Blog Post Image #12: Lightning Rods

1. President Lincoln is a positive example of a leader who knew how to take the heat for this team. What can we learn from him? How did he act like a lightning rod? How did he vent his anger and not damage his team members? -- You can learn that sometimes is works out for the better if you take the heat for your team. Sometimes its what you have to do in certain circumstances. He acted like a lightning rod by taking the heat from his team. He absorbed all the criticism when he could have fought back. Lincoln would vent his anger by writing a letter, setting it aside to let himself coo down, and then never send the letter.

2. Do you agree with the suggestion that people act out what they are experiences inside? Have you ever experienced the truth of the phrase, "hurting people naturally hurt people?" If so, describe how you handled it? -- I don't believe in the saying because I feel like a lot of people hold their feelings inside. In other words they don't show their emotion. Yes I agree with the saying because I feel like a lot of people take their frustration out on other people instead of dealing with their problems. I feel like I have definitely taken my anger out on my friends when I am frustrated with the problems going on in my own life.

3. In the analogy that each of us chooses to carry one of two kinds of buckets, which kind of bucket do you carry? Are you more likely to throw gasoline on the fire by a bad attitude? Or react in anger? Or do you typically carry a bucket of water to help put out the fire? -- I carry the bucket full of water. I am a very positive person and I always try to make the situation better. I feel like I am always  carrying a bucket of water and rarely a bucket of gasoline.

Self Assessment

1. Yes
2. No
3. No
4. No
5. Yes
6. Yes
7. Yes
8. Yes

Blog Post Image #11: Tightrope Walker

1. What do leaders offer that causes people to want to follow them? Do people trust you enough to follow you as their leader? -- Leaders often offer what is most scarce. So if you offer what most people can't do people will be drawn to you. I think I could definitely use some work in this area. I feel like I am not confident enough in myself to be seen as a leader. Though, I do feel like I am trustworthy as a person.

2. Consider the idea that "leadership rises based upon providing the scarcest resource." rewrite this concept in your own words. Next, identify what resource you have that is scarce. -- I view this statement as saying that you can tell who a true leader is because they have what everyone else wants or is to afraid to do. People look as them as leaders because that is how they want to be someday. I think the resources that I have that is scarce is my optimism. I feel like I have the ability to always look on the bright side of things and I feel like a lot of people in life lack this trait.

3. Can you name some other historical leaders or current leaders who have earned the right to be followed? -- Some historical leaders that have earned the right to be followed would be people like Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, and Steve Jobs. They have all provided abilities that not a lot of people have and by that they have created a trust with their peers.

Self-Assesment

Competence: 8
Character: 10
Courage: 8
Charisma: 10
Convictions: 10
Compassion: 10
Commitment: 9