What Makes a Good Leader free essay sample

The man who occupies the first place seldom plays the principal part. † This is quite possibly one of the best quotes I have read when talking about what makes a good leader. What Goethe is saying is simply that a leader, or rather a good leader listens to his followers and makes decisions based upon their input and once the decisions have been made, the followers are often the most integral part of executing the decision. To lead the people one must be a part of the people, one must understand the people and what they need to achieve their goals. Leadership, as defined in chapter fourteen of â€Å"MGMT What’s Inside†, is the process of influencing others to achieve group or organizational goals. In order for one to influence others, one must be able to connect with others and understand what drives them and how to motivate that drive. The chapter goes on to explain many different theories behind leadership and gives studies to support the best models of leadership depending upon the situation and theory discussed. We will write a custom essay sample on What Makes a Good Leader or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page To begin, the book discusses Trait theory which simply states that there are a certain set of traits and characteristics possessed by the most effective leaders. Although not an indisputable fact, through studies and observations, many of these traits can be found in today’s top executives. Some of these traits are drive, the desire to lead, honesty, integrity, self-confidence and emotional stability. These traits are not in themselves enough to be a good leader however, one must also posses the ability to initiate structure and show consideration when dealing with subordinates. Another element to consider when evaluating leaders is the situation in which they are attempting to lead. Fiedler’s contingency theory is one theory that examines these situations and states that in order to maximize performance; leaders must be matched to the situation that best fits their leadership style. While Fiedler’s theory is useful in identifying leadership types and matching them to their appropriate situations, another theory called the Path-Goal theory assumes that leaders can change and adapt their styles to whatever situation they are faced with. Within each theory also rests the types of behaviors the leaders must present in order to achieve the best outcomes with their subordinates. In the final sections of the chapter, the book discusses the different types of leadership such as Strategic, Visionary, Charismatic, Transformational and Transactional leadership. Each form of leadership has its positives and negatives but my personal choice would have to be the Transformational leadership which is leadership that generates awareness and acceptance of a group’s purpose and mission and gets employees to see beyond their own needs and self-interests for the good of the group. Transformational leadership could in my opinion be demonstrated by examples such as King Arthur of Camelot or even Jesus of Nazareth, both men who possessed great charisma, listened and included their followers and created a drive and passion in their followers to go above and beyond any limitations they may have perceived themselves as having.

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee Essays - Nez Perce War,

Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee This book brings to light, and places front and center, possibly the most significant event in American history. That is, the genocide and displacement of the native inhabitants of what was, or would become, the United States of America, thus enabling the formation of the worlds most powerful republic. It is difficult to imagine how most readers, particularly those who are American citizens, would not have their personal perspective or opinion altered, in some small measure at least, by the historical events described within, especially that of the Nez Perc?s fight for their home. Of the chapters, the most moving and the most effectively presented chapter was The Flight of the Nez Perc?s. Brown focuses on the thirty-year period between 1860 and 1890 in which the American West was opened to all comers. Holding themselves with dignity were the Nez Perc?s in their fight for survival and their reluctance to let go of their beloved homeland. Brown relies on oral accounts, many of which were written down during treaty council meetings and other official meetings with representatives of the United States government to tell his stories, and this leaves no doubt as to which party was in the wrong in The Flight of The Nez Perc?s. His style lays the facts down in front of a reader, allowing no room for opinions to affect the content. Style is considered by most the imprint of a writers personality, yet Brown does not let his thoughts affect his writing, which is perhaps the most disturbing of all, just the truth. The Nez Perc?s country was wrenched from their grasp in the blink of an eye, for the reason of land for white settlers. Despite being helpful and kind, the Nez Perc?s w ere still driven from their land. The Nez Perc?s ?welcomed the white Americans, supplied them with food, and look after the explorers' (Lewis and Clark's) horses for several months,? (316) when the Nez Perc?s could easily have ?seized their wealth of horses,? (316) and driven them from their land. The white Americans and the Nez Perc?s lived in happiness, and the Nez Perc?s boasted that ?no Nez Perc?s had ever killed a white man.? (317). This ?friendship? (317) continued for 70 years, but ?white men's greed for land and gold,? (317) ended this. In 1863, a treaty was shown to the Nez Perc?s, it ?took away the Wallowa Valley and three-fourths of the remainder of their land, leaving them only a small reservation.? (317). The Wallowa Valley Nez Perc?s, did not sign the treaty, and protested this, winning their land back from an ?executive order withdrawing Wallowa Valley from settlement by white men,? issued by the president, Ulysses Grant. Soon though, gold was found in mountains around and white settlers flocked to the valley and ?stole the Indians' horses, and stockmen stole their cattle, branding them so the Indians' could not claim them back,? (318). In the words of Yellow Wolf of the Nez Perc?s, ?the whites told only one side. Told it to please themselves. Told much that is not true.? (316) and the white politicians went back to Washington, where they ?charged the Indians with being a threat to the peace and with stealing the settlers' livestock.? (318). They did exactly what Yellow Wolf said, they told ?lies about the Nez Perc?s,? (318) to ?please themselves.? (316). Broken promises ran throughout the Nez Perc?s struggle, and two years after promising the Wallowa Valley to the Nez Perc?s forever, President Grant ?reopened the valley to white settlement,? (320) and the Nez Perc?s were ?given a reasonable time to move to the Lapwai reservation,? (320). Blatant betrayal led the Nez Perces to acts of desperation and the band fled towards Canada and freedom with two large forces following them close behind. Bibliography Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, by Dee Brown Book Reports

Business Plan Essay example

Business Plan Essay example Business Plan Essay example I have recently been considering writing my business plan. I am nowhere near the point where I actually want to open my business but I think a business plan will give me the opportunity to take a close look at my ideas and the finances involved. What this article made me realize is that the business plan is not just for the bank, it is also for the person who wrote the business plan. Writing a business plan gives you the big picture and helps you decided if your idea for a business is a good idea or if it needs to be changed. William Sahlman discusses the four attributes that a business plan should address. I will consider my current employer and how they address these attributes. I am not sure if disclosing my employer in this discussion topic is in my best interest, but I will say it is a government entity and has been around for many years. I enjoy my job and the people I work with. I can’t speak for all the employees because there are about 3,000 of us, but I can say that the individuals I come in contact with on a daily basis are enjoyable and efficient. Everyone I work with is there to fulfill a common goal. We each understand our duties and most everyone is equipped with the necessary resources to do what they are there to do. The best part about the people I work with and for is everyone is resourceful. If there is something you don’t know it is almost a guarantee that someone in your department will know. The only issue with the people is everyone is put into groups. I think CEO’s should work a little harder to make everyone one big team. The industry I work in is massive and has been around for many years. When the industry first started many years ago it was quite small and grew as customers appreciate how useful it was. It has now grown to be something that us humans couldn’t imagine being without. The service my industry provides is extremely useful and the possibility of it every being eliminated is nearly impossible. The opportunity for personal growth with my company is endless as well. It is not uncommon for someone to work there for 30 years. I am actually responsible for creating the years of service certificates. There is plenty of room for growth and most everyone takes full advantage of the fact that management encourages you to apply for that better internal job, or ask for an increase. I can honestly say my employer wants everyone to find the perfect spot for them within the company. I try to encourage people to be the best asset to the organization they know how to be. Also if I see a posi tion on the internal site that seems to fit one of my coworkers I pass it along to them so if interested they can apply. It is clear based on the length of time the company I work for has been around and the capacity of what they have been able to do that the context is pure and well understood. The

Porter's 5 forces Analysis applied on the business project Assignment

Porter's 5 forces Analysis applied on the business project - Assignment Example In case the current suppliers change prices or block supply, we can always switch to other suppliers without really experiencing switching costs as such. The bargaining power of customers however is quiet significant here. As we know a of paints will be produced, and some might be of high quality and some just normal, so its clear that not all will sale. Those that will sale, their prices would be determined by their demand or how much people are willing to pay. Therefore in this given case, the customers power seems to play a significant role as it is completely up to them to decide what they want to buy and what not to. There are no substitute products to paintings in the UAE market as such besides frames designed with the help of graphics manipulation. However, they cant really even be referred as a substitutes to Creative Minds paintings as the customers view these two medium of art differently and generally hand made painting are valued much more then ones drawn with the help of graphical softwares. Creative Minds dont really face a threat of new entrants since in the UAE market, the concept of helping physically disabled by getting them to make paintings is somewhat new. Even if new entrants come in, the position of Creative Minds wont change as philanthropists, once they start to support a project like lets say Creative Minds, they dont really back out. And there are always new people coming in to help charities. Finally, there is no real competitive rivalry in this industry. Paintings are items whos price is determined by the buys and not by the free market mechanism. Competition would arise when suppliers set prices with regards to each other or play with non price items. However, thats so not the case with the industry Creative Minds works

Measurement and Instrumentation(Hall Effect) Assignment

Measurement and Instrumentation(Hall Effect) - Assignment Example The separation of charge establishes an electric field that opposes further migration of charge and a steady electrical potential will be eventually established as long as the charge is flowing. The sensor experiment has a hall sensor rig that has been attached on the flat surface of the board. The board is calibrated with measurements showing how far the slider is from the sensor rig. The slider has a magnet attached to it. From the experiment, the DC voltage increases as the slider moves further away from the sensor rig and reduces when the slider is closest to the sensor rig. The slider has a magnet attached to it, while the sensor rig has current moving within it in one direction. When the slider is near the sensor rig, a strong magnetic field that is not parallel to the direction of the moving charges in the rig is formed. The magnetic field is perpendicular to the direction of the moving charges in the rig. This strong magnetic field causes the charges to accumulate on one side of the sensor rig. This leaves equal and opposite charges exposed on the opposite side which has few mobile charges. This results in asymmetric distribution of charge density across the hall element that is perpendicular to the line of sight path and the magnetic field. This separation of charges establishes an electric field that opposes further migration of charge (Ramsden, 2006). The strength of the magnetic field determines the concentration of charges on one side of the rig. When the slider which has a magnet is near the sensor rig, there are more magnetic fields felt on the sensor rig than when the slider which has a magnet is further away. Therefore, there is only a small charge that passes through when the magnet is closest to the rig hence the small voltage reading by the digital multimetre and a lot of charge is able to pass through when slider with magnet is further away from the sensor rig hence the high voltage reading by the

Social Perspectives on the Concepts of Sex and Gender

Social Perspectives on the Concepts of Sex and Gender Critically evaluate the contribution of the social perspective to our understanding of language and meaning and the psychology of sex and gender. It can be said different psychological perspectives lead to different theories providing diverse insights into the same issue i.e. language and meaning. They focus their enquiry in different ways and consequently have dissimilar objects of knowledge. Each perspective asks different questions, use different methods and data and produce therefore different theories. These perspectives can be complementary, conflicting or coexisting, whereby each perspective and theory provides a variety of ways of applying their findings to everyday psychological problems. By focusing on the social psychological perspective, this essay will initially evaluate how this perspective contributes to a greater understanding in the formation, acquisition and use of language and how this understanding co-exists with, and may be complimented by or is in contrast to, other perspectives and how this fits in with the understanding of sex and gender. Social psychological perspectives emphasise the importance of inv estigating cognition by studying how meaning is created through participation and cultural practices and through language. The evolvement, acquisition and application of language used by humans, to express meaning and pursue goals, have been a topic of study amongst the various perspectives in psychology most notably evolutionary, cognitive and social perspectives. In researching language and the development of subsequent theories, language itself is used as a medium to investigate language. This methodological reflexivity is the source of conflict between social and cognitive perspectives on language when trying to determine to what extent, if any, the necessity of responding in language predetermines what is said. Social psychologists, more specifically discourse psychologists (i.e. Parker, 1992, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 105), claims that in using language individuals do so in a social and historic context, with an audience and for a purpose. Individuals therefore will m ake assumptions about the knowledge, understanding and requirements of their interlocutors in an experimental setting which is a primary method used by cognitive psychologists to study the separate cognitive and underlying thought processes language represents in communication with others or dialog with the self. The social constructionist perspective, on the other hand, uses evidence from actual language used in day-to-day communication and therefore appears to have more ecological validity. With the use of discourse analysis, they manage to describe how individuals organise their talk and use particular strategies such as the creation of subject positions or constructions of the world, to achieve particular ends. Wieder (1974 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, pp. 104-105) illustrated the use of language to determine behaviour amongst newly released prisoners living in a hostel by employing a method called ethnomethodology (the study of how people do things) devised by Garfinkel (1967 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p.103). Wieder (ibid) found that the language used amongst the individuals (called The Code) does not explain their behavior but rather was used by them to actively construct their social world and take appropriate action within it (i.e. not being a snitch). Social constructionists therefore base their understanding of language on the concept that language can be seen as a vehicle for the socially produced and sustained meaning that operates between individuals, in groups and societies (Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 113). Although providing a feasible explanation for the use of language, it does not explain how language evolved or how it is being processed individually. Evolutionary psychologists (i.e. Lorenz, 1952 as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 78) offer an explanation about the evolution of language in claiming that language is an adaptive characteristic that has been acquired (through natural and sexual selection) at species level and is characterised by the ability of humans to create meanings in quite different ways of communication than that of other species. The complex interactive activation with competition (IAC) model devised by McClelland and Rummelhart (1981, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, pp. 91-94) and subsequent studies (i.e. Moss and Gaskell, 199 8, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 93) is used by cognitive psychologists in formulating their understanding that language is part of an information processing system that resides in the brain of an individual who creates meaning when hearing others speak or when speaking themselves. The three perspectives therefore provide complimentary understandings of language based on their individual analysis being evolution, individual processing or social construction. Parker (1992, as cited in: Cooper Kay, 2007, p. 105) describe discourse as a set of symbolic meanings created through the use of language to construct an event or object in a particular way. This is evident in the claim by social psychologists that individuals construct the world as consisting of two basic types of people men and women. This is partially achieved through social identity processes as theorised in the Social Identity Theory (SIT) of Tajfel (1919-82, as cited in Phoenix Thomas, 2007, p. 62) whereby individuals devise descriptions which derive from the social group they see themselves belonging to (i.e. male or female). Individuals, according to SIT, then tend to maximise perceived similarities to others in the same group (in-group) whilst minimising it with those outside the group (out-group) e.g. the notion of opposite sex (Hollway, Cooper, Johnston and Stevens, 2007, p. 151). Gender is consequently one of the most important and powerful social categories by which i ndividuals define themselves. Bem (1981 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 153) proposed in the Gender Schema Theory (GST) that femininity and masculinity are socially and culturally constructed dimensions absorbed by individuals to produce an understanding of gender to make sense of themselves and their behavior. Social constructionists however, argue that gender is not a set of characteristics or properties acquired by an individual but rather that gender identity is constantly established and re-established by experiences, behaviors and actions on both individual and group levels and is therefore ongoing throughout the lifespan of an individual. The study of sex and gender is thus concerned with the intricate interplay of nature and nurture in shaping similarities and differences between men and women. In studying sex and gender as a psychological phenomenon evolutionary (e.g. Clark and Hatfield, 1989, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146) and biological (e.g. Fitch and Den enberg, 1998 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 138) perspectives emphasis’ the contribution of nature to the experiences of individuals by examining the biological and genetic structures relating to sex. Social constructionists acknowledge these influences but looks at the importance of context and culture in constructing an understanding about gender whilst the psychoanalytic perspective incorporates biological differences as well as the social and cultural meanings. The difference between these approaches is often exemplified through political tension between them in relation to their implications about the fixity of the social roles of men and woman and their personal relationships and behavior. Biological and social explanations (nature and nurture) expose a fundamental conflict whereby social perspectives echo the underlying principal of psychoanalysts questioning individual agency in claiming that biological explanations, and most recently evolutionary explanations ( e.g. Hilary and Rose, 2000, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 172), are extremely deterministic (Hollway et al, 2007, p. 171). Social constructionists explained that historical research underlines the fact that values inevitably underpin all knowledge; however, allowance should be made for new ideas incorporating change and cultural settings such as the role of women in society. The methods employed by the various psychological perspectives in studying a specific psychological issue are often complimentary as opposed to contrasting. In explaining gender social constructionists take historical and cultural situations of human beings into account focusing almost exclusively on the meaning-making activities of humans. In studying the difference in the style of sexual behavior between men and woman at an American college, Clark and Hatfield (1989 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146) found that women, although accepting dating invitations were less inclined to accept invitations for private meetings (i.e. at the apartment of a stranger) with almost all women refusing invitations for sexual intercourse. The results were the same when women were first assured of the trustworthiness and integrity of the stranger thus accounting for fear of potential danger as a confounding variable (Clark, 1990, as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p. 146). Clark and Hatfield (ibid) claimed from an evolutionary perspective that the results are consistent with the arguments of evolutionary psychologists about evolved optimal reproductive style (ibid) through natural and sexual selection processes. The findings of Clark and Hatfield (ibid) underline, from a social constructionist point of view, the notion that the sexual behavior of men and women is filtered through their own individual cultural lenses. Psychoanalytical psychologists (e.g. Benjamin, 1990, 1995, 1998 as cited in: Hollway et al, 2007, p.164) argue that these external influences (e.g. identities are constructed throug h discourse and discursive practices) are over emphasised by social constructionists and therefore does not explain the agency and capacity for resistance and change by individuals. Each of these perspectives provides a valuable point of view but none is able to give a complete explanation of the findings of the study with each perspective concentrating on its own theoretical ground when analysing the findings of a study. In conclusion, it is clear that different perspectives in psychology lead to different explanations of one or more psychological issues. These perspectives can co-exist in some ways such as the fact that social constructionists and psychoanalysts both base their interpretations on meaning. Social constructionists provide a comprehensive account in formulating an understanding of language and gendered differences with a strong focus on the extraction of meaning of behavior. Although this perspective goes a long way in understanding these, and other, psychological aspects, they do not answer all aspects such as the evolution and individual understanding of language. Findings of other perspectives such as biological, evolutionary and cognitive psychology assist in providing an explanation of those items social constructionists cannot account for. Word count: 1662 References Cooper, T., Kaye, H. (2007). Language and Meaning. In T. Cooper, I. Roth (Eds.), DSE212 Challenging Psychological Issues (pp. 71-123). Milton Keynes: The Open University. Hollway, W., Cooper, T., Johnston, A., Stevens, R. (2007). The psychology of sex and gender. In T. Cooper, I. Roth (Eds.), DSE212 Challenging Psychological Issues (pp. 125-188). Milton Keynes: The Open University. Phoenix, A. (2007). Identities and diversities. In D. Miell, A. Phoenix, K. Thomas (Eds.), DSE212 Mapping Psychology (pp. 43-104). Milton Keynes: The Open University.

Huckleberry Finn: A Free Spirit Essay -- essays research papers

Huckleberry Finn: A Free Spirit Huckleberry Finn is not an escapist, but a free spirit who only wants to live deeply disentangled from the bonds of society. An escapist is someone who flees from his/her responsibilities, while a free spirit is a person who knows no boundaries, and cannot be tamed by society. It may appear at first that Huck is an escapist, for he enjoys not having to go to school when living with his father. He escapes from the cabin and his father’s abuse; however, he escapes from his father’s cabin out of the necessity of survival, not because he didn’t want to accept responsibilities. Even though Huck did enjoy fishing and relaxing in the sun during his stay with Pap, it wasn’t the responsibility that he was escaping, but the rules that society had imposed on him. Huck didn’t mind learning new things and being knowledgeable, but he did not like to get dressed up, to have to go to school, to be well behaved and polite, and to learn good manners. â€Å"I was kind of lazy and jolly, laying off comfortable all day, smoking and fishing†¦and my clothes got to be all rags and dirt, and I didn’t see how I’d ever got to like it so well at the widows where you had to wash and eat regular†¦It was pretty good times up in the woods there, take it all around.† (p. 31) Living in the woods is harder work, having to catch food and build fires to stay warm, but Huck doesn’t mind work as long as he can do it how he wants to. Huck is always going against society and cannot liv...