Being a Character Builder - McEwan-Chapter 1 - Habit # 2 of 7 Habits in Dealing Positively with Difficult Teachers

McEwan stresses the significance of being a role model "whose values words and deeds are marked by trustworthiness, integrity, authenticity, respect, generosity, and humility." (p. 5-6)  Though it doesn't appear to be something she is practicing as you listen to the overall voice of the book, she reminds me of the need to sit back a bit and take stock in whether I am serving as a good role model. 

At work we are struggling with significant budget issues.  Tempers are short and people are engaged in desparate measures to try to prevail on given practices.  I found myself resentful and angry at some of the intellectual dishonesty (intentional misrepresentation of the fact) and gorilla tactics being used by the union (sit-ins, arm bands, etc.) to try to prevent certain cuts.  McEwan reminded me to come at the issue with more humility and respect--to be more generous in spirit as I grapple with these issues and navigate the college environment. 

Toward that end, I am reconsidering my responses, my reactions.  I am trying to understand more.  It certainly clears the air and gives me more room to be effective in navigating these hard times. If I model anger and resentment, that is what I am likely to get back.  Go figure.... :)

Assertiveness

McEwan begins the discussion of the habits of effective Principals with the concept of assertiveness.  Her distinction between assertiveness as a positive forthright approach to leadership and agressiveness that serves to humiliate, bully and demoralize others is very helpful.  As I developed professionally and navigated many environments full of posturing and positioning, and full of processes and conditions that didn't quite pass the common sense test, I felt the need to speak the truth - say things out loud, call it like it is and call it a duck if it waddled and quacked.  The important thing is that I had to figure out the difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness.  This required self reflection -- to be able to think about my own values, my own presence, my own professional and emotional maturity.  As I became more clear about those things, I was able to rely more on my inclination or disposition to do the right thing and treat people with respect while effectively addressing issues that need to be addressed. 

Welcome to EDUC 407 Human Resources

Well it is Spring again and we are all set to start a new session of EDUC 407 Human Resources. I hope I have prepared a class that will be enjoyable, instructive and provocative all at the same time. We will work hard and get the most out of it as community of scholars and learners. We will openly reflect and challenge each others and ourselves. Let's go above and beyond that which is minimally required of us to become the leaders we wish for.

In as much as human resources managment is about human relations, I am hoping to have this class reveal the inner talents in each of the participants. Experiencing the intersection of theory and praxis opens a world of opportunity up for us as scholars, educators and leaders. We will see, this course should make a difference. I wonder what the class is expecting when they see the title Human Resources. We shall see. :)

Regina Stanback Stroud

Leading - Learning - Teaching - Growing

That about sums up my perspective in Education 407. Initially, I grappled with by inability to reconcile the name of the course with the content of the course, particularly as a student of Human Relations. I had to step back and take a very broad view of Human Resources Management and see it with a Human Relations orientation. Now, with a human relations orientation, the discussion would not be personnel rules, EEOC laws and labor laws; instead it would be a focus on the behavior of people in groups and the implications for leadership in recognizing these human cooperative systems.

So as I teach (lead), I learn and grow as a student of human relations, as a scholar and as an educational leader. What supports that growth? The EDUC 407 Class and overall teaching experience. The students are brilliantly creative, enthusiastic and just plain sharp young professionals. The public has no clue the type of talent, the richness of experience and perspective present in the budding leaders of education today.

The participants of EDUC 407 also lead and teach and learn and grow. They do so all day, everyday, and they do so on Mondays at the Wetmore Lodge. I am just glad to be a part of that experience.

Change has come to America

President Obama -- those were the first words that came to my mind as I woke up in a new America. It wasn't just a dream. It was real. I wanted to blog yesterday but was just plain incapacitated by the momentous nature of yesterday -- what it meant to the nation -- what it meant to me as an African American woman who was raised in segregation in these United States of America. I wondered, what are the implications of President Obama's leadership on the rest of us who have leadership responsibilities all over the nation?

A young college student said, " I am ready to do whatever my President asks of me?" Wow! What an influencial, inspirational, and motivational force President Obama has manage to become during the course of his campaign.

From a Human Resource Management perspective, how did he manage to create a climate in the entire nation that would bring out the best efforts, attitudes and intentions from many who had resigned from civic participation with a kind of hopelessness that had been, heretofor, considered irrepairable?

He did it for the nation and made it look easy. I wonder how can I do the same thing for the organization I lead?

Almost there

It has been quite a nice review of my graduate work to delve into the subject of human resources management. Whether one considers the technical aspect of management or the human relations aspect of it, I believe it is ultimately a perspective on leadership.

Thinking about EDUC 407

Despite the fact that I have been in leadership positions for decades and despite the fact that I have had leadership responsibilities for most of my life. My experience has been one of constant pressure, not enough time and overwhelming responsibility for enormously important causes. Though professionally challenging, it is not a sustainable lifestyle. Just by having to reflect -- stop -- slow down -- dial it back, the way that I think and "be" as a leader drastically changed -- of course, for the better. This picture of my silhouette in front of a crashing waves that mellow out and recede before reaching me represents my experience as a leader. The forces are still strong. The work is massive. Yet, with the right leadership stance, all of the force and mass can create waves of tranquility.