Occupy Sesame Street

I highly recommend google image
 searching Occupy Sesame street!

You know what this article really makes me want to do?! Get a bunch of people, get some signs and drums and megaphones, and go OCCUPY Wallst...oh wait...That's already happening isn't it? Well it seems that a lot of people have been intellectualizing themselves on Power and Leadership! 

Okay but seriously, this whole situation is highly applicable to the article that we read. And the 99% has decided that Leadership is everyone's business. (Or at least the salaries of the leaders) 

After getting past the blatant bias in this article, getting down to the message of the article, it definitely got me upset to read about all the greed and corruption going on in the world and America. This article made me remember LeaderShape for two completely reasons, one negative and one positive! 

First the negative, Star Power! For those of you who attended in 2010, you know what I am talking about. Drama! But in all honesty, although there was a lot of misunderstanding and finger pointing, there was a real applicable message sent to all of us. Although it is just a game, and people act differently in games, especially with competition and group think mentality, we learned about humility and self/interpersonal awareness. This showed how easy a little bit of power over the other 'lesser' groups can lead to utter chaos and corruption to an extent. 

     The other thing this reminded me of was my vision at LeaderShape. I had struggled to initially discover a vision, one thing that I had gone on was the idea of corporate greed and political greed and competition. I talked about the frustration I have when political parties fight to win instead of work together, and how corrupt and greedy politicians are, and I would love to see a world where people are ethical and do the right thing because they are truly invested in the betterment of their country and fellow citizens. 

Power

    As a Leadership Development course geared towards SLA, I like to address applications to our organization. I really liked when the article talked about the idea of a more linear and open form of an organization. Although some cultures, and typically most businesses are outlined with a hierarchy and positions of power, it is still possible to blend the lines between 'boss and subordinates'. I am lucky that my dad is such a great role model and example for how a leader can lead without arrogance and a sense of entitlement. My dad is the general manager of a distributing company, and is one the most humble people I know. I have worked for the company over the summers and I have attended meetings that he took charge of and he is super approachable and knows his salesman on a personal level. Compared to the other branches of the company where the bosses scream and yell when numbers are not met, my dad's cool and collective manner allows for a great rapport. Back to SLA, our organization set up in a horizontal fashion where there is no one in charge or sense of power. Everyone is working together equally to better student life at Ohio State! And now that I think about it, kind of correlates well with my vision from LeaderShape! I am working with a group of motivated individuals where there is no power struggle or competition.
     Quick insert about Luma. She was absolutely inspiring! I definitely saw a lot of parallels with all the different leadership models that we have been learning about! Even about Power and Leadership. With her bake stand that she created she was selfless and did not hold her social status above anyone! In return she got a lot more business and made more money as a result! She valued her 'employees' and rewarded them for their hard work.

                                                'No one man should have all that Power!'

Alright alright, so what does Leadership is everyone's business even mean? So basically my understanding is that leadership and the actions that leaders do should be everyone's business. Accountability and transparancey is something that is very important in being a successful leader. We hear again and again about leading with integrity and having good ethics. I believe that the sentence touches on all those points. It is important as a follower to at some level question the process and possibly even challenge if necessary. As a leader you need to set up clear checks and balances so that corruption does not spread. You need to be open and willing for feedback and allow others to be heard.


On a sidenote, I loved blogging with all of you! I would, at some point like to sit down and read everyone's blogs, or at least a good majority!