Leadership #6

Is Leadership Essential?

I hope I made my point in the previous 5 papers that Leadership, without question, is an essential condition of life and that even a small group of people will not long survive without someone leading them. So, Leaders are found everywhere and in every kind of group, big and small. My own research has shown me that really “good” leaders are a rare breed. But most leaders have it in them, if they choose, to become “good” leaders. It comes down to becoming and being VULNERABLE with those they live and work with. Clearly, NOT EASY.

Certain indicators helped me to know whether “change” can happen with the leaders I worked with. Remember, this is my discovery and not something I read in one of my psychology or philosophy books. Quickly revisiting, when I worked with a leader’s staff, I began to sense that they were not the “real” problem but that the root cause was the leader. In subtle or obvious ways, the leader is the “problem to the answer.” What an “ah-ha” moment—since I had been a leader for 27 plus years and never thought of myself as a problem to my employees. Was I???

Leaders send all types of messages. Not being present, not listening, and therefore not understanding, as well as other indicators like a sneer or roaming eyes that tell staff they are wasting time trying to communicate with their leader. How does it feel being related to in this manner? Also, is there a payback? Bet on it!

I immediately went back to reading anything and everything about leadership, which led me to Power, Control, and why Nations, Businesses, and just two in relationship collapse. I had to find a way of working with a leader that had the courage to grow and to grow others. And I did. I genuinely do care for those I worked with for what they gave back to me. My own growth.

Sy

Author: Sy Ogulnick

Sy Ogulnick received a BA from UCLA, Teacher’s Credential from Los Angeles Board of Education and completed phase I (Master’s portion) in a Doctor of Behavioral Science program at California Coast University. Sy leased and operated a summer day camp in LA. He and his wife then purchased virgin wilderness land in Northern CA, where they built and operated a coed summer camp. They moved to Las Vegas, NV, and purchased, built and operated a community children’s program for families staying in a major resort casino in Las Vegas. They have created programs for children nationwide that employed many people and in the process developed successful training programs for personnel. This led Sy to lecture on how to train staff and the creating of community within the workplace. Sy was then invited to speak at professional conferences on how best to hire and train employees, which led to his becoming a consultant in the art of improving relationships in a work environment and eventually to his epiphany that “Leaders are the primary problem and the answer to the personnel issues that arise in the workplace.” Sy has written numerous papers on the subject of interpersonal relationships, leadership and power. He has lectured throughout the United States, has been interviewed by the media and has appeared on many radio and TV talk shows

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