Lights from Many Lamps-Unit 4

 

 “The virtue of achievement is a victory over oneself, those who know victory can never know defeat” A.J Cronin.

The learning leadership lesson that I learned from Cronin is Determination. He shared his experience in the time that he lost his confidence in himself and had been ready to give up. His struggle was writing his novel honestly and sincerely or not at all. He went for a walk and met a muddy farmer who was struggling in turning the bog into a pasture. The farmer said to him,“My father ditched his bog all his days and never made a pasture. I’ve dug it all my days, and I ‘ve never made a pasture. But Pasture or no pasture, I canna help but dig. For my father knew, and I knew that if you only dig enough a pasture can be made her” (as cited by Watson, 1951).

Dr. Cronin felt shamed and said, “I was resentful because he had what I had not: a terrible stubbornness to see the job through at all cost, an unquenchable flame of resolution brought to the simplest, the most arid duties of life.” (Cronin; as cited by Watson, 1951, p.149). He lost himself in the ferociousness of his purpose, and he was determined not to be beaten. At the end of the third month, he was able to writ finish.

In leadership Determination is the trait approach leaders perceive to keep their people motivated and on task. “People with determination are willing to assert themselves, are proactive, and have the capacity to preserve in the face of the obstacle” (Northouse, 2016, p.25). People have the ingrained drive to grow, and it must be consciously nurtured. A TFL leader who is attentive to the needs and motives of his followers, also facilitate their growth to reach their fullest potential (Northouse, 2016, p.186).

Leaders need to understand and adapt to the needs and motives of followers, which explained their concern about how the leaders able to inspire followers to accomplish great things. It seems TL assess follower’s motives and satisfy their needs.

Commitment to become an effective transformational servant leader and considering the impact of leaders on others first is my goal. The process of determination by leaders starts when leader probes their followers’ needs and help them to evolve healthier. Leader’s intentionality is helping their followers to grow; it is the core value of determination. It’s like the root once it hit the stones, then they start to grow around them looking for water. Leaders want to nurture their followers needs to help them grow. Clear communication about the goal is my first approach in leading process. Leaders can initiate, develop and carry out significant changes in the organization; by empowering their followers and nurturing them in change (Northouse, 2016).

Inspiration to create change through modeling self-determined, confident, and expressing my ideas and open-minded and tolerant of opposing viewpoints to allow the exchange. The spirit of cooperation in the modeling process often develops between followers and leaders. “Followers want to emulate TL because they learn to trust them and believe in the ideas for which they stand” (Northouse, 2016, p. 200).

Motivation to achieve a common goal initiates a culture of shared vision collectively. This vision emerges from the collective interests of various individuals, which “give followers a sense of identity and self-efficacy” (Northouse, 2016, p.200).

Perseverance and high resilience, which can be approached by making a clear vision of the emerging values and norms. “Is the intentional continuation or reapplication of effort toward a goal despite a temptation to quit” (Pury, 2009). All of the advances that make modern civilization possible require extended or repeated effort in the face of failure.

Celebrate the victory of achievement throughout the process. People feel better about themselves and their contribution to greater common good. Throughout the process, Leaders build trust and foster collaboration with others (Northouse, 2016).

Dr. Cronin’s story; “The turning point of my career” appeared in “stick to the job that we are doing, no matter how insignificant that job may be, to go on doing it, and to finish it” (as cited by Watson, 195, p. 150). Leadership achieved through results, trust, and a credible vision, rather than heavily relying on a title or organizational authority. Leaders worth defined by aligning their decisions with their principles Their values and beliefs empower them—thereby making life an opportunity to grow, learn, contribute, and serve.

Reference:

Pury, C (2009). Perseverance. In The Encyclopedia of Positive Psychology. Retrieved from http://www.blackwellreference.com/public/tocnode?id=g9781405161251_chunk_g978140516125118_ss1-4

Northouse, P. G. (2016). Leadership: Theory and practice, Seventh Edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. ISBN 971452203409

Van Dierendonck, D., Stam, D., Boersma, P., de Windt, N., & Alkema, J. (2014). Same difference? Exploring the differential mechanisms linking servant leadership and transformational leadership to follower outcomes. Leadership Quarterly, 25(3), 544-562. Accessed from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.leaqua.2013.11.014

Watson, L.E. (1951). Light from Many Lamps. New York: Simon and Schuster