Reflection (Sharing Exp: Talk by Expert)

 

It was a really informative talk regarding leadership and governance for sustainability. 🌎

    Firstly, Dr Wesam emphasised about the environment and how natural capital is degrading. The impact of the degradation has caused a dozens of negative effects including fatal diseases, pollution, and health and natural resources damages. The social and economic impact of climate change is extremely scary as well. Fresh water supply will be limited, productivity of harvest will reduce, sea level will rise, towns will be relocate and more and more scary impacts will come if we do not start changing. With numbers and graphs, we were told about floods and diseases too. When I was listening to the talk, I was so shocked to see so many people suffering due to something that we have done. What is it that we can do? 

    Next,  Dr Wesam brought in the hope for changes. It was shown that the lock down due to the pandemic has brought some positive impact including the earth healing! We can and we should change this situation to ensure sustainable development. To build a better environment, we should practise the three pillars of sustainable economy. 

For better results, small realistic goals are set so that leaders and followers have the same objectives. We can all direct our energy into realising them. Here are the Global Goals: 

Lastly, now that we have goals, we must have a plan... 

I have some thoughts about this...

Let's go into the leadership part. 

What can leaders do in this? 

1- create rules and laws 

2- encourage citizen's participation

3- create more market opportunity

I could think of a few examples.

In Japan, classification of recyclable and non-recyclable waste is a must. Those who do not conform to the law will be fined. This is law.  

Nowadays in Malaysia, plastic bags are banned gradually in chained super markets. They provided 'green points' for those who bring own bag, and charge those who need plastic bags. This is citizen participation. 

In Singapore, water are retreated and sold to the people as drinking water. Factories are set, workers are employed. This is market opportunity. 

When our government and all related authorities have made their effort, 

followers (you and me!) play a huge huge huge part now! 

because, 'Sikit-sikit, lama-lama menjadi bukit'. 

So, what can normal citizens like us (followers) do? 

💓🌍Practise 3Rs 💓🌍

💓🌍Car pool💓🌍

💓🌍Plant trees💓🌍

💓🌍Educate our next generations💓🌍

💓🌍Conserve water 💓🌍

And many many more...

Before I end the reflection, I would like to share a song with you. 

It's a song I've always share with my little ones in school when teaching about the Earth. 

Ta-da! 

That's all for today. 

Here are my prove of attendance. 

I'm going to be an earth warrior too! 💪

🌍💓😇

Reflection - Topic 8 Team Leadership

 Topic 8 - Team Leadership

Team leadership is the management of a group of people brought together to work to achieve a common goal.

Here's what I've learnt...

A group is not the same as a team. A group comprises people who coordinate their efforts, but are independent and have individual accountability, while a team comprises people who share a common goal.

There are 3 types of teams, a self-managed team which comprises members of different departments who works autonomously to achieve a common goal, a cross-functional team which comprises of a multidisciplinary team with members of different expertise who work towards a shared objective, and a functional team which is made up of members with common functional expertise.

Why is teamwork important? The formation of a team produces faster and more innovative decisions, reduces chances of error, promotes constant improvement and generates greater contentment. However, in a team, an individual may feel the need to conform due to peer pressure, and often not, feel left out. Conflicts are also a common occurrence in a team as different people have different opinions.

This is when a leader comes into play. A leader plays an important role in resolving conflicts, supporting creativity and facilitating group discussions. A team leader should be able to delegate work, assign members to task most suited to their abilities, provide resources needed to complete a task and help members to overcome creative block. An inspiring and supportive leader creates an effective team.

Last but not least, I also learn that in order to conduct a meeting worth everyone's time, a team leader should commence the meeting on time. Start by identify the objective of the meeting, then proceed to get through the agenda, and finally, summarize and review the task. It is always a good habit to end the meeting on time too.

Here's what I thought...

No man is an island. No matter how smart a person is, there's only so much he/she can achieve in his/her lifetime. However, the magnitude of productivity can be greatly enhanced if individuals work together as a team to solve complex problems and achieve common goals together. 

Geese are an excellent demonstration of effective teamwork. Have you ever wondered why geese fly in a v-shape formation? As each bird flaps its wings, it creates uplift for the birds following. This allows geese to reach their destination quicker with less effort. The same principles could be implemented in a team. By working effectively together as a team with all members sharing a common goals, we can achieve greater heights.

I hope that this little story will help you to see teamwork from a new perspective. :)

 

Reflection - Topic 7 Dyadic Relationships, Followership and Delegation

Topic 7 Dyadic Relationships, Followership and Delegation

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, dyadic is defined as relating to the interaction between two people, and understanding the dyadic theory allows us to better appreciate why leaders change their style of leadership when they are interacting with different subordinates.

In my opinion, this is the hardest and most complicated leadership theory amongst all that I have learnt. 

Here's what I've learnt...

There're 4 stages of dyadic approach, which can be summarised by this figure below: 

Let us dive into each stage and evaluate them in depth. 

1 Vertical-Dyadic Linkage (VDL) Theory identifies: 

(1) how a leader develops one-to-one relationship with followers, and 

(2) how a leaders creates in-groups and out-groups.

Note that, this relationship can be developed formally or informally. 

In an in-group (close circle), a people-oriented leadership style is observed where subordinates have strong social ties to their leader. In-groups are people-oriented, possesses high mutual trust, high exchange, two-way loyalty and mutual influence. 

Completely opposite to in-group (distant group), an out-group proposes a strict task-oriented relationship where minimal social tie among subordinates and leader is seen. There's low exchange, lack of trust, not much loyalty and minimal mutual influence. 

Why do we need to understand VDL? Leaders should be aware of dyadic relationship and establish effective leader-follower relationship to avoid creating any out-groups so that productivity of all members can be equally significant. A good leader should aspire to establish relationships with all members, favouritism should be avoided. 

Now that we understand the importance of having the relationship...

2 Leader-Member Exchange (LMX) Theory assumes that 

leaders have limited time, resources, attention, discretion and energy so they use this selectively among followers. Therefore, quality of relationship will be different with different followers. 

High quality LMX means more support, reward, involvement in decision making. It also means great level of loyalty, commitment, respect, affection, mutual trust and mutual liking. 

Low quality LMX means low consideration, formal supervision, less support, coercive influence, compliance, authoritative behaviour and lesser involvement in decision.

Unlike the VDL theory that merely explain on the relationship, the LMX theory focus on the quality of the relationship. 

The LMX Life Cycle Model describes three stages, each explains (1)stranger, (2)acquaintance and (3)maturity. 

That was the quality of the relationship... Now, together as a team...

 

3 Team Member states that 

Effective leaders should aspire to establish relationships with all members, not just a few special individuals.

A team is good. But that is not sufficient...

4 System & Network View discusses that 

Leader-follower relationships are not limited to employees, but include peers, customers, suppliers, and other relevant stakeholders in the broader community. Organisation is system of interrelated parts. Effective leader need to develop effective relationship with other groups and external members to gain support and resources.

Pygmalion Effect

When leader treat followers well enough, the followers will believe that they are doing well. To gain more trust and liking, more loyalty will be poured into the relationship to get higher performance ratings from leader. Then, when results and performance ratings comes again and again, it become a habit for followers to do better and better. That is Pygmalion effect. 

What I thought...

This is an interesting theory. 

Starting from the leader-follower relationship, we discussed more about the quality of the relationship. When the quality of a leader-follower relationship --LMX-- is high, an effective team is formed. Then, it's time to consider the whole environment including all other stakeholders. 

What attracts me most, is that this topic actually talks about ways to become an effective follower. 

A lot of leadership theories focuses on the leader. However, in some point of life, the leader was once the follower. So, how did they 'make it big'? There must be certain attributes that a followers should possess that they can stand out from all the followers and get elected as the leader. 

An effective follower is described as courageous, responsible and proactive. He has to be active and independent. He has critical thinking skills. He makes sensible decisions and solve problems. I was consciously taught about these by my mentor, Miss Sophia, during my IPG times. A good follower can be a good leader, but a good leader may not be a good leader. She told us about how to 'value-add' ourselves to stand out among the crowd.

As a teacher, we are leaders of the classrooms. 

1- Building relationship with children is needed, just as the VDL theory suggests. Those who are friendly will be our in-group while those who are shy and quiet may unintentionally be in the out-group. 

2- With our limited resources and attention, as the LMX theory proposed, we may selectively put our attention on a certain group of people. 

What do we need to reflect and do is that: Are we fair towards every kids? How should we divide our limited resources and attention so that all children feel important? How do we develop positive dyadic relationship with our little ones, from stranger to acquaintance to maturity? 

3- Now that we realise how relationship works, we can focus on making us an effective team. Without favouritism and out-groups, a good team with trustworthy relationship can be made. 

4- Now that a good team is made, how do we work well within the organisation? As the leader of the little ones, I brought kids to make projects, take pictures and find ways to connect with all related persons outside the classroom. 

So, this is how dyadic relationship works between teacher and their little ones. 

Interesting enough for me. What do you think about dyadic relationship? 

:)