Arlene Roane, our November speaker, was unfortunately hampered by weather and the airlines. We have happily been able to reschedule the entire event for our January meeting which will still also be held at NKU. November “paid” registrants will be honored as already “paid” — just please reconfirm your January reservation using the button on the right —->
Our speaker did send us some challenging questions — food for thought for all of us until she can speak to our group.
- What’s changed and how do you know?
- How can you leverage the election to further engage women, African Americans, Millenials and others in a conversation about feeling valued and appreciated?
- What can be done to include Republicans and others with differing views?
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What concerns do you have or heard others express as a direct result of the election?
Start a dinner table discussion tonight — plan to come see us in January!
No ODN Meeting in December.
2 responses so far ↓
1 Ken wessel // Nov 26, 2008 at 3:11 pm
In response to suggestion to read a good consulting book, I have three recommendations:
-”The Tao of Leadership”/John Heider and for anone who wants to go deeper, direct translation by Wilhelm
-”If You Meet the Buddha on the Road-Kill Him”/Sheldon Kopp (best insight into process of self-discovery that I know of)
-”The Age of Heretics”/Art Kleiner-Gets at the essence of change in organizations with special coverage of P&G (where I worked with him on conceptual and factual accuracy.)
2 Ken Wessel // Dec 30, 2008 at 8:23 pm
REFLECTIONS ON “LEADING KNOWLEDGE WORKERS”
For me, this paper contains many insights that stimulate and focus my thinking. Unfortunately, to gain the full potential learning from these ideas it would be necessary to engage in direct, live and open dialogue; however I will do my best to be additive given the limitations of this process.
“The essence of leading…is an expression of the authentic self.” This is the grounding element in my framework, “willing the self to lead” which I express as core values. The authors concept of authenticity is captured in Hamlet; “This above all; to thine own self be true, and it must follow as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.” To be authentic in expression of one’s core values no matter the cost, is perhaps the ultimate test of will and the ultimate source of capacity to lead.
Perceptions of others feed their judgment of our authenticity, a matter over which we have no control. All we may be able to control if we have the will to do it, is to take a stand on core values and not be swayed by those judgments.
Some thoughts about managing which may be described as the integrated processes of planning, organizing, directing, auditing and controlling.
• I believe that an element of our destiny as human beings is to become able to manage ourselves.
• Managing is fundamentally intended to be applied to things and not people.
• Managing when applied to people is supervision.
• Some individuals in particular situations require supervision for their sake and that of others.
• A significant measure of development is a trend that moves from supervision to self-management.
• Self-management is evidence of an empowered self.
• Self-managing capability is a requirement for authentic self-expression.
• Empowered people welcome capable leadership and resist being managed.
• When in pursuit of own empowerment, people seek and welcome change as the required path.
What is clear from this paper is that perhaps the greatest challenge to those who seek to influence their organizations is that they define and understand similarities and differences in roles of leading, managing and supervising. They must be able to choose the role most appropriate to a particular situation and clarify with others the role they aim to perform and why.
Perhaps, some day we will create a forum for more extensive and direct dialogue on these critical matters.
Ken Wessel, 12/30/08
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