Abilene Paradox--#8

Although we didn't discuss this in class, it was covered on the quiz and I thought I might expand upon it here.

The Abilene Paradox refers to a situation in which voting members do not express their opinions and as such end up with an outcome that is contrary to all the voting members' desires. This occurs as a result of poor communication.

In Camp Wildcat, I nearly experienced this situation, as I mentioned on the quiz, but I think this happens a lot. People tell themselves their votes don't count and so they don't vote, and yet such a large number of people think their votes won't count that they make up a significant percentage of the voting population.

I would be interested to see how often this happens, although it would be impossible to measure (how would you know if your group decided something that was contrary to all of your wishes if you don't talk about it in the first place?). It would also be interesting to see in what other ways we defeat ourselves through issues of communication and confidence.

Toxic Leadership--#7

 Although I believe using the word "toxic" in reference to a leader's style is almost over-the-top, it's interesting to know now that many of the leaders I grew up with (hating) were making common mistakes identified by this type of leadership?

I have yet to experience the truly evil leader, but I have definitely experienced some incompetent leaders in my day. In high school, I was in a school production and I remember our director being an absolute idiot. Needless to say, the production was not a success.

In addition to experiencing my fair share of incompetent leaders, I was also exposed to the intemperate ones at a young age. Again, a director of mine would throw absolute temper tantrums when things weren't working out. His favorite was to throw a script at your face.

Although I have experienced some extremely toxic leaders, I have also had the opportunity to work with some amazing leaders who have taught me how to lead.

Mission and Vision--#6

A mission statement ought to be a bit like a thesis--it provides a guide. It's like a goal and values road map. A vision statement, however, seems to me to be a much more active thing as it discusses what kind of world you wish to live in and what you want to do to make that happen. It's a weightier statement to make because it suggests a certain amount of responsibility.

I think that these are important statements to have, regardless of the weight they carry. It suggests a responsible person who can identify problems and important goals, and therefore, can be important indicators of a person's character.

Below, I have posted my mission and vision statements:

I value happiness, the freedom of expression, and a childlike imagination. I want to cultivate altruistic and benevolent traits, break bad habits, and perpetually be seeking self-betterment. I make it my mission to learn from every day, to always be seeking out the lessons of life. I strive to make a difference, work hard, and be a person of whom I can be proud. I aim to be single-minded in pursuit of my passions so that I can one day be the best writer I can be.

I envision a world where—

• People desire to understand each other instead of spreading messages of hate, greed, and selfishness.
• There are more first-world problems.
• Cultural, religious, political, sexual and racial elitism is nonexistent.
• Every culture values their children, education, and empowerment.
• Curiosity and imaginations thrive and are encouraged.

What I can do to contribute to this vision is—

• Lead by example and learn from the examples of others.
• Create an atmosphere of acceptance and encourage conversation about diversity and respect.
• To make new connections, to make friends out of enemies, and to reach out to others, regardless if their need is apparent.
• Love and give to others as if they were my family and friends.
• Think for myself instead of allowing the media, peers, and prominent public figures to define what I believe and the way I view the world.
• Discourage gossip and maintain a personal standard of integrity, honesty, and confidentiality.
• Write and tell stories that fulfill my personal mission and vision statements.