qualities they possessed. In the trait theory approach, some of these traits that leaders are supposed to have are listed with Determination, Sociability, Integrity, and Intelligence being the most important. All these traits are what we as Americans found in President Obama when we elected him president. The current situations in Egypt are as a result of president Mubarak’s lack of these qualities. The Egyptians are unsatisfied with the performance of their president and his continuous neglect of his people. According to the people, Mubarak has lost his determination and zeal to develop the country and create new developments and programs that will better the lives of his people. he continues to let his people suffer showing no compassion towards them. His 30 year reign reflects his lack integrity and reveals him as a dictator. This is why the Egyptians are “demanding the departure of a regime and the beginning of a new Egypt in which every Egyptian lives in virtue, freedom, and dignity”. This is what the trait theory was trying to explain; that without some of these essential qualities, one cannot become an effective leader and chaos could arise like it did in Egypt.
One other argument raised in the reading was that leadership can be learned and one doesn’t need to be born a leader to become one. This concept refutes the Great man theory that stated that Leaders were born and not made. In my experience, the point from the trait approach paper relates more to me. I wouldn’t say I was born a leader or it runs in my genes. I first got the drive and passion for leading after I read the book Freedom Writers in my sophomore year English class. Hilary’s Swank’s character greatly impacted my view about leadership. She made a difference in the lives of all these people who she didn’t know at first and she assumed the leadership position in that school. My teacher made us write an essay about how we related to the movie and while writing this, I realized how much I had been impacted and I realized I had developed this new found passion for leadership. I began taking on leadership role in the community and in my school. I became president of my church’s youth council, joined my schools Student government and also assumed the role of secretary for my schools speech and debate team. I had acquired a new drive and determination to help and make a difference in the lives of those around me, something that I had never felt or had before. I became a leader, not because I was born one, but because I decided to be one.