Pygmalion Effect vs Leadership

Have we been robbed of our leadership potential due to exposure to 'bad' teachers?

The pygmalion effect defines that "if teachers were led to expect enhanced performance from some children, then the children did indeed show that enhancement. In some cases such improvement was about twice that shown by other children in the same class. The pygmalion experiment was to support the hypothesis that reality can be influenced by the expectations of others. This influence can be beneficial as well as detrimental depending on which label an individual is assigned."

In hindsight, I tend to believe this behavioral correlation exist. But we might argue there are other influential factors such as environment. Obviously yes. But other than the parents, the single biggest influence on children, remains rooted on teachers.Comments?

Leadership and Relationships

Browsing thru a bookstore led me to open one inspiring book on leadership (yet again!). The author goes on to define the basic tenets of 'improving one relational skills'. His objective is to survive in a higly hostile leadership environment.

Here are my realizations as I reflect on the topic on RELATIONSHIPS:

Relationships are:
1. Fragile - meaning we need to handle it with care.
2. Essential - you can't live without it.
3. Valuable - very precious and delicate as in a glass jar.
4. Requires Effort - it is no laggard and we need to work on it.
5. Diverse - varied and variety.
6. Changes you - very dynamic and never stagnant.
7. Risky - prone to problems, challenges.
8. Ends, not the means.

All are self explanatory. Except the last bullet which I find perplexing. Do you see relationships as ends of means?

Working Hard vs GDP Growth

One unassuming guy apparently installed a videocamera on a sidewalk to observe how fast people move about. This he performed in many top notch cities all over the world, from New York, London, Paris to Tokyo to Singapore. Soon after, he plot the data he gathered from this experiment into a graph.

Lo and behold, there is a significant correlation between GDP growth of the country to the pace in which people move about.

Can you believe that?

Is Leadership Learned or Taught?

I am re-posting my comment to another excellent blogs I frequently read - for posterity measures!

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JFK uttered these words - “Each time someone stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope”

True enough, many a great men, ancient and modern leaders alike, of human history share this trait-to inspire men and move against insurmountable odds! From Alexander the great, to Churchill, Clausewitz to Colin Powell, most are icons in their own right. Napoleon is one classic example. Despite his physical stature, he commanded the utmost respect and deadly loyalty of his army. It is not because of any other attributes, but simply, because of his ability to inspire men and win their hearts to overcome all odds.

Closer to home, historic leaders such as Jose Rizal, inspired the multitude of revolutionaries to spark the great Phil. revolt of 1898. Such action eventually gained the Phil. independence over Spain. On the business side, Jack Welch and Lee Iacocca, to name a few, are great examples of business giants who did extremely well in inspiring their men to innovate and push business goal to the limits. Bottomline, their can do attitudes and rock solid characters shaped their destiny and their success. Simply put, their Being preceeds their doing.

I will not end my comment without a passage or two from scripture. And I quote “Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.” - Matthew 5:15.

Keep these blogs, and thoughts, coming Wilson. It’s inspiring to say the least!!

Leadership Quadrant

I was reading a leadership book this past few days. One principle that struck me is the illustration which I took the liberty to name as the "LEADERSHIP QUADRANT".

Very profound matrix!! See for yourself!

Sin or Saint

Up until now, I was caught totally unaware that the '7 deadly sins' are in fact scriptural. In one quotation, it says:

16 There are six things the LORD hates,
seven that are detestable to him:
17 haughty eyes,
a lying tongue,
hands that shed innocent blood,
18 a heart that devises wicked schemes,
feet that are quick to rush into evil,
19 a false witness who pours out lies
and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers.

To balance the negative side, the positive aspects is hereby compared:

Vice Virtue
==================== =====
Lust (excessive sexual appetites) Chastity (purity of soul)
Gluttony (over-indulgence) Temperance (self-restraint)
Greed (avarice) Charity (giving)
Sloth (idleness) Diligence (zeal/initiative)
Wrath (anger) Forgiveness (composure)
Envy (jealousy) Kindness (admiration)
Pride (vanity) Humility (humbleness/modesty)


Think again!