The Leadership Ideas of John Maxwell

On saturday I was part of a workshop sponsored by two organizations of Texas A&M-Commerce University. The conference was a joint affair sponsored by Kappa Delta Pi and Phi Delta Kappa. The topic of the keynote address was Leadership. Darla Logan was the speaker. Her speech was rooted in the ideas of leadership as presented by esteemed author John Maxwell.

I have never read any of Maxwell's work. However, I was captivated by Miss Logan's presentation and picked up on several parallels between Maxwell and other leadership pundits. After the meeting, I sought out Miss Logan in attempt to discuss further her ideas regarding leadership. My attempt was fruitless. She was quite busy with many other admirers. However, I have since ordered several copies of Mr. Maxwell's work "Leadership 101". One thing that I have found an indisputable common trait of most leaders is that they are lifelong learners. On this saturday, I have found yet another source to bolster my understanding and knowledge of what it takes to be an effective positive leader. I intend to read this work on the plane as I head to Boston for the next face to face.

Stephen Covey is in the bag. John Maxwell here I come.

Warmest Regards,
Kai Dupe

Sometimes Leading is Following

I hit me yesterday while I was teaching class at Tekfokus. I am new in the field on instructional expertise. I am so accustomed to being the leader and helping others that it took me a minute to reflect and recognize that it is okay to be the follower. It is okay to not know. It is okay to let someone else show me how it is done. Once I acknowledged that I was not the expert, my transition into becoming a instructor/trainer has been much more pleasurable. I ask question incessantly and I encourage every one to critique my performance. My goal is to become the top trainer at the company. The only way to do that is to learn from the best. I am very fortunate because Tekfokus is loaded with the best, and I am in the enviable position of being able to learn from them all.

Warmest Regards,
Mr. Kai Dupé

Leadership Theory

Over the weekend I completed reading my leadership textbook for this Fall. The title of the book is Leadership Practice and Theory. It was written by Peter Northouse. It is a literary review of the state of leadership from an academic perspective. After reading the book, I certainly came away with my own opinions regarding leadership. I considered the newer theories in the book to be very suspect. In fact, each chapter of the book ends with a pro/con review of the theory. Some of the later theories such as contingency theory criticisms were so harsh, I was left to wonder why it was even considered a valid theory.

I now believe as my professor indicated upon my first meeting with him this summer. No one really has a total handle on leadership. He pointed to the fact that since there were so many books on the subject that perhaps it is a very important subject and one that is not very well understood. I now agree. The older theories make more sense to me. Theories such as trait and skill theory.

Perhaps as I continue to learn more, my position will change. But for now I realize that I could very easily offer a theory and execute a study, and it could be the next big thing in leadership theory. Also, I absolutely do not agree with the idea of situational leadership as offered by Blanchard. I eagerly anticipate our further discussions next month in Boston, as I strive to form my ideas regarding leadership.

Seek First To Understand

Today I realized the power of this idea for the first time. I mean I have read this maxim in many books over the years and it has been presented in many ways. I guess you have to be ready to receive certain understanding. The latest to give me this information is Stephen Covey. As I am reading his 7 Habits classic right now. I started reading the book this summer, but I had to stop reading it due to my classes at Pepperdine. One of my projects for my leadership class is to report on the 8th habit. So, I decided to go back and finish the classic before dealing with the contemporary.

I have been in a new position for the past several months. It has been pressure packed. I have observed a behavior in my manager that is not very pleasant. During the course of conversation with her she came became quite terse and rude. I have not been able to put my finger on the source of this venom. Here lately I have been bombarded with the idea of empathic listening. Over the past month, I have heard it from Covey in 7 and 8th habits. I heard it in my recent instructional expertise course at Prepmasters (http://www.prepmasters.com), and again in my face-to-face meeting with myh doctoral cadre at Pepperdine.

My colleague and I have been discussing the rudeness of our manager. My usual way of dealing is to respond in kind. I have been operating this way for years and it has not been very successful. My co-worker, on the other hand, would always, do what I would call make excuses for this woman. My co-worker would say, you know she is very busy, and well she has too much on her plate. My reaction was whatever. I don't care if she is choking on her placte, I will not be spoken to in this manner. I am simply being honest.

But I am starting to understand this principle now. I arrived at work today. Five minutes later I was in the midst of this rude behavior. I decided ok today I respond. But for some reason, when the attitude started I remained silent. Another co-worked entered, and I recognized that the rudeness was not reserved for me. He received a healthy does. He handled it quite well I might add. During my silence, I began to hear the fear and sadness in the woman's voice. I actually begin to understand that she was upset and worried about things not going well and that is why she was so stressed.

It has nothing to do with me. I have always taken these situations personally. As I continued to listen to her, I softened from my defensive posture and just allowed her to get out what she needed to get. She did and she went about her merry way. But as she left, and I discovered my new found understanding of the situation, I became excited about the possibilties of how I will handle future communications with her. I certainly will not take what she says personally, and I feel empowered because I now understand where she is coming from. Additionally, I understand that she is entitled to her feelings.

I understand.

Until Next Time,
Kai Dupé

Coach Carter

Last night my leadership class was asked to view the movie "Coach Carter". The idea was for us to observe the leadership style of the legendary coach. Now, I have seen this movie before and I usually critique them for learning opportunities. But I must say, that watching the movie with the idea of looking for aspects of leadership was a very different experience. I noticed not only that he was obviously the leader and attempting to get his followers to higher ground. But I picked up on the way he led. His language. His demeanor. His posture. It was all very important to what he was trying to get accross. I reflected that these were common with the Robert Redford character of Irwin in our previous movie "The Last Castle".

It made me reflect on my ideas and comparisons that I have between Dr. Martin Luther King and El Hajj Malik El Shabazz (Malcolx X). I have an affinity for Malcolm X because I love his brash outspokeness. And while both were very successful in their missions, I must now accept the fact that Dr. King was more successful. He had many more followers. He had wider acceptance. I do beleive that Minister Malcolm was a far better teacher. It was Malcolm who introduced me to the history of slavery and its ramifications on the African in America. In fact, it was Malcolm who taught me about the remants of history in general. My favorite quote of all time is "Of all our studies, history is best qualified to reward our research". - Malcolm X

So, as I reflect on the two movies along with what my ideals are regarding leadership, I have come to realize that how you present your case or how you carry yourself should definitely be taking into account. I also realize that it is important to speak in very precise terms and it a way that does not atagonize your potential followers. Coach Carter seemed to have a knack for this. Malcolm not so much. Of course, I realize the circumstances and times were much different. Dr. King understood this. And now I am starting to appreciate him more and in a different light that I ever have before.

This weekend is the anniversary of the Million Man March of 1995. I attended this march and it was one of the greatest experiences of my life. Leadership was on display in ways that I never imagined that I would observe. It is quite fitting that on this anniversary I find myself reflecting on leadership and comparing two of the greatest leaders of the 20th century and analzying them in a much different light. I guess I have grown. But I think it is also partly that I am gaining a wider view of what effective leadership can be.

Sincerely,
Kai Dupé

Personal Transformation Reflections

As part of my doctoral program at Pepperdine university I am taking a leadership course. We are studying all of the various leadership styles and theories. I will be using this journal to reflect on my learnings as I begin to learn and employ the different styles in my personal life and in my work as an instructor. I have been journaling for a few months at http://kaidupe.blogspot.com and I will begin to read my reflections there and use them as fuel for my reflections that I will capture here.

It should be an interesting ride. Stay Tuned.

Kai Dupe