Presidents Bush and Obama

Themes and questions brought out during our discussions last week.

Does the social environment create the leader?

What is the relationship between leadership and change?

Should we talk with our enemies?

Can we resolve conflicts in innovative ways?

Is it good to have filters of information/ideas/people etc.?

What is decision making?

Should we look back at our decisions?

Where can hard work take us?

Communication in a team setting.

Do teams need leaders?

How much attention should we pay to criticism?

Personally, I need to create an environment where students are pulling, rather than I pushing, information/ideas/concepts/facts/opinions.

Reflections on "War"

I facilitated a simple game that proved very difficult with my classes last week. Each time I learned something new. Each time was a different experience. I'll explain the activity quickly for the audience outside the classroom. Finally, I'll share some recurring thoughts and questions.

...............................................................

The game is deliberately ambiguous. The class is divided in half (two teams). The teams were given a few minutes to plan, then 10 minutes to have a "War." I instruct them that the goal is to win. I place a stack of paper (recycled) in the front of the class and invite them to use this paper for their war.

........................................................................

Any questions? We work through the language barriers, and then there are no questions. Okay, begin planning.

"What should we talk about?" asks a student. I say I don't know, anything you like.

Another student asks quietly, "Teacher how do we win?" I say this is a great question, but why are you asking me? He goes on to organize his team, proposes they create a mini-game to decide a winner.

"Teacher, can you give us more specific norms?" No.

"Teacher, can you tell us what to do." No. I will not tell you what to do and how to do it. It would be counter productive to the discovery of your own leadership styles/abilities. I will not tell you how to walk, talk, think, or lead.

"답답해요" I recognize that Korean word a student utters aloud. I write it on the chalkboard. The environment is quiet. Eyes dart one way then the other... then to me. They are looking for someone to tell them what to do. They are looking for a leader. Some are just hiding. The Korean word means stuffy, frustrated, grey inside. I explain that many times our activities this semester may trigger frustration. ; )

.............................................................

At the end of the game I draw a circle, write study, then ask "Did we study?" "Yes." I draw an overlapping circle asking, write practice, asking "Did we practice?" Most say yes... I point out that the activity is the practice. I draw the third overlapping circle, write reflect, ask "Did we reflect?" "No"... Okay we start now.

I ask some questions... Was there a leader? How was communication? Did the teams make efforts to be inclusive? Did you talk to the other team? Who won? etc...

I change the word on the chalkboard from win to success. I ask for the translation. I now ask "Were you successful?" We go around the room. A somewhat upset student says, "I only learned about Chinese and American culture." I smile. There are two Chinese students in that class. I learned about Korean culture too. 'I'm Korean, you must tell me what to do." Did I go too far? (take a moment to learn about Korean culture, Korean management style, Confucius values, Korean education system and its current headlines)

This same student walks with me to my office. He suggests that I mix the teams more. He suggests that the left side has older students, and the right side has too many girls. I laugh and ask if he is trying to create change... He is the same student who asked for "more specific norms."

...................................................

Here are some recaps of what happened in some of the classes. In each class someone immediately stole the paper stack for his team, but then did not know what to do. In one small class each and every student ran to the paper stack when I said "Start."

Many students made weapons. Some students drew pictures of weapons. Many students made paper airplanes but were very wary of throwing them. I assume they were afraid to do something that in their mind was 'wrong.'

Many students made gestures of paper-ball fights. However, not a single student rolled up a paper-ball, or threw one. Though, one student made a paper bomb... he threw it at an empty desk.

One student walked over to the other team with a 'sword.' He took his friends life (figuratively). This particular student also wrote a treaty and ended the war by signing it with his friend from the other team. "We don't want war. We want to stop. East/West." And signed.

One class under the leadership of 'Moto' created an English game. They wrote words on their paper in smaller teams, then made rules for a game to play using these written words. They didn't have time to finish the game. They asked for more time. I couldn't give it because I wanted to reflect.

I was very happy with the students. Good work.

....................................................

Moving forward I would like to open a discussion on defining success. Challenging authority and norms. Defining values and leading by them. Living life by your own rules and values.

Building Activity

글로벌 리더십 : 첫 주에 검토

Week 1 Notes: In the words of our students.

학생. 여기 단어의 일부 기록이 있습니다. 나는 모든 4 클래스에서 단어를 포함합니다. 나는 당신을 도울 간단한 영어를 사용하려고합니다.

내 문장을 번역하는 google.translate.com를 사용합니다. 때로는 잘 작동합니다. 때로는 완전 쓰레기입니다.

Globalization: The Korean Experience

"K-pop"

"Korean Dramas"

"Samsung, Kia, Hyundai, LG..."

"Host 2002 World Cup"

"Host 2018 Winter Olympics"

"Host 2010 G-20 Summit"

"FTA"

"Largest shipbuilder in the world"

"Exporting Korean food" Really? A work in process

"Teacher, you are here." Good point.

"Gyeongju University's International School"

"Tourism" Outbound increasing.

"Marriages" Sure, international marriages are increasing... and always in the news.

Multicultural: The good and the bad

"We have unique culture."

"More foreigners."

"Not good or bad."

"I don't like it."

"Changes our culture."

"I like it."

What percent of Korea is foreign? "10%" "20%" "30%"... 2% and half of that is Chinese

Are you a leader?

"Yes." About 5-10% answer.

"No." About 70% answer.

"I don't know." About 2% answer.

"Maybe." About 5% answer.

"Sometimes." About 5-10% answer.

"Not yet." About 5-10% answer.

"Follower" 1 student answered.

"Teacher, I don't understand." Hmmm, what? "What does leader/leadership mean?" - Pearl

Great question. Pearl we hope to discover that answer. I can't teach it to you. You must discover it, practice it, and find your style. Cookie, Moto, Chris, Pearl, Ann, Sara, all have different answers... that's okay.

Write Words Related to Leadership

"responsibility, first, humanism, speak well, ability, smart, command, brave, strong, confidence, power, hope, sacrifice, passion, open minded, vision, creative, kind, generous, compassion, together, followers, persuasive, tough, sociable, change..."

"책임, 먼저 인성이 잘 말하는, 능력, 지능, 명령, 용감하고, 강한 자신감, 전력, 희망, 희생, 열정, 열린, 비전, 창조, 친절, 관대, 연민, 함께, 추종자, 설득력, 거친, 사교성, 변경 "

Richard Branson

Next class we discuss Richard Branson and Virgin. Homework is create a leadership journal and prepare to talk. You will talk 80% of the time. I will talk about 20%.

Resource: www.TED.com (한국어 자막이 있습니다. 재생 버튼 아래에 자막을 선택합니다.)

Challenges and goals

I have a climb-a-thon race in two weeks. This is my second time participating. I participated last year because I was turning 31 and wanted a physical challenge. Knowing I was committed to this race assisted me in exercising on a regular basis. I completed the race, received a certificate with my time, and a medal (everyone got one).

So I'm two weeks away and haven't been training. How can I get started?

I set a goal. Goals are measurable, challenging, and have a deadline. I remember a South Florida business leader once said in a meeting, "Nothing exists until it is written down." -R. Kirk Landon

So I write on a post-it note, "I will run today at 6PM. I will run 10Km." Was I successful? I ran 14K and was out the door by 3PM.

Simple but effective. Measurable, challenging, and having a deadline... plus writing it down and putting it in a place where you must see it.

Why?

1. "Don't ask people to do something you have not yourself." - Coach David Soderholm
2. Family and friends have asked that I continue to blog.
3. To reflect on leadership, personal development, and teaching/learning to serve my students better.
4. In the interest of living a happier, healthier and more rewarding life.

Hint: Why did we start with the question, "Why?"

내 학생. 이것은 내 리더십 노트입니다. 플랙시는 네버 앤딩 과정이다. 우리는 공부합니다. 우리는 행동으로 아이디어를 넣어. 우리는 우리의 활동과 어떻게 자신을개선하기 위해 쓰기도하고. 우리는 또한 자기 발견의 형태로 저널링 사용하세요.