Tag: Unit 10

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Unit 10 Blog

Part A

The following questions are answered after viewing the YouTube video, Battling bad science (Goldcare, 2011).

How can I know that I can trust what I am reading?

In the YouTube video, Battling bad science (Goldcare, 2011), Goldcare states “real science is all about critically appraising the evidence of somebody else’s position”. I believe what he means by this is that as a consumer of research we need to be a healthy skeptic. In LDRS 591, at Trinity Western University, we have learned about tools to evaluate what might be constituted as good research. In Understanding Research: A consumer’s guide (Plano-Clark & Creswell, 2015), the class was introduced to various tables, as tools to review and critique qualitative research, quantitative research and mixed research for example. I believe moving forward these tools can be helpful as move progress with our academic goals in not only reviewing literature but also potentially writing literature ourselves.

How do I know the research has been performed competently?

As suggested in the course LDRS 591, Trinity Western University, when searching for literature, as students we were advised to check only peer-reviewed or scholarly literature and to check these boxes when performing an online search. Researchers have the opportunity to disseminate their work when their paper is defended and published or potentially at a conference. Articles submitted to journals are typically reviewed by peers or other experts in the field.

How do I know the research is reported honestly?

Not all journals hold the same level of credibility as others and so knowing which ones hold higher standards is important. Also knowing whom the author is will provide clues as to the honesty of the report. Researchers that provide details of how their research was collected, controls that were in place and any gaps in their research will also further demonstrate the honesty of the paper.

How do I know the findings presented are consistent with what other researchers would conclude?

Quality research often builds on research that is already known however answers a question that requires more clarification. In a good research paper there will be a great deal of back matter indicating what research the current paper is expanding upon. Methods used to collect quantitative data or qualitative data will also be based on previous success and academically accepted methods. In the conclusion section, flaws of the research and suggested further research is cited.

References

Goldcare, B. (2011, July). Battling bad science. [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/ben_goldacre_battling_bad_science

Plano-Clark, V., & Creswell, J. (2015). Understanding research: A consumer’s guide (2nd ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Part B

In my organization of Seyem’ Qwantlen I optimally try to do my best and serve as a transformational servant leader. My cultural teachers have shared with me that being a leader of people is not something that should be taken for granted and is something that should be respected.

I am guided by the seven laws, which are health, happiness, humbleness, generosity, generations, understanding and forgiveness. I try my best to be the healthiest I can be so I can perform optimally. I also encourage healthy activities with staff such as lunch time walks or group building activities such as tobogganing. We leave a cedar basket at the entrance to our building so that when we walk through the door, all negative energies are placed there. It’s up to me as a leader to do my best to continue to create a positive work environment, thus ensuring the happiness of others I serve. In being a humble leader, I need to base my decision making on the most informed evidence available and not based on my ego. Sometimes these decisions may come from the staff and it’s up to me to support them. If we can’t come to a conclusion I need to demonstrate how to go about finding the answers in a collaborative way. If I share with staff, non-evidence based information I know their confidence in me as a leader will be lost. If I make a mistake I own it and look for ways the organization can learn so we can ultimately become stronger. I am generous with my time with staff so that I can help them in achieving their goals. I know I must continue to learn new ways to lead my staff as well as utilize evidence-based research to know what is trending and what works. I respect the generations working at my organization and know that with each, I’m the one that needs to adapt and not them. We all serve the purpose of making life easier for our elders and for future generations, including those not born yet, as we look ahead to the next 7. Understanding is about knowing that each of my staff has come to work for Seyem’ Qwantlen, walking a different path. With that, their evidence-based decision making may differ from my own at times. I know though that with understanding we can work together to solve any problem. I also know now about where to find credible research in considering very complex problems. Finally, forgiveness is about allowing staff to make mistakes and having the confidence to know they will learn from them.

I serve a community healing from intergenerational trauma, the effects of residential schools and colonization. Through my actions as a Transformational Servant leader, perhaps this is where my greatest feat will be. I know I must lead my community and organization and despite what the past has brought us, show that we can forgive, no matter what life has thrown us. Kwantlen has been around since time immemorial and we will continue to be around in the future. It is because of the 7 laws of life that we have existed as long as we have. To me this is the greatest, most impactful evidence based decision making model I have ever known. The laws are my guide and my mantra, which happens to align with the definition of a Transformational Servant leader.

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Unit 10, Light from many lamps

“Think with courage; look forward with hope; act with faith and confidence in the future of mankind.” (Watson, 1951). I am sometimes amazed at the strength of some of my community elders, and how positive they are for the future, despite having endured horrific pasts, particularly with indigenous residential schools. I feel driven every day to be successful so that in their lifetime they can witness better times. In my indigenous culture we are reminded that change can take 7 generations. This helps me to put things in perspective when frustration sets in due to how slow something might be progressing. Yet I’m hopeful for a brighter day.

As a leader we are often exposed to the failures and frustrations of an organization. We are trained to deal with continuous improvement and so it would be easy to constantly see the negative in everything. It’s important however to stop and realize the accomplishments of an organization as well. In my community for example I live with, work with and spend personal time with family. There can be a culture of negative gossip which is not abnormal given the environment. What I’ve come to realize however is that the cheerleaders do not speak up that often and so consider it a gift when they do. It may be because they are content or sometimes it’s out of fear that they might be chastised for not being part of the negative gossip. It would be very easy to succumb to the negative talk and be influenced into not doing the right thing as a leader. I realize though, that my indigenous community is still healing from inter-generational trauma. It is important that the leadership not give up hope for a better day for future generations. It is happening however, perhaps not as fast as some would expect. Or sometimes as leaders we are exposed to folks with health issues or other things happening in their life that makes it difficult to think about the future with any glimpse of hope. An amazing thing is happening however in Canada and that is the acknowledgement of the Truth and Reconciliation movement. As a child I could have never dreamed of this happening in my life time. It’s not been perfect and we still have plenty of work to do however it’s given me hope for the future. I do believe it’s a great time to be indigenous and am very hopeful for our future as communities. We are still healing but I do believe some of the atrocities that have happened in the past, and some that still exist today, will one day come to an end. As indigenous people we must embrace the future and set the path for our children. We need to be courageous as the warriors we once were. It’s ok to put some faith in mankind as the world is now learning what our people endured. There are amazing folks out there that want to help us succeed and are willing to give a hand up. Will it be the same and will be we ever be able to go back to our traditional ways? I say no however mankind has always evolved including our own people. I believe it’s a mix of the past teachings and future teachings that helps us to evolve and to be better people. We are now being respected for some of our traditional teachings for example, like caring for the earth. We all as humans have to find our way in this world and it is our time as indigenous people to lead the healing. I know I have a sense a responsibility as one of the first generational leaders to face reconciliation and to act with the utmost courage. How as a leader day today can one best lead an organization with courage?

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Unit 10, Learning Activity 10

“The way to gain a good reputation is to endeavor to be what you desire to appear.” Socrates (Watson, L.E. 1951). This quote to me is the essence of what leadership is about. A leader demonstrates exceptional skills in interpersonal skills, ethics and morals. If a leader does not possess these skills, employees will not follow or work in a cohesive team environment. The leader sets the tone and demonstrates to other staff what acceptable behavior looks like. Therefore if you want to be a leader with a good reputation, then you ought to behave like a leader with a good reputation.

This course has transformed my way of thinking with respect to leadership. I’ve often thought about employees as individuals, all coming with strengths and weaknesses. I’ve never however, applied this same type of thinking when it comes to leadership. I suppose we all want to think of our leaders as people with supreme skills, acting the way we want them to act, and managing to the style we as individuals feel most comfortable with. I realize now though, there are many type of leaders – transformational, transactional and servant to name a few. In knowing this, I’ve become less frustrated with leaders that are influential in my life. I can better understand how they became the kind of leaders they are today. Which brings me to my second most impactful learning and that is that leadership can be made up of traits one is genetically in-tuned to, as well as leadership can be learned. In my own life I’ve been blessed with a family line of successful leaders. My dad is a great example of how leadership can be inherited as although he was adopted, he took on similar leadership positions as his biological family. He did not meet his family until he was 28 years of age, yet he enjoyed very similar successes. In my case, I believe I’ve inherited some of these leadership traits however when one grows up in an environment that is not conducive to nurturing these skills, those same leadership traits can be used in an unproductive way. I’ve been fortunate however in my career to have terrific mentors and the opportunity to continue to learn about effective leadership. This learning continues every day, as I try and be the best I can be for my employees and my community. Yes, I’ve made some mistakes in my career, however I know at this point in my life what good leadership looks like. I try every day to mirror and behave like a strong and thoughtful leader, one with a good reputation in all business dealings. The world is full of inspirational great leaders with excellent reputations such as Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Warren Buffet or Bill Gates. If you were to choose one inspirational leader to emulate with a great reputation, whom would that be?

References:

Watson, L.E. (1951). _Light from Many Lamps_. New York: Simon and Schuster. Page 165.