Week8 Great lectures by Mr. Kitashiro and Professor Hibiya

Last week and week before, we had very honorable lectures by Mr. Kitashiro and ICU President, Hibiya sensei. Thank you very much Ken, for organizing such a great occasions to meet them.

Needless to say, messages they gave to us were indispensable and fundamental to achieve successfully in leadership as well as in life. Although, I will focus on the way they delivered important messages effectively rather than contents in this post since our class is going to give presentations next week!

When I saw the instruction of presentation Ken gave us last friday, I instantly realized that Mr. Kitashiro and Hibiya sensei both fulfilled essential points for impressive presentations.

First acknowledged points are SOFTEN (smile, open stance, forward lean, tone, eye contact, nod). Even though they accomplished high level of standards in their career which gives considerable dignity, they create comfortable atmospheres to people at the same time. This ability were displayed throughout their presentations by showing SOFTEN. I especially thought they both had appropriate tones and pauses in talking which Eiji senpai also emphasized on last friday. SOFTEN give audience opportunity to involve in presentation, thus lead more understandings for the audiences.

Another important point, perhaps most admirable point in presentation is being passionate about what you inform to people. Mr. Kitashiro and Hibiya sensei seemingly were enthusiastic about what they do and what they try to tell us in the lectures. Their positivity encouraged people included myself to learn from them not only as respectable leaders but also as a attractive person who always put best effort and passion toward what they do.

I will keep in mind these points when I present my topic to the class on Monday! Be enthusiastic ;D

Thank you again Ken for giving great experiences!

Reference: RW Presentation Tips by Mr. Ken Enochs

Week7 Chapter9 Risk

Strategy9 Be willing to take the Big Risk

Shackleton's journey from Elephant Island and author's experience in Vietnam are great example of decision making in life-death situation. What was interesting for me was that even though Shackleton was brave and not hesitate to take risks, “he was never foolhardy”(125) at the same time. Through the reading, I recognized that it is always important to understand the risks and carefully evaluate them, then approach them with a thoughtful manner. We have to analyze weather risks are worth taking or not. I think this evaluation process can apply well not only to life-death situation, but also to decision making with risks in work place, school, and our lives. For example, as I mentioned in the class. I took risk to quit Japanese high school to study abroad when I was 16. Even though there was no back-up plan or guarantee to succeed in studying in English and being far from home, I could see potential advantage I could gain through the experience. So I grabed the opportunity! I think this shows my “willingness to take risks in order to promote change”.(136) 

Furthermore, this chapter recalled me reading interesting story about the man named Aron Ralston who cut off his own hand to survive from being stuck in a crevasse in Utah Canyon. The story is unbelievably shocking and his story became a film in 2011. Even though taking risk in this case was for his own survival and not involved leadership skill, I still think his decision of taking huge risk is unbelievably impressive. In the article I read about Aron Ralston by John Henzell, Henzell said that Ralston has always been upbeat about cutting off his hand, variously describing it a “gift” or a “blessing”. His positive attitude towards outcomes of risk taking shows importance of optimism and positive thinking as well.

Week7 Chapter8 Lighten Up!

Strategy8 Find something to celebrate and something to laugh about

Laughter and Humor are seemingly hardest things to emphasize when situation is tough. However, successful presentation of cerebration makes huge energy and power among people as author described lighten up as “It can enable people to step back and get psychological distance on their problems”.(113) Therefore, people can “refocus, reenergize, and surmount”(113) as a team to face/solve difficulties.

The story that Shackleton made sure to keep Hussey’s banjo for “vital mental medicine” (118) and MARTHA awards which is heartfelt encouragement for people are impressive. Shackleton’s ability to make the mood of the group as lighthearted as possible promoted crew’s motivation surely.

I personally think “lighten up” is necessary not only when team face tough situation, but also when people individually have hard time in their lives. During a time of the entrance exam for university and the examination for graduating from high school, I was really stressed and facing enormous pressures to achieve these exams. Despite necessity of consistent efforts every one of day, I also recognize an importance of being happy to keep me healthy physically and psychologically. So I made some “lighten up” time to feel refreshed. I usually went for walk with my host family with horses and saw animals around the house. I sometimes did cooking and baking and shared with host family and friends. Interactions with other people always make laughter, and I think when people around me smiles, it also makes me smile. These “lighten up” time helped me to survive stressful time, and sometimes gave me a solution for brake down.

After reading this chapter, I was determined to "Be the first to laugh" when I face difficult situation in the future. In this way, I think I can contribute to a team to keep good condition physically and psychologically.

Week6 Chapter7 Conflict

Strategy7 Master conflict-deal with anger in small doses, engage dissidents, and avoid needless power struggle.

                                                                             

In Wednesday’s class, our group talked about what attitude/reaction we have toward conflict in a group. Many of group member includes myself said that we tend to use conflict negative group way in thinking and attitude. Personally, I tend to being afraid of facing conflict which might affect personal relationship with others. However, one of group members, Maya shared good experience of facing conflict in club activity. She said she uses positive group way of dealing conflict with others, and trys to conduct great outcomes out of conflict. As well as Shackleton’s chapter of conflict, her story made me realize how great outcomes conflict can provide us.

         

We all have a time with negative feelings in lives, so it is impossible to eliminate negative feelings out of our lives. However, what is important is that “…hurt feelings needed immediate attention to prevent anger or settlement from building” (108) Shackleton said. As a great leader, Shackleton was careful to see crew’s attitude and psychological condition for their sake as well as whole tam’s. There are several reasons why negative feelings need to be dealt with directly and small scale situation. I was impressed to find out one of the reasons is that “…conflict not expressed means that problems are not being confronted”.(104) It shows that avoiding conflicts might leads failure of realizing issues among topic we are facing. It was also interesting to see Moose metaphor in the chapter. I don’t have any experience usoing such a characteristic way to solve/apply taboo topic. Although, using visible metaphor can be effective to create open environment  and common sense/understanding, so that people may start to feel comfortable talking about it.　I wonder if there is any Japanese leader/organization using visible vivid metaphor to create an environment which encourages people to face conflict and to make most of it from conflict.

Week6 Chapter6 Core Team values

Strategy6 Minimize status differences and insist on courtesy and mutual respect.

The both stories that Shackleton gave his breakfast biscuit to crew, Frank Wild in very first page of the chapter and a number of crews shared hot milk with Greenstreet who accidently dropped his precious drink. I can clearly see Shackleton’s great ability to unify the team by showing generosity and sympathy, and this influenced strongly throughout crewmembers. It was really interesting to see Scott’s leadership skills as almost an opposite to Shackleton’s skills. I think Scott’s behavior build strong authority as a leader to create a hierarchy which made an environment of command rather than intercommunication.(His behavior seems alike to a use of dictatorship…) Despite his exhibition is considered as heroic story, it is obvious that Scott’s leadership skills resulted more frequent anger, resentment, and depression among crews as author said. It is essential to keep authority in some ways as a good leader, but it is also important to create sense of team unity regardless of status/position. Shackleton’s egalitarian can be seen throughout exhibition such as distributing resources (food, sleeping material), and giving a basic sense of respect for others regardless of social roles. Despite Shckleton’s succeed for keeping his authority while maintaining sense of equality was essential for great leader, keeping a balance of these two ability is one of the hardest thing to do in being a leader, My mother told me that when she acts as a group leader in her work place, she always finds it hard to keep authority and sense of equality in good balance for the group. Some people start taking advantage of it if she shows “too much” equality regardless of positions by devoting herself in working as much as others. In other hands, some people start feeling uncomfortable raising their voices if she shows too much authority/hierarchy among group. I think it is cornerstone for leader to evaluate the balance to achieve as a well mobilized team.