Despite the growing industry of leadership camps and a huge variety of books on the subject, I have come to believe that the traits of a leader are inborn. While influenced by mentors along the way, natural leaders have an easy rapport with others and possess a deep understanding of human nature.
Not inclined to sit in an office and bark orders at subordinates, true leaders have both the willingness to involve themselves in all areas of their field and the understanding that such involvement is appreciated by those whom they lead. Admiration and respect come with the decision to be part of the solution rather than one whose self importance keeps them above the fray. While a willingness to designate authority is essential and reflects the key element of trust, good leaders must demonstrate that, through direct experience, they truly understand the problems that their colleagues face.
Leaders appreciate the importance of empathy and positive feedback but are also comfortable with providing criticism in a constructive and thoughtful way. While organizational skills are vital, people skills are the true, defining traits of a natural leader.
Rabu, 09 Februari 2011
Senin, 07 Februari 2011
A Musical Interlude
Yesterday morning, the overnight low was 34 degrees F, the warmest in more than a month. On my way to work, in the predawn twilight, I was serenaded by a spring-like chorus, dominated by robins. Northern cardinals, chickadees and Carolina wrens also chimed in and the mellow tune of a mourning dove, the earliest I have ever heard in this region, was an especially welcome sound.
Though more than a foot of snow still covers the landscape, these birds were responding to the lengthening daylight and to the sudden warm interlude. Unlike humans, who consult their calendars and count the days to spring, wild creatures take their cues from nature. They won't nest or migrate until the days are longer but yesterday's tune-up was a sure sign that, despite our winter woes, spring is on the way.
Unfortunately, another blast of Arctic air will hush the singers for the next few days but, in another week or so, the annual tide of birdsong will begin to build. We may worry that this cold, snowy winter will never end but the birds, free of that capacity, know better.
Though more than a foot of snow still covers the landscape, these birds were responding to the lengthening daylight and to the sudden warm interlude. Unlike humans, who consult their calendars and count the days to spring, wild creatures take their cues from nature. They won't nest or migrate until the days are longer but yesterday's tune-up was a sure sign that, despite our winter woes, spring is on the way.
Unfortunately, another blast of Arctic air will hush the singers for the next few days but, in another week or so, the annual tide of birdsong will begin to build. We may worry that this cold, snowy winter will never end but the birds, free of that capacity, know better.
Minggu, 06 Februari 2011
The Ritual of Sports
Humans are social creatures and have long been enamored with ritual. Most of these ceremonial activities have centered around religion and political events but sports have always included a certain amount of pageantry. Fans gather to cheer on the contestants, dressed in team colors and raising their combined voice in synchronized chants and fight songs. This behavior gives them a sense of participation in the contest and many wear the number of their favorite athlete to even more closely identify with his or her talents and achievements.
While much of this ritualism is both enjoyable and socially positive, there are some negative consequences. First and foremost, the athletes themselves are often caught up in the celebrity worship of our sports-crazed society and, like many of their entertainment counterparts, sense immunity from behavior that, in some cases, destroys their career or their life. On the other side of the fence, college students, immersed in the social networking of modern culture, seem to have progressed to uniform behaviors that, in my opinion, are somewhat disturbing; having taken the lead from a few prominant institutions, student sections now jump and chant through entire basketball games, shifting the spectacle from the contest itself to the antics of the sixth man. The enthusiasm of the individual sports fan has morphed into a display of herd mentality.
On this annual Feast Day of American Sport, Super Bowl Sunday, celebrities of all kind will flock to the main event, paying phenomenal fees to be seen among the elite of U.S. society. Back in the hinterlands, many other Americans will gather with family and friends to witness the spectacle and to partake in the ritual of food, beverages and TV commercials that complement the game itself. Many will know little or nothing about the teams and their players and some will be satisfied with an occasional glance at the screen. It is, after all, the ritual of the event that brings these fans together.
While much of this ritualism is both enjoyable and socially positive, there are some negative consequences. First and foremost, the athletes themselves are often caught up in the celebrity worship of our sports-crazed society and, like many of their entertainment counterparts, sense immunity from behavior that, in some cases, destroys their career or their life. On the other side of the fence, college students, immersed in the social networking of modern culture, seem to have progressed to uniform behaviors that, in my opinion, are somewhat disturbing; having taken the lead from a few prominant institutions, student sections now jump and chant through entire basketball games, shifting the spectacle from the contest itself to the antics of the sixth man. The enthusiasm of the individual sports fan has morphed into a display of herd mentality.
On this annual Feast Day of American Sport, Super Bowl Sunday, celebrities of all kind will flock to the main event, paying phenomenal fees to be seen among the elite of U.S. society. Back in the hinterlands, many other Americans will gather with family and friends to witness the spectacle and to partake in the ritual of food, beverages and TV commercials that complement the game itself. Many will know little or nothing about the teams and their players and some will be satisfied with an occasional glance at the screen. It is, after all, the ritual of the event that brings these fans together.
Sabtu, 05 Februari 2011
Mind & Soul
It is our brain power that sets humans apart from other animals. Nevertheless, we are members of the animal kingdom and share most of the anatomic and physiologic features that are present in all mammals. Religious persons, whether they accept evolution or not, believe that man is a unique form of life, made in God's image, and that it is our soul that separates us from animals.
Raised in the Catholic Church, I was taught that the soul is some sort of glowing organ, which brightens or darkens in response to our behaviour, and that our primary goal in life is to save that soul by keeping it pure. Indeed, in the view of devout Catholics, the soul is a celestial score card that will determine one's eternal fate upon their earthly demise.
While not religious, I do respect the concept of a soul; however, in my view, it is the reflection of man's instinctual will to live. In this respect, we are no different than other life forms, fueled by our genes and guided by our experience. Man's image of the soul, which varies among cultures and religions, is just another consequence of our large, powerful brains, which enable us to ponder, reason, imagine and believe.
Raised in the Catholic Church, I was taught that the soul is some sort of glowing organ, which brightens or darkens in response to our behaviour, and that our primary goal in life is to save that soul by keeping it pure. Indeed, in the view of devout Catholics, the soul is a celestial score card that will determine one's eternal fate upon their earthly demise.
While not religious, I do respect the concept of a soul; however, in my view, it is the reflection of man's instinctual will to live. In this respect, we are no different than other life forms, fueled by our genes and guided by our experience. Man's image of the soul, which varies among cultures and religions, is just another consequence of our large, powerful brains, which enable us to ponder, reason, imagine and believe.
Kamis, 03 Februari 2011
From Blizzard to Deep Freeze
Now that the powerful winter storm has moved on to the Canadian Maritimes, the dome of Arctic air that fueled its wrath has dropped into the Heartland. Centered over eastern Kansas this morning, it has brought sub-zero temperatures to the Midwest and a freeze that extends to South Texas.
Beneath this high pressure dome, cold air is sinking, clouds cannot form and heat radiates into the upper atmosphere; in addition, the recent heavy snowfall refrigerates the surface air, counteracting the weak effects of a low February sun.
This sequence is common with winter storm systems. Precipitation, in the form of snow, sleet or freezing rain, occurs along the outer edge of the dome, where an atmospheric low is sweeping warm, humid air above the invading cold front. As the dome drops southward and eastward, the front pushes to the east and the storm spins its way along the front toward the northeast. The air along the edge of the dome is cold enough to produce snow and ice but generally much milder than the frigid air at its center. Once the storm moves off to the northeast, skies clear and temperatures drop; while the snowy landscape is illuminated by bright sunshine and the night sky is ablaze with stars, a deep chill grips the region.
Our next chance for snow will arrive as the Arctic dome moves off to the east and milder air flows in from the west and south; should a disturbance develop along the back edge of the dome, these air masses will mix and freezing rain or light snow will recoat the deep snow. Based on current forecasts, melting will be minimal over the next week and the prospects of an early spring seem to diminish with each passing day.
Beneath this high pressure dome, cold air is sinking, clouds cannot form and heat radiates into the upper atmosphere; in addition, the recent heavy snowfall refrigerates the surface air, counteracting the weak effects of a low February sun.
This sequence is common with winter storm systems. Precipitation, in the form of snow, sleet or freezing rain, occurs along the outer edge of the dome, where an atmospheric low is sweeping warm, humid air above the invading cold front. As the dome drops southward and eastward, the front pushes to the east and the storm spins its way along the front toward the northeast. The air along the edge of the dome is cold enough to produce snow and ice but generally much milder than the frigid air at its center. Once the storm moves off to the northeast, skies clear and temperatures drop; while the snowy landscape is illuminated by bright sunshine and the night sky is ablaze with stars, a deep chill grips the region.
Our next chance for snow will arrive as the Arctic dome moves off to the east and milder air flows in from the west and south; should a disturbance develop along the back edge of the dome, these air masses will mix and freezing rain or light snow will recoat the deep snow. Based on current forecasts, melting will be minimal over the next week and the prospects of an early spring seem to diminish with each passing day.
Rabu, 02 Februari 2011
Deep Snow
The twenty inches of snow that fell across mid Missouri yesterday poses a significant hardship for human residents but may prove to be deadly for many of our wild neighbors. Some mammals, such as squirrels, cottontails, raccoons and opossums den up until conditions improve but, faced with persisent cold, will be forced to venture out within a few days; it is then that they risk detection by hungry coyotes, fox, owls and hawks. Small mammals, such as field mice and voles, are able to forage beneath the snow but they, too, are threatened by the highly developed senses of these predators.
Many flocking birds, such as geese, doves and longspurs, migrate south of the snow line while adaptable insectivores, such as chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, find sufficient nourishment from insect eggs and pupae in the the trees and shrubs. Ground feeding sparrows, towhees and juncos are especially vulnerable to heavy snow cover; some switch to a diet of berries while others scour dried grasses and thickets that project above the snow, consuming buds or residual seeds. For those birds and mammals that feed along open rivers and streams, such as bald eagles, great blue herons, gulls, otters and wintering ducks, the deep snow is of little consequence.
Finally, deer, while able to browse on shrubs and saplings, are hampered by reduced mobility, increasing their vulnerability to coyotes and feral dogs. Those that succumb to predation or starvation also provide nourishment for nature's many scavengers (vultures, crows, weasels, shrews) that rely on winter's victims to fuel their own survival.
Many flocking birds, such as geese, doves and longspurs, migrate south of the snow line while adaptable insectivores, such as chickadees, titmice and nuthatches, find sufficient nourishment from insect eggs and pupae in the the trees and shrubs. Ground feeding sparrows, towhees and juncos are especially vulnerable to heavy snow cover; some switch to a diet of berries while others scour dried grasses and thickets that project above the snow, consuming buds or residual seeds. For those birds and mammals that feed along open rivers and streams, such as bald eagles, great blue herons, gulls, otters and wintering ducks, the deep snow is of little consequence.
Finally, deer, while able to browse on shrubs and saplings, are hampered by reduced mobility, increasing their vulnerability to coyotes and feral dogs. Those that succumb to predation or starvation also provide nourishment for nature's many scavengers (vultures, crows, weasels, shrews) that rely on winter's victims to fuel their own survival.
Selasa, 01 Februari 2011
Blizzard Warnings
The warnings began a few days ago. What appeared to be a minor disturbance along the West Coast would become the Storm of the Century, a Winter Monster, One for the Record Books. By yesterday afternoon, the first signs of the storm were moving through Missouri, coating the region with a thin film of ice. Shifting into survival mode, employees departed early, schools were closed and food centers were swamped with desperate customers. After all, the Weather Channel was predicting some kind of Armageddon; we might never leave our homes again.
The snow began to fall at six this morning as the storm's central low gathered strength over the Oklahoma-Arkansas line, pumping Gulf moisture over the frigid air that gripped Missouri. Building through the morning, tiny flakes now fill the sky and visibility is down to a few hundred yards. As the storm drifts to the northeast, winds are expected to intensify and blizzard conditions are forecast for this afternoon and evening; when it's all over, at least 12-15 inches of snow should coat the mid Missouri landscape.
It certainly appears that the meteorologists were right on target this time and that their intended audience, prone to weather worries, heeded the warnings. Humans, after all, have been confronted by nature's fury throughout our history and violent storms have long been a source of fear and trepidation. For the most part, patience and common sense will keep us safe but the frantic warnings of the weather moguls ensure that our natural fear is reinforced. So most will stay home, obedient and responsible; snug in their heated caves, they will be entertained by the Weather Channel stuntmen who stand in the wind and snow, begging others to be more sensible.
The snow began to fall at six this morning as the storm's central low gathered strength over the Oklahoma-Arkansas line, pumping Gulf moisture over the frigid air that gripped Missouri. Building through the morning, tiny flakes now fill the sky and visibility is down to a few hundred yards. As the storm drifts to the northeast, winds are expected to intensify and blizzard conditions are forecast for this afternoon and evening; when it's all over, at least 12-15 inches of snow should coat the mid Missouri landscape.
It certainly appears that the meteorologists were right on target this time and that their intended audience, prone to weather worries, heeded the warnings. Humans, after all, have been confronted by nature's fury throughout our history and violent storms have long been a source of fear and trepidation. For the most part, patience and common sense will keep us safe but the frantic warnings of the weather moguls ensure that our natural fear is reinforced. So most will stay home, obedient and responsible; snug in their heated caves, they will be entertained by the Weather Channel stuntmen who stand in the wind and snow, begging others to be more sensible.
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