1. Discussion on Leadership #8
(Leadership Development)
My life long ambitions and goals from earlier childhood or
adolescent years were to be a leader of my peers and
associates in sporting and life social events in my community.
However, I always wondered the true reasons why I was
never selected or elected or appointed to any leadership
position by any coach or leadership authority.
Then, many years later(65) in life, I started reading in my
leadership text books approximately six months ago. I have
learned I may not have the basic innate, and, social traits, and
human skills, cognitive qualities, or personal abilities or
physical characteristics of a potential natural born leader.
For example, I was not perceived or did not have that specific
command appearance of good looks and being tall , 6'3, and
200 pounds. Nor the extroversion personality attributes of
relating well with others or being well like by associates.I just
did not have enough charisma, higher level of intelligence or
the self discipline and awareness to enable one to make
positive decisions in an emotional, tension filled, competitive
game crisis situation. It seems that everyone wants to be a
winner at any cost.
All the basic theoretical skills of leadership teaching. My
coaches and mentors knew about leadership qualities, is that
to lead or direct the choir. One has to turn one's back to the
crowds and lead from the heart, mind and spirit. To lead
others is a tough demanding action packed role.

2. These teaching- -learning leadership concepts, for what ever
they meant, in the earlier days, no one appeared to know or
have a better concept model of leadership in my culture or
community. It was assumed, except to say either you have it
or you do not. So I was not selected for anything. Even
though I was an above average performer and participated
with sporting teams and social events. During my youthful
years I was not a team captain on any thing ---not even in
marbles---so be it, my fate.
Living in my frustrations, anxieties and life desire to be
important to some one, through out life until finally reading in
the leadership text book, Author Northouse, believes
that having a leader with a certain set of nature traits is
crucial to effective leadership abilities. A leader's trait is
central to the effective leadership process.
These personality traits are believed to be innate and stable.
Thus difficult to modify or enhance. This school of thought or
philosophy has shaped our earlier thinking on leadership
training and education. In the 20th century society, I believe. It
is further documented that trait analysis,can be used for
personal awareness, and one can determines one's strength
and weakness, or where one will best fit within an
organizational structure.
Later it was believed that leadership abilities, may consists of
technical or specific skills, as well as traits and any one
should be able to learn in academic centered study to be a
leader. However, when I looked at leadership skills, it appears
to very difficult and academically challenging or overwhelming
to me as a later learner.

3. Our author presented multi theories on leadership models, and
I enjoyed reading because he always discuss the strength,
weakness and applications of each theory and some where, it
discusses various situations where a particular leadership
style would be most effective. It also discusses that many
leaders utilized at least two different styles in various
situations. The author discussed the difficulties indored to
shift from one style to another in various situations.
I learned to appreciate and adapt to the various leadership
styles in learning. I would really like the author to be
dogmatical and spell it out for me;--as to which model or
system is the best. Or better yet which style to use in any
situation. However he did not. Nothing is written in stone on
the most effective leadership model, that I am aware of. The
best theory is to apply to any given situation. We need to study
and apply more research and literature consistently.
Taking a closer look at several theories of leadership, I believe
servant readership is very powerful. As maybe the love of a big
brother. I wrote in a discussion board analysis. I believe this
fact, because of the emphasis it places on the followers
becoming involved and him self one day may desire to become
a servant leader like, in his leadership performances, as he
learns and matures.
Next I liked transformational --- authentic leadership style
theories. Where one is directed from one's feelings of
morality,of what is the right thing to do, morally and ethically
according our society and one's culture.
I truly believe if I continue to study and apply the theories of
more effective leadership styles,I would adapt. These three
theories of leadership as a combination model of concepts,

4. that I would apply as my choice of the most effective theory.
The one that would allow me to serve and lead my follows or
subordinate in the most positive motivated manner for my
personality, character,culture and well being, I believe.
I have learned more in leadership theories then I can fully
express now or thought, but this week. I interviewed for a
professional position in the health care education industry,
and they wanted me to discuss my leadership skills. I believe I
did a fair to good job discussing my beliefs for about nine or
ten minutes or more, the evaluation group did not have any
follow up questions on leadership philosophy - and application.
However--two much knowledge professed, is bad too, in some
discussions with some associates in my professions of health-
fitness education, industry. I may not get that job but I felt
good about my self, that I had some professional knowledge
basis to auguer my beliefs, thanks for your assistance
Professor.
These are some of the concepts I learned and I feel my life
style has changed for the better, or I have grown more
professional and out spoken in expressing my professional
views of helping people to be all they can be or achieving
success of one's goals accomplishment in ones endeavors.
I have learned a lot about my self as an individual and those
who did not give me all I needed or wanted to know a long life
time ago or earlier in life. I now know leadership abilities,or
management skills are not for immatures youth, or those
faint of heart; or those who are too full of the milk of human
kindness to apply the prescriptive disciplines in a leadership
climate of trust, ethicals behaviors via positive motivations, I

5. believe but there is need for additional growth in all of my
behaviors and mindset.
In Reply to Kristen:
Hi Kristen,
This is a great post, powerfully written also Kristen. I like
the servant leadership model too, as well as you have stated
and believe. It makes one feel good about one's self to enable
another to want to imitate you as an informal leader; and later in
one's life become a servant leader in one's own right.
You must be a maturing sophisticated lady because I feel it takes
years of feelings and emotions, and studies to be able to have
self awareness and confidants to be able to give and share of
one's humanity's --it is to be human. I like how you say --what
you feel and live the model of servant leadership.
In Reply to Antwyne:
Hi Antwyne,
I agree with your assessment in your reflections of
our class that the video's presentations were very
good and practical mode of teaching and learning
difficult and critical data. As one says of believes
a picture is worth a thousand words, but in our
case , a picture may have been worth two or three
thousands words in enhancing our learning
capability. I observed the reading assignments to
be very difficult or challenging for my learning or

6. reading ability and required me to re read the data
several times for a clearer understanding.
On the other hand, I felt the author did a great job of
spelling out the specifics of the strength,
weakness, and applications for various leadership
models. I really felt encouraged and motivated to
read and study more. Still, it may have been better if
the Professor had projected his views, thoughts
opinions and assessment into the conversation of
our learning climate. It may possible have been
more meaningful or educational or even easily
learning to some students, and particular first time
on line users/ learners like us!
Feedback from Instructor:
Good contribution. Thank you. Effective leadership requires us to select the
right style for the circumstances.

7. reading ability and required me to re read the data
several times for a clearer understanding.
On the other hand, I felt the author did a great job of
spelling out the specifics of the strength,
weakness, and applications for various leadership
models. I really felt encouraged and motivated to
read and study more. Still, it may have been better if
the Professor had projected his views, thoughts
opinions and assessment into the conversation of
our learning climate. It may possible have been
more meaningful or educational or even easily
learning to some students, and particular first time
on line users/ learners like us!
Feedback from Instructor:
Good contribution. Thank you. Effective leadership requires us to select the
right style for the circumstances.