1. What does attitude mean to you? Briefly define in your own words.
Attitude can be positive or negative. It is how you see the world around you and how to react to everything. Attitudes can be extremely influential on other people and can hurt or help yourself.
2. How does attitude affect your leadership?
Attitude affects all leadership. No one wants to follow someone with a bad attitude and people with the best attitudes often have the most leaders. People with negative attitudes often lead too. However, their followers don't trust them or believe in their cause as much as they would if the leader were more positive.
3. We talked about the following points about attitude. Explain each as it pertains to your own leadership...
Your attitude is a choice-Every day I wake up, I can make the choice to let the little things that go wrong affect me, or I can brush them off and move on. If I choose the former, my attitude will be bad all day and it will show to others. But if I choose the latter, I will eliminate unnecessary stress in my life and will be able to move on more easily from even bigger obstacles.
Your attitude determines your actions-I am not the type of person who plays better when I'm mad. Some people are like that, but not me. Whenever I am in a bad mood, all of my actions suffer and I can't seem to to anything right. But when I'm in a good mood, everything seems to flow smoothly and I feel like I can take on the most challenging obstacles in my life.
Your people are a mirror of your attitude-Attitude is contagious, and whenever you are in a leadership position among followers, your attitude can rub off pretty easily. You don't even have to be in a leadership position most of the time--whenever you're with friends or family or strangers, if you're in a sour mood, you don't seem approachable and no one wants to be around you. But if you're in a good mood, you seem friendlier and that automatically attracts other people and makes them be in a good mood too.
Respond to the following quote by Victor Frankl, author of Man's Search for Meaning:
"The last of our human freedoms is to choose our attitude in any given circumstances."
I completely agree. Sometimes it's hard to rise above tough situations and have a good outlook on things, but it is ultimately our choice to do so. Bad things happen to good people all the time. Victor Frankl, when he wrote this, was talking about the Holocaust. One of my friends who I was talking to about this quote said that he gets mad over little things--like his alarm not going off, his car not starting, not having a cup of coffee, etc. These are all trivial things that are so miniscule in comparison to living through the Holocaust, and I think that if Frankl can have a good outlook in such a situation, so can all of us who have it fairly easy in life. I really like this quote, but what I like more is the history of the person who said it.
4.23.2010
4.15.2010
Mr. Bollinger
8 Main Points
1. Learn as much as you can.
2. Support the leader, you can't undermine them.
3. Head coach has to trust you by what you do.
4. Put people in a position of leadership, empower them.
5. Know your place in the hierarchy, you may have it upside down.
6. Stay focused on the "imporant" as much as the "urgent."
7. You are the glue between the leaders and the followers.
Questions:
1. Choose one you think is most important and why.
2. Pick the one you are best at and give an example explaining why.
3. Pick your weakest and give 3 concrete ways to improve on it.
Answers:
1. I think the most important is being the glue between leaders and followers, mostly because you are the mediator who can relay messages between groups in terms that they can each understand. Sometimes leaders don't understand where the followers are coming from, and sometimes the followers don't understand why the leaders make the decisions that they do. It is the middle man's job to be unbiased and help each party better understand the other side's view.
2. The one I am best with is probably knowing the order of the hierarchy. I liked how Mr. Bollinger elaborated on the fact that sometimes the "most important" individual in a group is on the bottom of the hierarchy, rather than on the top. I understand that the one most venerated, usually placed at the top, has the most responsibilities and therefore is on the bottom, because they are the base of the pyramid.
3. I am probably worst at supporting the leader when I don't support what they're preaching. It is difficult to abandon your own beliefs for a cause that you don't support or even care about, but it comes with being a leader, especially being a leader from the middle of the pack. Three concrete ways I can improve this weakness are: a) Refrain myself from saying anything negative about the person in charge or the cause which they support; b) Reassure the leader if their idea goes awry by saying, "I might have done the same thing," and c) Accept responsibility to issues that may ensue from a wrong decision made by the leader, even if it is not my fault.
1. Learn as much as you can.
2. Support the leader, you can't undermine them.
3. Head coach has to trust you by what you do.
4. Put people in a position of leadership, empower them.
5. Know your place in the hierarchy, you may have it upside down.
6. Stay focused on the "imporant" as much as the "urgent."
7. You are the glue between the leaders and the followers.
Questions:
1. Choose one you think is most important and why.
2. Pick the one you are best at and give an example explaining why.
3. Pick your weakest and give 3 concrete ways to improve on it.
Answers:
1. I think the most important is being the glue between leaders and followers, mostly because you are the mediator who can relay messages between groups in terms that they can each understand. Sometimes leaders don't understand where the followers are coming from, and sometimes the followers don't understand why the leaders make the decisions that they do. It is the middle man's job to be unbiased and help each party better understand the other side's view.
2. The one I am best with is probably knowing the order of the hierarchy. I liked how Mr. Bollinger elaborated on the fact that sometimes the "most important" individual in a group is on the bottom of the hierarchy, rather than on the top. I understand that the one most venerated, usually placed at the top, has the most responsibilities and therefore is on the bottom, because they are the base of the pyramid.
3. I am probably worst at supporting the leader when I don't support what they're preaching. It is difficult to abandon your own beliefs for a cause that you don't support or even care about, but it comes with being a leader, especially being a leader from the middle of the pack. Three concrete ways I can improve this weakness are: a) Refrain myself from saying anything negative about the person in charge or the cause which they support; b) Reassure the leader if their idea goes awry by saying, "I might have done the same thing," and c) Accept responsibility to issues that may ensue from a wrong decision made by the leader, even if it is not my fault.
4.12.2010
Mr. Cain's Talk...
Q: What did he mean when he said, "You have the choice to entertain your thoughts?" Give an example of this as it pertains to leadership.
A: I think he meant that there are thousands of thoughts that pass through our mind everyday, and as they pass we have the choice to do something about the thought or just to ignore it. As far as leadership is concerned, I think that when negative thoughts pass through my mind, it's best to ignore them rather than acting on them. I should choose to entertain only the positive thoughts.
Q: Right before Mr. Cain left, he read a story about adversity. Are you an egg, carrot, or coffee bean?
A: I think sometimes I can be a little inconsistent with adversity. Sometimes I am an egg, where I turn mean and bitter about the situation (or hard on the inside). At other times I am a carrot, like if I hear criticism and it just makes me melt. But I think majority of the time I am a coffee bean, because I try to make the best of a situation and not get down on myself. I think how I can even out my reactions to adversity is to conciously remember this story and ask myself, do I want to be an egg, a carrot, or a coffee bean??
A: I think he meant that there are thousands of thoughts that pass through our mind everyday, and as they pass we have the choice to do something about the thought or just to ignore it. As far as leadership is concerned, I think that when negative thoughts pass through my mind, it's best to ignore them rather than acting on them. I should choose to entertain only the positive thoughts.
Q: Right before Mr. Cain left, he read a story about adversity. Are you an egg, carrot, or coffee bean?
A: I think sometimes I can be a little inconsistent with adversity. Sometimes I am an egg, where I turn mean and bitter about the situation (or hard on the inside). At other times I am a carrot, like if I hear criticism and it just makes me melt. But I think majority of the time I am a coffee bean, because I try to make the best of a situation and not get down on myself. I think how I can even out my reactions to adversity is to conciously remember this story and ask myself, do I want to be an egg, a carrot, or a coffee bean??
4.09.2010
Mr. Diers
What does the following quote mean to you?
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man whom is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again....who knows great enthusiams, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at least knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, while doing greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat."
--T. Roosevelt
I like this quote because it basically talks about the difference between the ones who try and the ones who don't. I like the message it sends--that those who try gain more than those who don't, even if they fail. I especially liked that Roosevelt called those who don't try "cold and timid souls," because they do not try because they are above a worthy cause, but simply because they are afriad and don't want to be on the recieving end of criticism. But what I like most is that Teddy Roosevelt said all of this, because Mr. Borgmann told us that he was somewhat of an outcast as a child because he was weak and unable to play sports. I'm sure there were plenty of kids when he was young who were better at sports, smarter, more handsome, etc. But because he tried at everything, he ended up succeeding and experiencing great achievements, moreso than his peers who had more talent but never gave themselves a chance.
"It is not the critic who counts, not the man who points out how the strong man stumbled or where the doer of deeds could have done better. The credit belongs to the man whom is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again....who knows great enthusiams, the great devotions, and spends himself in a worthy cause; who at least knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who, at the worst, if he fails, while doing greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory or defeat."
--T. Roosevelt
I like this quote because it basically talks about the difference between the ones who try and the ones who don't. I like the message it sends--that those who try gain more than those who don't, even if they fail. I especially liked that Roosevelt called those who don't try "cold and timid souls," because they do not try because they are above a worthy cause, but simply because they are afriad and don't want to be on the recieving end of criticism. But what I like most is that Teddy Roosevelt said all of this, because Mr. Borgmann told us that he was somewhat of an outcast as a child because he was weak and unable to play sports. I'm sure there were plenty of kids when he was young who were better at sports, smarter, more handsome, etc. But because he tried at everything, he ended up succeeding and experiencing great achievements, moreso than his peers who had more talent but never gave themselves a chance.
Initiative and Perseverance
INITIATIVE
In what ways can you better show initiative in your life? Give at least one concrete example of something you are showing a lack of initiative with, and at least 3 concretes steps your are going to take in order to do that.
There are a lot of ways I can show more initiative, like with bringing my ideas up in class, asking friends to hang out, and pushing myself in all that I do. I guess one specific example of something I am lacking initiative with is pushing myself to be social since I am naturally intraverted. Three steps I can do in order to improve on that is to: 1) Initiate hanging out with friends whenever I am not working or doing something school-related. 2) Make conversation with a stranger everyday. 3) Hang out with people I don't normally hang out with in order to expand my social horizons.
PERSEVERANCE
For the given situation pertaining to perseverance, I guess the questions I could ask this player if they are truly driven to play or if they are simply playing for something to do, and I could ask them about personal obstacles that might be occuring in their life. Most likely the advice I would give them would be honest feedback--letting them know that if they work hard they can most likely open a lot of doors for themself (as they are a valued player on the team). Also, I would remind them that quitting reaps no rewards and to stay resilient to all obstacles outside of the court/field/team.
In what ways can you better show initiative in your life? Give at least one concrete example of something you are showing a lack of initiative with, and at least 3 concretes steps your are going to take in order to do that.
There are a lot of ways I can show more initiative, like with bringing my ideas up in class, asking friends to hang out, and pushing myself in all that I do. I guess one specific example of something I am lacking initiative with is pushing myself to be social since I am naturally intraverted. Three steps I can do in order to improve on that is to: 1) Initiate hanging out with friends whenever I am not working or doing something school-related. 2) Make conversation with a stranger everyday. 3) Hang out with people I don't normally hang out with in order to expand my social horizons.
PERSEVERANCE
For the given situation pertaining to perseverance, I guess the questions I could ask this player if they are truly driven to play or if they are simply playing for something to do, and I could ask them about personal obstacles that might be occuring in their life. Most likely the advice I would give them would be honest feedback--letting them know that if they work hard they can most likely open a lot of doors for themself (as they are a valued player on the team). Also, I would remind them that quitting reaps no rewards and to stay resilient to all obstacles outside of the court/field/team.
3.15.2010
ESPN Feature: Power of One
I really loved this video. Not only did the kid have just one leg, but he was the absolute best even among his two-legged peers. What I loved most was that his attitude was really positive. He always wanted to try harder and try new sports. He never used his condition as an excuse, which was the best part. A lot of times people lower their self-standards because of things that are wrong with them, but the kid in this video looked at is as more of a blessing than an obstacle. This video pertains to courage because it definitely takes guts to play with the best even when you have insecurities about a disability. What was awesome is that the kid in the video didn't even seem afraid of being at a disadvantage among the other kids, he just went out there like any other kid.
Courage & Sacrifice
"The heart of good leadership is sacrifice."
This quote is special to leadership because it doesn't just say that sacrifice is important or essential to leadership, but it is the heart. Without a heart, we could not live. Therefore, without sacrifice, leadership could not exist.
In what ways do you display courage to those who you influence?
I'm not sure, exactly. I try to do my own thing and stay true to myself. I guess if somebody noticed that and thought of me when making a decision later down the road, I could say that through my courage I influenced them to make the right choice.
What does courage have to do with leadership?
I think courage has everything to do with leadership. Courage is having the ability to act in spite of your fear. The most well known leaders are the ones who have courage, because they seize opportunities while others see them but do nothing about it. You can't be a leader if you aren't able to step outside your comfort zone every once in a while.
This quote is special to leadership because it doesn't just say that sacrifice is important or essential to leadership, but it is the heart. Without a heart, we could not live. Therefore, without sacrifice, leadership could not exist.
In what ways do you display courage to those who you influence?
I'm not sure, exactly. I try to do my own thing and stay true to myself. I guess if somebody noticed that and thought of me when making a decision later down the road, I could say that through my courage I influenced them to make the right choice.
What does courage have to do with leadership?
I think courage has everything to do with leadership. Courage is having the ability to act in spite of your fear. The most well known leaders are the ones who have courage, because they seize opportunities while others see them but do nothing about it. You can't be a leader if you aren't able to step outside your comfort zone every once in a while.
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