Empathy

The point in class that made me think about empathy in leadership was when a couple of my peers disagreed with empathy on certain levels of business. I never said anything because I couldn't find the right words to say, I still can't. However, I truly believe the majority of our leaders made and make decisions based on their experiences; well for the most part... But what does it really mean to have empathy or to show empathy? As a leader to show compassion is laudable. Empathy is imagining yourself in others shoes, and feeling with them, not for them. Furthermore, does that mean you should not pity someone and drive on as if nothing were wrong; treating someone like you would want or hope to be treated, and keeping expectations? In addition, if you are keeping expectations for this individual will they also be the same as usual or is it ok to lighten up, and cut them some slack? How do you deal with emotion as leader? I know leaders are human beings, and have feelings but how do you work past that? How do you put your feelings aside and do what's right? Fortunately this semester, I haven't had any problems that needed special attention or care. To tell you the truth, I wouldn't know how to respond. Which brings me to this point. Are there different types or empathy? Just like situational leadership, is there situational empathy? Do certain situation/events require different types of empathy? Does that make sense?

Communication

Communication... Where are my gaps in communication? Am I a good communicator? How do you know when you are a good communicator? Is there a wrong way to communicate or a right way? Can you ever give too much information when you communicate? Is it better to share all the information that you know or just the "main" facts/points? What brought me to all these questions is of course, my life in the Corps. Holding a leadership position in the outfit is quite important. People look at you for advice and orders for daily outfit activities. However sometimes when I am sharing information I feel like I am rambling on. I just want to make sure that when I am telling someone what to do, they know how to execute the tasks with as few "what if's" as possible. Sometimes when I am given a specific task from higher up the chain of command, I am not fully informed of what exactly needs to be done. I end up asking dozens of questions causing me to feel like a pest. I have always felt like it is ok to ask questions but sometimes people get annoyed or frustrated with it. I suppose it's better to be safe than sorry and give the information that you know and if subordinates have any questions/concerns those may also be addressed. What would be a good example of good communication skills? Is this trait closely related to leadership; meaning that you are simply born with this talent? Or does practice make perfect like taking a speech class in college? Sometimes I wish I could put my thoughts in my peers’ heads because so many of them are amazing leaders and I know my point may be easily clarified.

Professionalism vs. Friendship

Where is the line between friendship and leadership? Is it more important to be friendly or professional? What happens if being a friend crosses the line? Is it ok to be a friend when you have known the person for sometime? What immediately came to mind when told to write this entry was, of course, one of the many corps experiences that I (or many) have come across. I don't know if it is because I am a shallow human being or if I just pay VERY close attention to detail, but there are a lot of cadets that look like they do not meet the requirements for the height/weight standards. I have seen many cadets that look like they can barely walk and yet they are still here. I have over heard many of these individuals mention how lucky they are to have a "buddy" on staff with "power" that "cover their eyes" to the situation. Ugh... that makes me sick. Some of us have to work very hard to pass the limit because being thin and fit doesn't come easy, it is not in my genes!!! (JUST HAD TO VENT!!!!) What supposedly makes this ok? If you turn your back on your buddy/peers/individual that were once your equals, they hate/are unhappy with you, but then you let your current equals/superiors down; who is suppose to be more important? If you have friends in that environment should you leave that position? How does one balance friendship and leadership? Where is this line of equality? Many people seek to please others, is this friendship or professioalism? What reallys makes friendship, friendship and professionalism, professionalism? Is it based on the way you treat an individual? Or they way you treat the group? What if you treat the group just like those individuals? Can you be a friend and professional at the same time? Or is it one or the other? Or is it give a little here, take a little there?

Failure

How do failure and leadership work together? Does failure mean that you can't do anything right? Does it mean that you can't do anything right the first time objectives are attempted? Does it mean that you can not be a good leader? Or that others won't follow you because you are not "perfect" What makes someone a failure? Some of these question came to mind because I have failed many times in my school work. For example, I studied and studied for one of the many science tests that I have had, and I failed. I plain out flunked the darn thing, but after learning from my mistakes and studying harder, I did well the second and third time around. What about the other students that flunk their tests? Are they failures at life or just school? Does this mean that they will have a poor, unhappy future? To be able to lead in leadership, one must fail and learn from their mistakes, right? Well what mistake crosses the line? Where is the line drawn? What is the minimum and the maximum of this line? What is the middle? Is there a middle in failure? Or are you just a plane out failure?

Leadership and Decision Making

The first attempt of the Ignorance Journal was a failed one. I now realize how easy it is to write and write about something you know. But what is leadership? What does it mean to be a good leader? Who or what is an example of a good leader? Does being a good leader come naturally or can one "practice" these skills? How are decisions made? Are decisions based upon what the leaders feel is right or the subordinates? What if the decision no matter how it is made is only appropriate for some and not all followers? Can you be a friend and a leader at the same time? Is being a friend more important that being a leader; or only in certain situations; or never in a situation?