EGL @ Leadership Connections

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May 01, 2008

Day 4: Organizational competencies, collaboration, and shared purpose

Key Takeaways:
• The leadership cycle can help us predict and prepare for future events
• Transformational leadership + Transactional leadership = Full results
• EGL is one good looking society and loves to dance!

Leadership Cycle
Claudio felt refreshed this morning from eight hours of sleep. We began the day learning about the cycle of a leader. Identify (the groups with whom you could collaborate), retreat (if first impression does not work out), internal identification (identify within yourself the values of the organization), external identification (market your belonging to the organization, display your passion), leadership (take on a leadership role within the organization), withdrawal (leave the group). We learned it’s important to safeguard against the retreat and withdrawal. This cycle can also help you prepare and brace yourself for the leadership cycle.

Another aspect of the leadership cycle is the concept of burn-out versus stress. Stress is temporary, it can be productive and lead to over-engagement, and it allows you to remain effective until the point of burn-out. Stress is also compartmentalized—it does not affect other parts of your mind or spirit. Burn-out is more serious, it results in disengagement, and it’s ineffective.

Integrating Transformational Leadership
What is transformational leadership? It is a style of leadership that takes a leader from transactional leadership to performance beyond expectation. Transformational leadership motivates leaders to do more than what is expected. The basic influence behind these styles are the four I’s: idealized influence, inspirational motivation, intellectual stimulation, and individual consideration. Also, we did an activity called “start, stop, continue”, where we listed activities that we think EGL should start doing, stop doing, and continue doing, based on the four I’s.

Transactional leadership is a style of leadership of give and take. It’s based on the status quo, and does not necessarily display the goals and higher purpose of the organization. The most effective combination of leadership is the combination of transformational and transactional leadership. To fully achieve your potential would mean having that healthy combination. There are three core team processes for transformational leadership: 1) cohesion, 2) communication, and 3) conflict management. The different types of conflict include healthy and unhealthy conflict. The healthy conflict is cognitive, and creates a dialogue. An effective conflict is emotionally driven and there is a focus on interpersonal incompatibilities, and arises when cognitive conflict becomes corrupt.

Lunch was grilled cheese and tomato bisque. It was delicious. The lemon bars were fantastic, maybe a little on the sticky side, according to Claudio!

After lunch we all split up into several different enriching sessions. Brian went to sessions on how to respond to trigger statements as well as a session on icebreakers, energizers, and reflections. Lindsay went to sessions on improving student organization’s meetings, as well as the session on trigger statements. Nate went to icebreakers, energizers, and reflections, as well as the session on trigger statements. Meghan went to sessions about marketing the student organization experience in the job search, as well as the session on improving the organization’s meetings. Claudio went to sessions on the importance of physical wellness in student organizations, and also how to utilize transformational leadership in teams. While we could all go on about the value and lessons learned, please seek us out or leave comments in the blog if you have questions about any of sessions!

Organizational speed dating followed; we met with Circle K, SWE (Society of Women Engineers), NSBE (National Society of Black Engineers), SADHA (Student Americans Dental Hygienist’s Association), MES (Michigan Economics Society), SGE (Society of Global Engineers), Gates Millennium Scholars, LSO (Latino Students Organization), MSA (Michigan Student Assembly), UAC (University Activities Center). We learned these organization’s structure, purpose, and incentives programs, as well as possible opportunities for future collaboration.

Someone left a note that said Lindsay is very cute. We also got sunshine awards for being a “good-looking” society (See picture below for visual evidence). Now there is a dance party, so we’re leaving you all to represent EGL well!!! Hiding in the corner awkwardly like most good engineers…

Cheers,
Lindsay, Brian, Meghan, Nate, and Claudio

Posted by brumao at May 1, 2008 11:03 PM

Comments

Posted by: jnanry at May 2, 2008 12:15 PM

Posted by: smlittle at May 3, 2008 06:05 PM

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