Author: papagena163

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The Definition of Leadership by Northouse

According to the Leadership written by Northouse, the definition of leadership is

“Leadership is a process whereby an individual influences a group of individuals to achieve a common goal.”

This idea opened my eye because I never think what leadership is and vaguely I thought leadership is one side action from leaders and leaders require certain special character or behavioral manner rather than some sort of mutual influence. I am delightful to know everyone can obtain leadership. Also I was convinced to know definition of leadership has changed depends on the time and the culture.  After I read this book I like this Northouse’s leadership concept because I understand leadership should be flexible.

“Process” in leadership definition means “interaction” between leader and followers where leadership occurs. Even though a common goal is the same, leadership would be different depends on leader, followers, culture and time.  “Influence” is the main part of leadership, how the leader affects followers and the communication that occurs between leaders and follower. (Ruben & Gigliotti, 2017) Leaders use mainly power to influence followers in organization. Two major types of power is position power and personal power. In the primitive way of leadership, leaders often use position power including coercive and reward. It is clear when we see the politics in ancient era or even some countries now. When position power is immense and the distance between leaders and followers becomes farther, this process becomes more one way. However, in Northouse house’s definition, followers is given the power to leaders. When followers admit the leader is their leader and accepted to be influenced the power, the power can influence followers.Because definition of leadership is process and emphasize mutual interaction. Group context includes leaders and followers and it is important that both leaders and followers to be conscious with their common goal.

Yes, I am interested to know the definition of leadership by Northouse.  In this leadership concept, the position of leaders and followers are more equal and close to be able to interact each other. However in real world, bigger the size of organizations become , farther becomes the distance between leaders and followers and normally leaders don’t acknowledge of followers respectively like politician and followers, CEO of big companies and employee. Vice versa.  I agree that leaders are also influenced by followers. However regarding that the role of leader is to lead followers in the group to achieve common goal. Is it necessary for followers to know who lead them as a leader in any situations?

 

Reference:

Northouse, P. G. (2019). Leadership: Theory and practice, Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks.

Ruben, B.D., & Gigliotti, R. A. (2017). Communication: Sine qua non of organizational leadership theory and practice. International Journal of Business Communication, 54(1), 12-30.

 

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Annotating U

Before starting this activity, I only pay attention to the advantages of online learning.  As Manifesto declares, it is privilege that we can learn anytime anywhere at any pace.

While I do this activity, I started to realize learning online is totally different from learning face-to-face and it is much harder to study online as an international student whose first language isn’t English. I have to understand all the contents by reading , even the classmates’ comments and opinions!  In the classroom, I can stop the teacher and the classmates to ask questions to make sure I properly understand using gesture or drawing. Stating opinions to others is is the same way. I don’t need to be too careful to cause misunderstanding because I can expect the listeners will response me.  However in online study, I have to read and re-read to try not to misunderstand every contents by myself.  I feel so isolated with this activity that hardly get helped. At the classroom, communications come to me, but in online world, I need to go to get them carefully.

Now I realize the scenery of my journey is totally different from what I thought  before start. I would be positively challenge to enjoy this new way of learning.

 

 

 

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Introduction

Hello, everyone!

I feel great and a little nervous to be connected in this way because this is my first experience to write a blog.

My Name is Hiromi.
I am from Japan and had worked as a plastic surgeon for 15 years when I lived in Japan.
Throughout my career, while my main role was that of a clinician, I was also promoted to become more directly involved with the hospital management teams and with various personnel affairs.
This role has reinforced my interest in studying how best to become a good team leader. The number of physicians and general medical staff members are chronically insufficient in many parts of Japan. Therefore, great leadership and management skills are essential to organize and maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of these limited teams to work to their greatest potential.

4 years ago, I take sabbatical leave from my work and moved to Canada with my three children to enhance and expand their education experience in the assurance that they would learn more about different cultures outside Japan and also for myself. Also, it was my choice to focus on the care and upbringing our three children which afforded me the opportunity to work at home with them, while my husband keeps working in Japan. As our children have settled well into their school-life here in Canada, I have found myself with more free time. Therefore, I began to think that I would make better use of my free time to enhance my medical career by going back to the higher education school system.

I am excited with my new journey and look forward to meeting you!