Discussion question topics and frameworks

¶ … Leadership: Succeeding in the Private, Public, and Not-for-Profit Sectors

Competency-Based Approach (Federal Government). The "competency-based" approach to leadership helps leaders "fully explore the challenge before them" so they can come up with solutions on a collaborative basis. The competences presented include: a) paying close attention to the situation; b) tapping into person life experiences to better tackle "group challenges"; c) using images (metaphors, photos, stories) to make sense of "complex information"; d) gaining knowledge through improvisation; e) being collaborative with others; and f) "synthesizing issues, objects, events and actions" so they have meaning (Sims, et al., 2005, 159). I fully agree that these competencies are what government leaders must adhere to.

The President's Management Agenda (Federal Government): Since the Federal Government is such a vast and expensive workforce it makes sense that the federal government sub-contracts some of the duties of government out to private vendors. Sims claims that the federal government has over 4 million employees and has a budget into the trillions of dollars, and because savings of up to 50% can be realized by turning certain duties over to private entities, it shows good leadership for a president to authorize the privatizing of certain federal jobs and duties. Saving taxpayer's money shows smarts and good leadership.

Chapter 10: Strong Leaders and Character (Military Leadership): The person striving to become an officer in the military must accept responsibility, must "admit when he is wrong," and must take responsibility for his actions. Moreover, he is challenged in his position to give his underlings the information and motivation to complete the mission they are assigned to. If he is fair, and has principles that his followers can look up to, then he becomes a "person of character" -- which means his troops will follow him and want to be like him. Having served in the military, I can attest to the fact that this kind of leadership motives others to follow.

From the book Leadership: Theory and Practice

Chapter 9: Transformational Leadership (Educational Leadership):

Transformational leadership, according to Northouse, involves a person using "…an exceptional form of influence that moves followers to accomplish more than what is usually expected of them" (Northouse, 2013). A transformational leader is one that can transform a school from a bland, unproductive place where students are bored, to a school where students are anxious to get into their classrooms and teachers are motivated and energized. The transformational leader plays what Northouse calls "…a pivotal role in precipitating change," and he or she is able to get students, administrators, teachers, board members and parents on the same page. A transformational leader is generally a person with charisma, although that is not necessary. I have had the good fortune to have been led by a transformational leader in an educational environment and this person raised the level of motivation because he knew what was needed and he had the up-tempo, believable personality to make the changes needed in an otherwise sluggish school.