MLSD500_Activity 4.3_Blog_Ballet Slippers or Adorable_Wathen_Sandra

MSLD500_Activity 4.3_Blog_Ballet Slippers or Adorable_Wathen_Sandra

This is my blog to reflect on the TED video by Sheena Lyengar on the art of choosing…The video provided such a unique approach on one’s thinking of choices. Before going any further, it is noteworthy to express my sincere admiration for Sheena in the fact that she is blind and carried out the powerful presentation with utmost professionalism and charisma while applying academia views.  I was so impressed with her presentation skills and her theory of thinking as it applies to making choices.

Sheena mentions three (3) assumptions of choices that Americans make about choosing which are:  1. Make your own choices; 2. the more the choices, the more likely you have to make the best choice.  Basically, the more options; the more choices;  3. Never say no to choices; because you then constrain your options.

The implications of Sheena’s comments on Leadership from my perspective - for an effective leader must consider the “Power and Purpose of Choices” and the “Value of Choice” and the ability to see differences in options. 

That making your own choices is a private and self defining act and the perspective of division of self from others when making choices.  But not to lose insight of that fact that some do not want to make choices individually, but rather choose from a group purview.  An effective leader will recognize this and critically think of the considerations for best approach for providing options for choices.

It is imperative for leaders to consider people’s beliefs, cultures, rearing, etc., when providing choices in that it will affect the perception of those options to those choices. Another insight that Sheena provided was the fact that we all do not see choices in the same way.  This it is something that leaders need to consider when providing choices to individuals. 

You can have options, however; depending on one’s view of those options, your choices may not be the same as someone else’s based on how they see it – they may not be seeing the same options!  It is the job of the effective leader to understand the “Power and Purpose of Choice”! 

MSLD500_Activity3.4_Blog_Explore Hunt Library_Wathen_Sandra

MSLD500_Activity3.4_Blog_Explore the Hunt Library_Wathen_Sandra

This is my blog to share my thoughts on how I may use the ERAU, Hunt Library as a resource for studies and also how the scholarly information I found in the library was different from the typical information I found when I used Google to research a leadership concept.

First I would like to say that the ERAU, Hunt Library-World Wide offers a very unique and informative on-line library.  The Hunt Library is engined by Eaglesearch.  It is so easy to find books, articles, courses, DVDs, videos etc.  The library has online full text resources and will recommend to you other websites if needed.  There are special library services where you can borrow and reserve circulations, as well as, borrow from the Inter-library.  There are other services such as media services, faculty and staff services, an area that recommends new materials for use and also a place where you can go and obtain web documentation delivered.  It also offers on-line help which includes asking questions to the librarian; FAQs, basic library training, plus a library guide and much more…Basically, it is a one-stop-shop wealth of scholarly information at your finger tips.

More specifically, it allowed me to search easily since it is tailored to topics.  I could use the search engine for searching the content type, look for journals and articles, trade publications, etc.  I could search by subject, by language or even refine my searches to go beyond the library collection of material if I needed to.

The user interface makes it so easy to use – you can easily save, email, print, export, tag, etc. from the main screen.  I could view the information as an abstract with full screen view or look at the information in an indexed view which displayed the attributes of the document.

I was enlightened by the capabilities and usefulness of the Hunt Library as a result of this MSLD500 Activity.   It gave me insight on how invaluable this tool will be for me in my current and future studies at ERAU.

To compare the Hunt Library to a basic Google search on the same topic of leadership, there is no comparison.   When I searched in Google, I considered myself in the “open market” and unsure of the integrity and accuracy of the information.  The Hunt Library was designed to focus on the needs of the academia with reputable information, and within the secured environment of an educational institution.  It was also designed with the users in-mind in that it is architecture meets the needs of the students and is easy to use and navigate.  When I searched within the Hunt Library, I felt confident on the integrity of the information, plus enjoyed the ease of use while navigating through the screen layers.

For anyone at ERAU that requires any type of creditable research information, I would highly suggest that they first use the Hunt Library versus Google.    Why allow yourself to vulnerable to just information, when you can go to the Hunt Library and obtain scholarly data with reassurance of its integrity!

MSLD500_Activity 2.3_Blog_Wathen_Sandra

MSLD500_Activity 2.3_Blog_Wathen_Sandra

This blog is to "Tell my story" of standards that are most important in my life, how I have acquired those standards and how they have changed over the years. 

My story...If I had to pick one of the most important standards in my life it would be that of "respect" - I believe people should be considerate and respectful; basically "do unto others as you would have them do unto you" and a motto that should be practiced daily.  I truly believe if you would not like that done to you, then why would you want to do that to someone else?  In certain situations, I will ask myself,  "Would I like someone to do that to me?"  If my answer is no, then I try to avoid that situation.  Honesty would be my second of my most important standards.  Being honest is a standard that is intertwined with respect since you would not have respect for yourself or others if you are not honest in your actions; upright, fair, genuine.  My third, which is also intertwined with my first and second of most important standards is that of sincerity; mean what you say.   All of these in combination lend itself to a path of intertwined standards that compliments one another and if used together establish positive traits to build integrity in one's character.  This not only helps how you feel within as a person from a positive perspective, but also determines how those view you from the outside; whether you can be trusted, respected or if you mean what you say.

I was one of the most fortunate women in the world to have been blessed by three wonderful men in my life; my father and my two sons.   I was reared in a traditional, kind and loving family that instilled respectfulness, honesty, rationalism, inspiration, sincerity, trust, support, etc.  I was able to share 51 years of my life with my dad and was able to adopt his philosophies, as well as, instill those in my children.

In addition to the qualitative use and commitment to these standards of character, my dad was an effective listener and always took time to truly listen.  He was also gifted at choosing his words and choosing those that would have the best outcome when responding.  Normally as a result of conversation with my father you would have a positive takeaway that was filled with confidence, insight, wisdom, direction and inspiration.  In hindsight, I guess in reality he was an effective critical thinker and a leader; never taking any college courses.  In fact, he didn't graduate from high school.  He had married my mom when he was 15 and she being 16.  He raised six children; all to be successful. In fact, the week that he had just recently passed on, he would have celebrated his 73rd wedding anniversary.  This displays his lifetime commitment to standards and values.

I often told my father how much I loved him.  But not only that, I also told him how much I respected him and how much I looked up to him for what he represented and stood for, as well as, the qualities he instilled in me.  Not to mention he was also my "silent champion".

My dad gave me a lifetime gift.  It wasn't the normally packaged type of gift that might sit on a shelf.  Rather it was an invisible gift that only a person receiving that gift could see the value over time.  A person's character is not something that can be physically packaged and tied with a bow.  It is something that is instilled and either taught or used over, and over again.  I guess you could say my dad was a teacher; a teacher of character.  I guess you could say I was his intern, and my children the students.  For my dad taught me, in which I learned from him, and we both taught my children over the years.  My dad is still teaching me, but from a much farther realm of the universe; however, his legacy continues - and it is now my job to keep teaching what I have been taught. 

Standards shouldn't change throughout the years, maybe how they are applied may fluctuate through the years.  A standard is a standard - if they changed they weren't a standard.  Over the years, the only things that have changed with respect to my standards is not the standard itself but the challenges facing us due to the fast paced changing world with respect to values and morals; making our job harder.  For me, what has changed is who is now teaching the standards --now I am the teacher, my sons are the interns, and my grandchildren are the students.  I can only hope that I do as good a job as a teacher as my dad did while he was here on this earth -- and my sons do as good as I did as the new interns -- so that my grandchildren and the people we meet may keep the legacy going that was built so hard by my father.

If you don't stand for something than - who really are you?  Then are you really you or have you become someone else? 

You have to believe in yourself and commit to your standards that will make you the best person you can be!

MLSD500_Activity1.6_Blog_Wathen_Sandra
This blog is a journal entry with respect to intellectual perserverance using the SEE-I approach process for methodology in the concept of the journal.  (S) Intellectual perserverance is to work through intellectual complexities despite frustrations that may be inherent in the task.   (E) As part of intellectual perserverance and to be effective, one must use a combination of many elements such as: critical thinking and working through difficulties or obstacles, commitment, insight, confidence, reasoning, judgment, etc.    (E) This in essence, should apply to us - each and every day; especially if we want to be an effective leader; both personally and professionally.  This includes many facets of use; including something as simple of making it a conditioned part of regular educational study habits.  If used on a regular basis; it would make such a positive difference in our life.  Maybe not always making the right decision, but at least know that the decisions made were based on sound critical thinking; while striving to continually incorporate intellectual perserverance in the thought process.  For me, intellectual perseverance is, and will continue to be an imporant factor in my study habits as I plan to use the elements above to work through the many challenges, obsticles and difficulties; while maintaining commitment and using critical thinking in my approach to solving the problems.  I am hopeful that by applying the theory of the coursework to my every day studies it will assist with building a foundation for me to succeed from more of an intellectual approach versus just responding to the academic requirements.   When taking courses like this, it puts perspective in to what good leadership is, the skills required for an effective leader, but mostly it reiterates what it takes to be a good leader which is intellectual perserverance.  I also plan to commit to the use of this approach at home and at work.  Not only can I be a leader at work, at school, but I also can be a leader at home - integrating intellectual perserverance regularly; with my thinking, with my decisions, with my perspective.  My concept of a good leader includes having intellectual perserverance combined with the ability to incorporate proven leadership processes.  In addition though, a good leader must also be conscious of other key elements in their decision making such as ethics (listen to conscience), pride, strive for excellence, honesty, etc. All of these make for a well rounded "good" leader.  To be an effective leader one needs to be able to acquire the skills of good leadership and must also be able to incorporate those skills in their thought processes and more importantly to use those skills as part of their daily life.  Also, learning from other good leaders is complimentary in the overall spectrum for development of an effective leader. There are several processes that leaders can use to approach either presentation or analysis of issues.  One of those processes known as the SEE-I which basically means State it briefly and Clearly, Elaborate on it (expand so the reader understands intent), Exemplify on it (clairify statement) and Illustrate it so that reader can picture your thoughts.  SEE-I is a good example of approaches used to instill a qualitative leader if used correctly and if they commit to using this process routinely.   (I) Without intellectual perserverance qualities in a leader - it would be like congress passing laws without critically thinking out the implications of the bill. It would be like an uncommitted doctor conducting surgery without doing research and thinking things through.  Intellectual perservance is not something that only fits in certain places; it fits everywhere and applies to everyone that wants to be successful in anything they do!   Don't give up, don't get frustrated, and be like Nike' - Just Do It!