Sense of Overwhleming Remains Insurmounted

As I have eluded to in previous posts as well as particular Twitters I began my Masters this week in residency at Evangel University, Springfield, MO. I am realizing the difference between the work load and knowledge level when I received my AA in Architectural Design & CAD as well as my BA in Pastoral Ministries to a Masters level education. That coupled with the experience of being a hybrid experience, (Hybrid means, I fly out twice a year for a week of classes, professor introductions, class introductions, etc.) then the rest is distance study at home makes this a very overwhelming jump start.

Though this still is insurmountable in my mind I am very excited for what it will bring. When I look at the assignments, like the ones listed below, I see so many opportunities for growth as an individual but also for the organization that I am a part of.

Some of Term 1 Assignments:

• About a dozen or more books to read this term
• Forum discussions
  
• Assessments
  
• Projects
  
• Case Studies
• Presentations
• Empirical Journal Article Reviews
  

So what do I want out of it, why am I doing this?

My goals are that the abilities I gain will be directly reflective in the different organizations and followers that God will allow me to lead.
That both the individuals around me as well as the organization would practice proper 'kaizen' in every way, simply meaning continual improvement.

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Social Networking and The Need to Know

The idea that your friends are my friends and my friends are your friends is sometimes a very interesting concept. How many people (person B) on Twitter or Facebook randomly show up on another friends network (person A) friend list and you KNOW they probably have zero connections? Maybe there are connections through the need to know. Here are my thoughts on some possible possibilities: 1. My friend 'A' came on my network and began seeing who is my influencers and found friend 'B'. Or friend 'B' came on my network and found friend 'A'. Or the 3rd reason, and I think more unlikely would be the randomness of me and friend 'A' stumbling on the same person. Now granted some leaders show up on ALL the networks because of their pull and popularity. Some however are in the shadows and for me a random blog led to an interesting article that linked to a poll that led to a Twitter that linked to a Youtube where a comment talked about a website that had a guest speaker who used an illustration that mentioned friend 'B'.

Now what is the point of this? To bash on people 'A' that they went through someones network and clicked and added all their friends? Clearly not. There are enough friends to go around! It is more the psyche of OUR need to KNOW! Social Networking has put complete strangers in each others own living rooms that may live hundreds or thousands of miles away. Social Networking has made our walls in our minds become a glass house so that random people can see in. Social Networking has made people of different economic classes sit down at the same table in a coffee shop for inspiration. Now of course none of these may have happened literally, but they happen ideologically, I can hear your heart, thoughts, opinions, hates, likes, tastes, etc as if we sat for a Vente (as if that really means anything other than a marketing tool) at a little table in a quaint coffee shop preferably not $tarbux (I don't like drinking muddy water & spend $6)!

When you look at tribal behavior in history, life lessons were taught by taking a young boy out and he had to kill a large threatening big game animal and live on his own in the land for 3 days then he entered manhood and learned what it 'took' to be a man. As time has gone on, writing and language was developed and then written down. Then electronics and video screens and computers. Now here we are where we have computers with social networks with complete profiles that give more information than our own friends know. Just last night I saw a young teen girl who sent out a message for all her friends to text her and gave out her cell phone publicly. I must interject myself and say this, be careful, be safe. Know your audience, there are people that don't deserve to live in society that are preying on people's Social Networks. Back to topic, because of this technology it has allowed the stories and life lessons to be shared with multitudes. Our need to know drives us to the place to know. Networking is the easiest 'place'. So if I want to get deep in a subject I will find friends who are there and see what are they sharing and who do they know who they get their information. This comes down to an internal argument whether we take it personal or take it as a compliment or even indifferent. I have chosen the indifference approach, it works well.

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MOL Take 1

This week begins the start of a two year intensive passage of a lifelong journey. A journey that I hope takes me to the depths of knowledge in an area that is close to my heart. Leadership. I know many enjoy this subject and seek out every book that talks about leadership, I do as well. I decided about two years ago to pursue a Masters degree in Leadership for many reasons. The main reason is to truly help identify at the core a subject that is in essence elusive, maybe like bigfoot. Leadership is in no means definitive, Stogdill (1974, p. 259) concluded that "there are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept" (Yukl 2010). Another main reason to seek this passage is to help others who struggle. I think there are enough people on the 'edge' of work/ministry/life as a leader and they have not a clue of their next step. One more negative moment and they are going to their boss/pastor/wife and throwing in the towel.

I am starting off with three classes this semester, 3 credit hours each as well as a couple 1 hour projects. The classes and books are listed below (the 2-year program is divided up into four themes):

Theme 1: Foundations of Leadership
MOL 501 Foundations of Leadership:

• Leadership in Organizations (Yukl, 2010)
• Leadership Brand: Developing Customer-Focused Leaders to Driver Performance & Building Lasting Value (Ulrich & Smallwood, 2007)
• Leading At A Higher Level (Blanchard 2007)

MOL 527 Communications for Effective Leadership

• Management Communication: A Case Analysis Approach (O'Rourke 2007)

MOL 550 The Effective Organization

• Quality & Performance Excellence: Management, Organization, and Strategy (Evans 2008)
• 2009-2010 Baldridge National Quality Program Criteria for Performance Excellence (U.S. National Institute for Standards and Technology 2008)
• Good to Great (Collins 2001)
• How the Mighty Fall (Collins 2009)
  

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