Almost lost in the shuffle of this latest recession, and with millions of Americans wondering where they will find a job at, remains the problem of global climate change. Al Gore, leader of the Climate Reality Project, is still traveling giving speeches about the importance of limiting and eventually eliminating the green house gases we put into the air everyday. Recently, a Gallup poll was released that said America's were more concerned about the state of our economy rather than our environment . Faced with these economic woes and an increasing amount of presidential hopefuls that are not yet convinced global climate change is a bad thing, Al Gore talks about some of these problems in an interview.
His response for people criticizing him for not doing enough I think says a lot about his leadership style, at least in this area. He says that he may not be the best showman for this message, but that does not make him the wrong showman for it either. He knows he has a great deal of knowledge on the topic and he can connect with people on a more personal level.
He goes on to make an interesting point regarding leadership styles. Sometimes, people are so against a message, that they start to dislike or even hate the speaker of the message. When this happens, and people will simply ignore the facts of an argument, Gore says you cannot feel frustrated, there is no time to be frustrated. You simply must move on to the next person and hope something else can change their mind.
While basically charged with leading this movement, as well as his own Climate Reality Project, Al Gore is an interesting case of someone who was once a leader with very high position power, being the Vice-president and almost the President as well, and turn that into extremely high personal power. However, as it is shown that can amount to a lot but it ultimately he cannot get what he wants down on just personal power alone.
Do you think Gore should step down a bit and allow a more charismatic voice to take over the global climate change podium? Is Gore spreading his message the right way or should he be more forceful with it? Do you think there are any ways of salvaging a relationship when a subordinate turns against not only your message but also turns on you as well?
Here's the link to the parent article - Al Gore Climate Change battle
Randall Smith
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Monday, September 19, 2011
Oprah Winfrey gives back
It is hard to talk about the topic of celebrities leading change in communities without bringing up Oprah Winfrey. With her talk show alone, she has helped hundreds of people and raised awareness about tons of social issues a lot of American's face. Her network, the Angel Network sponsors charitable initiatives worldwide. She has championed many other campaigns as well. Initiatives like promoting literacy to speaking out against child abuse are just a few of the many issues Oprah raises about.
Oprah also started the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls. The girls that are invited to attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls have shown that they have the ability to excel, and to move beyond challenging circumstances.
"Every child has a right to an education, but to attend the Oprah Winfrey Leadership Academy for Girls will be a privilege." Oprah often refers her girls to words by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "My young friends, doors are opening to you – doors of opportunities that were not open to your mothers and fathers – and the great challenge facing you is to be ready to face these doors as they open.”
Oprah has used the experiences that she faced as a young girl to inspire others to succeed in conditions that should hold you down. She has inspired men and women of all ages for over a decade to be the kind of people that beat the odds over and over again.
Natalie Hess
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Jon Stewart's Television Agenda to Restore Sanity and/or Fear
Jon Stewart has given the American public a TV show that allows people to openly make jabs and speak freely towards their American democracy. An American Democracy that has been so nit-witted in their approach to put their country back on track to being the greatest in the world. Jon Stewart has been a pioneer in the world of bringing political satire and television together as a place to vent about the governments inability to do their jobs well.
When I look at one of Jon Stewart's most radical television movements to bring about change, I get reminded of his October of 2004 appearance on the CNN debate show Crossfire with Tucker Carlson. On the show, Stewart flips the script on the producers and points the basis of his arguments back on the show itself. Instead of being the comical funny-man, as he is on his own The Daily Show, his verbal attack stemmed from his opinion that the show did nothing to inform the people about current political news. The 14 minute long rant is posted below (for your viewing pleasure) and gives a glimpse into the personality traits that make Stewart a great shaper of public opinion.
After watching that Interview, I opened our class book and read a little more into the Trait Approach to see what important traits Stewart shows during his speech that made him come off as such a strong, informative leader of public opinion. Table 2.2 in our textbook (pg. 19) ,Leadership Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse, there are a list of 5 major leadership traits that "individuals hope to posses or wish to cultivate if they want to be perceived by others as leaders." Those traits are as follows: intelligence, self- confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability. It is hard to say that after watching Stewart verbally overthrow these CNN show hosts after 14 minutes that he lacks any of these important traits. He shows extreme intelligence about political theory and upkeep on current events. He is extremely self-confident in his ability to express his disgust for the talk show, and his opinion that their show is "hurting America" with their useless talk instead of honest debate. Stewart shows extreme integrity when comparing that his show is "introduced by puppets making crank calls", instead of their honest debate show airing on CNN. Although the book defines sociability as having "pleasant social relationships", Stewart did show sociability in the interview although I am sure the TV show hosts wouldn't summarize his guest appearance as very pleasant.
Stewart was able to sway public opinion so much that in January 2005, CNN president Jonathan Klein cancelled CNN's Crossfire show. Klein referenced Stewart's ability to make valid points about " the noise level of these types of shows, which does nothing to illuminate the issues of the day". Jon Stewart went out of his way to accept an invitation as a guest on a debate show, and the traits he brought to the show made his opinion heard, and ended up being a large part in the cancellation of the show. Was Stewart too tough on the Crossfire hosts? Was there something Stewart could have done more positively to get his point across? Was Stewart a good model in persuading public opinion? Was Stewart correct in the leadership action he took to express his dislike for the show? Many questions can be posed after watching the clip, but one thing is for certain, do not wear a bow-tie when you have a comedian on your talk show.
- Michael Mancuso Jr.
When I look at one of Jon Stewart's most radical television movements to bring about change, I get reminded of his October of 2004 appearance on the CNN debate show Crossfire with Tucker Carlson. On the show, Stewart flips the script on the producers and points the basis of his arguments back on the show itself. Instead of being the comical funny-man, as he is on his own The Daily Show, his verbal attack stemmed from his opinion that the show did nothing to inform the people about current political news. The 14 minute long rant is posted below (for your viewing pleasure) and gives a glimpse into the personality traits that make Stewart a great shaper of public opinion.
After watching that Interview, I opened our class book and read a little more into the Trait Approach to see what important traits Stewart shows during his speech that made him come off as such a strong, informative leader of public opinion. Table 2.2 in our textbook (pg. 19) ,Leadership Theory and Practice by Peter G. Northouse, there are a list of 5 major leadership traits that "individuals hope to posses or wish to cultivate if they want to be perceived by others as leaders." Those traits are as follows: intelligence, self- confidence, determination, integrity, and sociability. It is hard to say that after watching Stewart verbally overthrow these CNN show hosts after 14 minutes that he lacks any of these important traits. He shows extreme intelligence about political theory and upkeep on current events. He is extremely self-confident in his ability to express his disgust for the talk show, and his opinion that their show is "hurting America" with their useless talk instead of honest debate. Stewart shows extreme integrity when comparing that his show is "introduced by puppets making crank calls", instead of their honest debate show airing on CNN. Although the book defines sociability as having "pleasant social relationships", Stewart did show sociability in the interview although I am sure the TV show hosts wouldn't summarize his guest appearance as very pleasant.
Stewart was able to sway public opinion so much that in January 2005, CNN president Jonathan Klein cancelled CNN's Crossfire show. Klein referenced Stewart's ability to make valid points about " the noise level of these types of shows, which does nothing to illuminate the issues of the day". Jon Stewart went out of his way to accept an invitation as a guest on a debate show, and the traits he brought to the show made his opinion heard, and ended up being a large part in the cancellation of the show. Was Stewart too tough on the Crossfire hosts? Was there something Stewart could have done more positively to get his point across? Was Stewart a good model in persuading public opinion? Was Stewart correct in the leadership action he took to express his dislike for the show? Many questions can be posed after watching the clip, but one thing is for certain, do not wear a bow-tie when you have a comedian on your talk show.
- Michael Mancuso Jr.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Ellen DeGeneres
"For me, it's that I contributed, ... That I'm on this planet doing some good and making people happy. That's to me the most important thing, that my hour of television is positive and upbeat and an antidote for all the negative stuff going on in life." --Ellen DeGeneres
Ellen DeGeneres has been a public figure leading change for over ten years now. She has been successful in encouraging people young and old across America to be themselves, live a happy life, and help make others happy.
In 1997 DeGeneres publicly stated that she is gay. In 1997 this was a huge gamble. Not very many people were accepting. Regardless, Ellen took a stand and showed the rest of America that it was okay to be you. She had also joined many other celebrities who are recently sending messages that 'it gets better' to teens and anyone else who feel like outcasts (especially those that are gay) after a string of many suicides that followed hazing and bashing. Along with these messages, Ellen encouraged the rest of America to be more accepting and kind to one another.
Ellen DeGeneres is also involved in a number of charities that help Americans. She launched "A Small Change Campaign" that helps feed Americans. She also is also very active in helping the Red Cross and the Susan G Komen for the Cure group (supporting breast cancer awareness and research for a cure).
Ellen's positive attitude mixed with sense of humor and great comic abilities really helps her in being a leader. She gains referent power by being a celebrity who many cannot help but like and look up to. She urges Americans to make a change. A great way she motivates people is by actually living the life style she preaches. She is a kind-hearted, accepting person, who is not afraid to be herself, and is involved with helping others. In chapter 2, we learned about a way of leadership called "Model the Way" in which a person is a leader by clarifying his or her own values and sets and example by aligning his or her actions with the values that person has. This is exactly what DeGeneres does. She also "Challenges the Options" by always searching for ways to enact a plan to bring about change. "Enabling others to act" is another way that she gives others the power to bring about change. Most of all, I believe she is a great leader because she "Encourages the Heart" by recognizing other's achievement, shows appreciation, and celebrates the values and victories by creating a spirit of community. She does this by giving back time, money, and appreciation to many people on her show that are trying to better themselves and the world.
What do you think of Ellen DeGeneres? Are the changes she is trying to make significant? Is there something more she should be doing? Do you think her personality is her biggest aide in leading change?
-Alivia Lindbeck
Ellen DeGeneres has been a public figure leading change for over ten years now. She has been successful in encouraging people young and old across America to be themselves, live a happy life, and help make others happy.
In 1997 DeGeneres publicly stated that she is gay. In 1997 this was a huge gamble. Not very many people were accepting. Regardless, Ellen took a stand and showed the rest of America that it was okay to be you. She had also joined many other celebrities who are recently sending messages that 'it gets better' to teens and anyone else who feel like outcasts (especially those that are gay) after a string of many suicides that followed hazing and bashing. Along with these messages, Ellen encouraged the rest of America to be more accepting and kind to one another.
Ellen DeGeneres is also involved in a number of charities that help Americans. She launched "A Small Change Campaign" that helps feed Americans. She also is also very active in helping the Red Cross and the Susan G Komen for the Cure group (supporting breast cancer awareness and research for a cure).
Ellen's positive attitude mixed with sense of humor and great comic abilities really helps her in being a leader. She gains referent power by being a celebrity who many cannot help but like and look up to. She urges Americans to make a change. A great way she motivates people is by actually living the life style she preaches. She is a kind-hearted, accepting person, who is not afraid to be herself, and is involved with helping others. In chapter 2, we learned about a way of leadership called "Model the Way" in which a person is a leader by clarifying his or her own values and sets and example by aligning his or her actions with the values that person has. This is exactly what DeGeneres does. She also "Challenges the Options" by always searching for ways to enact a plan to bring about change. "Enabling others to act" is another way that she gives others the power to bring about change. Most of all, I believe she is a great leader because she "Encourages the Heart" by recognizing other's achievement, shows appreciation, and celebrates the values and victories by creating a spirit of community. She does this by giving back time, money, and appreciation to many people on her show that are trying to better themselves and the world.
What do you think of Ellen DeGeneres? Are the changes she is trying to make significant? Is there something more she should be doing? Do you think her personality is her biggest aide in leading change?
-Alivia Lindbeck
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Introduction
Our team members include Natalie Hess (Organizational Leadership Major), Michael Mancuso (Organizational Leadership Major), Alivia Lindbeck (Business Administration Major), and Randall Smith (Organizational Leadership Minor).
We chose the Living-on-the-edge Blog as our subject. We want to focus on people, preferably in the media, that have made an impact and a change on today's public (their opinions, focuses, and things of that nature). We will discuss what makes a positive or negative impact, what people are doing well, what people are doing poorly, and what makes these people good (or bad) leaders.
We chose the Living-on-the-edge Blog as our subject. We want to focus on people, preferably in the media, that have made an impact and a change on today's public (their opinions, focuses, and things of that nature). We will discuss what makes a positive or negative impact, what people are doing well, what people are doing poorly, and what makes these people good (or bad) leaders.
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