Being a Leader + Embracing Change = The Path to Life Long Learning!

Lessons to Add to My Leadership Tool Belt…

                                                 … Man, this thing is getting heavy!

Lessons Learned

Change is inevitable therefore leaders must be open to change.  Adapting to the advances in technology is vital if a leader wishes to stay up-to-date and current in the worlds of leadership and technology.  After all, leadership and technology go together like peanut butter and jelly.  As a leader it will be important for me to be open to the changing world and the technological advances if I want to be effective and able to lead in a flattening world. 

I have to stick to my personal values even if they do not align with that of my organization – better yet, if they do not align perhaps it is time to switch jobs (I did this during this class!).  Building trust within my team is important and can help to be accomplished by my transparency (http://www.fastcocreate.com/1683223/the-4-weapons-of-exceptional-creative-leaders).  Encouraging transparency amongst all team members will help the group to work more cohesively. 

Whether the world is flattening or spiking it is important for leaders to be aware of what is occurring.  The only way to adapt to changes is to first know there are changes on the horizon.  Staying up-to-date with current research will help the leader to identify trends and then plan accordingly for action.  Being proactive instead of reactive can help instill trust in a leaders abilities and it demonstrates a leaders wish to counteract issues even before they arise.

Top Takeaways

 In the world of leadership and technology change is the constant variable.  I cannot run the other way from change – I have to be a change agent.  I have been a change agent in my leadership role but not so much in terms of technology.  I cannot expect my team to be open to change and new ideas if I am not.  

Accept technology as an adjunct to face-to-face communication and interaction, not as a replacement.  Having an open mind regarding technology - the capabilities and connections which come along with it are important – not just to me but to the whole world.  Gone are the days of long distance phone calls and hand-written letters. Here are the days of Skype, email, Face Time, and Facebook.  The possibilities are endless.  Technology helps prove that learning is life-long for just as we learn one application another has been created. 

How will my leadership change?

My most important takeaway from working through this course is that I must learn to adapt to new and upcoming technology.  While I am busy pondering how much technology has taken over our lives and made us dependent upon it – technological advances are happening all around me.  As a result, I am getting farther and farther behind, making it harder and harder to catch up.  If I am behind I am less likely to adapt to change.  Instead I become stressed out by technology and consequently feel overwhelmed which results in my giving up.  Repeat over and over: I will not give up on technology. I will embrace it and become accustomed to its role in my leadership tool belt. 

Role of Leadership in a Digital World

Leadership, like technology, is changing as the digital world changes.  For example, a leader of a team or organization may no longer be down the hall in another office.  Instead the leader is in an entirely different office building in another country halfway across the globe.  The web has created a platform from which leadership can dive into an ocean of limitless possibilities.  

Leaders must help to lead the advances in technology rather than being led by technology.  New technology can help direct our path but it should not be the road map for our leadership or our organizations.  Each of us have the capability to make an impact on the world – our impact will likely be from our leadership roles in our homes, our churches, our schools, our organizations.  You name it – we have the ability to make a footprint in our world and to leave it a little better than we found it! 

Here’s to changing the world!

Tipping the Technological Scales: Balance vs. Dependency

As leaders we must stay current by being active in research and technological advances. We need to stay abreast of changing technology and updates which will impact our work as leaders not only in our workplace – also in our families and within our communities. When we remain open to advances in technology by trying to incorporate them into our lives when applicable and/or possible it demonstrates to those we serve that we strive for excellence. 

In keeping an open mind we allow ourselves to view the perspectives of others before making decisions. In fact, showing appreciation for others perspectives by involving them in decisions which will impact them can determine the success of the organization. 

Technology is changing – like it or not. I may be slower than some to get on board with technological advances. However, change is not always a bad thing. I am learning to embrace technology more and am learning to use it as an adjunct to communications and interactions with others – not as a replacement.

Corning’s “A Day Made of Glass” is both intriguing and startling to someone like me who is not as quick to embrace change. In this video practically anything can be done with the use of glass – using a stovetop, rearranging pictures on a refrigerator, and organizing a closet – all on glass (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9qmwdbhsbVs&feature=youtu.be). Yep, you read that right! Glass could be the new go to tool when it comes to technology – which could decrease the amount of bulky laptops or even tablets bought all across the world. 

Then there is Kevin Kelly and his interpretation of the six forces or long term trends which show us where the web is going in the future. The six trends are: 1) Screening – everything will be on a flat surface. 2) Interacting – the web will watch us watch it interacting with our whole bodies. 3) Sharing – all that can be shared will be shared. 4) Flowing – change from web based to being built with streams which connect to a cloud. 5) Accessing – there will be access to items without ownership – no paying for upkeep simply paying to use the item. 6) Generating – involves items which are easy to pay for but hard to copy. For example, it is not the journal article you pay for, instead it is the download speed. (http://www.web2expo.com/webexsf2011/public/schedule/detail/19292)

And Google…we cannot forget about these guys! They are creating innovative technology through their “Google Glasses Project! Through a pair of glasses people will be able to see data through their lenses. From warnings about the subway being closed to driving instructions clearly glasses will be the hot commodity in the world of technology. The glasses are somewhat of a hyped-up Syri from the iPhone – the ‘voice’ can record instructions/reminders for you, locate friends, check-in to places. The glasses can also take pictures and share them with your friends, play music, and allow for Face Time with friends (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JSnB06um5r4). 

Are we going too far with technology? Are we allowing it to consume us? In David Rotman’s blog, How Technology is Destroying Jobs, he states “rapid technological change has been destroying jobs faster than it is creating them, contributing to the stagnation of median income and the growth of inequality in the United States” (http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515926/how-technology-is-destroying-jobs/). What will happen when we rely so heavily on all the technology in the world and it all crashes? It is plausible. We could all wake up one day and technology could fail. What will we do then?

In my previous posts I write about balance. We have to balance our use of technology with our sole dependence on technology. As we move closer to some of the aforementioned tools we start to tip the scale more towards dependency and less towards balance. Are we moving towards a society of individuals who cannot think for themselves? While technology can help us to research and seek new information it can also help us to become more lazy and dependent.

 It is no longer a personal preference regarding the use of technology. Rather it could be a threat to our professional lives (http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/515926/how-technology-is-destroying-jobs/). When our jobs are filled with robots instead of people our role will shift towards keeping the technology running and working adequately.   

Cyberbullies: Antagonizing Others One Keystroke at a Time

We have all heard about bullies – people who make it their life’s work to ensure the lives of others are miserable.  The bullies of the past relied on spoken word to antagonize their victims.  The bullies of today, on the other hand, are equipped with the use of social media, online chat rooms, and blogs through the use of the worldwide web.

In terms of the use of internet for communication Bynum (2008) explains that “information and communication technology (ICT) has affected – in both good ways and bad ways – community life, family life, human relationships, education, careers, freedom, and democracy” (http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/ethics-computer/).  While the internet is a great tool for many of us in our daily lives – everyday there are individuals being persecuted via the worldwide web.  

No walls are too high…no boundaries are too far…cyberbullying can happen to anyone, at anytime.  “Cyberbullying occurs “when technology is misused to threaten, harass, humiliate or embarrass victims.  From nuisance phone calls to bogus websites, the victims of cyberbullies can be targeted with little effort and minimal cost to the bully” (Rogers, 2010, p. 7). 

When researching cyberbullying the information I came across was all in relation to children being bullied via the web.  Many children who experience cyberbullying both academically and emotionally – some children suffer so greatly they choose to take their own lives (Holladay, 2010, p. 42).  Cyberbullying, as with any other form of bullying, can result in low self-esteem and feelings of decreased self-worth (Patchin and Hinduja, 2010).

 Cyberbullying can range from pictures on a website, to derogatory Facebook statuses or tweets or even blogs.  I would even include pictures taken by paparazzi and then shared on the internet as a form of cyberbullying. These forms of shared information could be deemed libel if it is “defamation by written or printed words, pictures, or in any form other than by spoken words or gestures; the act or crime of publishing it; anything that is defamatory or that maliciously or damagingly misrepresents” (http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/libel?s=t).

Betz (2011) explains “a particularly threatening feature of cyberbullies for victims is that they can operate in “virtual” anonymity” (p. 283).  She goes on to explain that teaching kids what is sharable information paired with how to be respectful to others is the key to ending cyberbullying (Betz, 2011). 

 

No one is regulating what is posted in cyberspace (Patchin and Hinduja, 2010) – but the invitation to commit cyberbullying would still exist even if there was regulation.  For centuries rules have been broken and for centuries to come this will remain. 

Remember the mother who cyberbullied a girl her daughter attended school with?  She created a fictitious profile of a boy on MySpace (how long ago was that trend?!) and reportedly told the girl “the world would be a better place without her” (Meredith, 2010, p. 311).  Meredith (2010) explains that although the mother violated the MySpace Terms of Service she was later acquitted.  A child lost her life due to cyberbullying – and the woman who pushed the child over the edge walks away.

The belief is that “empowering educators with the tools to inform students and parents about how to use ever-changing technology wisely is key” (Meredith, 2010, p. 334).  First people must be open to the education and willing to see a different point of view. I have seen firsthand parents on Facebook posting status updates – being a cyberbully. What kind of role model is that parent being to their children who are their “friends” on Facebook? 

Many naïve people still believe everything they read on the worldwide web to be truth.  The only truth is that whether factual or not – one should not base all claims on one source of information.  Sources and perspectives help us to look beyond our own biases or walls we put up for ourselves. 

Whether you are a fan of the WWE or not, they are making strides to end bullying (http://www.wwe.com/). They paired with The Creative Coalition in April 2011 to start the program Be a STAR – Show Tolerance and Respect.  “The mission of Be a STAR is to ensure a positive and equitable social environment for everyone regardless of age, race, religion, or sexual orientation through grassroots efforts beginning with education and awareness” (http://community.wwe.com/diversity/programs/be-star).  As of June 2013 30,000 people have pledged through the WWE website to end bullying.  The superstars and divas are so committed to end bullying that they visit “2-3 schools or community centers per month to speak with students about bullying issues including sharing their own personal stories” (http://community.wwe.com/diversity/programs/be-star). 

A great website for parents regarding what bullying is:  http://www.stompoutbullying.org/aboutbullying.php – there is also a chat line, phone number, and personal stories which help make an impact on parents and kids alike.

A strategy I have used to help me avoid posting/sending anything which could be perceived as hurtful is to wait 24 hours. I learned this from a friend – she explained there was an email she wanted to send but when she read it to her husband he said “wait 24 hours – if you re-read that tomorrow and you still feel the same way then you can hit submit.” Best advice I have received! It is my mantra – if I am unsure I simply wait 24 hours. Whether it is an email, a blog post, a Facebook status, or a text message – when in doubt, wait 24 hours.

"Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life, but define yourself."

~Harvey Fierstein

References not hyperlinked:

Betz, C. (2011). Cyberbullying: The virtual threat. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 26(4), p. 283-284.

Holladay, J. (2010). Teaching Tolerance. Southern Poverty Law Center.

Meredith, J. (2010). Combating cyberbullying: Emphasizing education over criminalization. Federal Communications Law Journal, 63, p. 311-340.

Patchin, J., & Hinduja, S. (2010). Cyberbullying and self-esteem. Journal of School Health, 80(12), p. 614-621.

Rogers, V. (2010). Cyberbullying: Activities to help children and teens to stay safe in a texting, twittering, social networking world. London, Great Britain: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.

The Networked Worker: Always Connected

What is a major downfall for a networked worker? For me, the answer is simple – balance! As a networked worker, or an individual with the capability to access the web at work, I struggle to find the balance between work life and home life (Madden and Jones, 2008). In a world where people can do anything at any time – where do we draw the line? 

Madden and Jones (2008) state that “questions about work-life balance, what counts as overtime work, and the extent to which personal online activity can spill into normal working hours have become more pervasive as the internet is integrated into many workplaces” (p. 1). So should we forbid access to the internet while at work? Absolutely not – and for good reason. Let’s look at the pros and cons of workers with internet access at work.

Pros:

• Access to a plethora of information which could better enable workers to complete their day-to-day tasks.
• Able to connect with individuals in the company from different parts of the world – the interconnectedness makes work more manageable in terms of teams across the company.  
• Work can be done anywhere, anytime.
• Workers are able to stay connected to home and work simultaneously through their computers, cell phones, iPad, Kindle, and other technologically savvy machines. 
• Networked workers can be more in tune with what is happening at work – between co-workers and also with managers. Communication lines may be more open.
• Networked workers trust technology – they expect to be able to use their cell phone, computer, and gadgets wherever they go. 

Cons:

• Access to many sites on the internet from online shopping to Facebook to YouTube. With all these sites available is the networked worker really working? 
• Workers may use internet to chat with friends outside the company via instant messengers, Facebook chat, Twitter, etc. While using social media – is the networked worker sharing personal information or work information? This could be a tremendous issue in healthcare with the HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) – protecting patient information. I have seen firsthand healthcare workers who share patient information or information about their employer on Facebook – typically resulting in termination of the employee.
• Workers may not be able to strike the balance between their personal and professional lives leading to discontent and dissatisfied workers. Expectations must be clear for these workers to help them find balance. Madden and Jones (2008) explain that “22% of employed email users say they are expected to read and respond to work-related emails, even when they are not at work” (p. 27).
• No separation of personal life and work. Overstimulation of workers – always feeling the need to be connected to someone or something. “Americans tend to always be on or always be off” meaning people either always check their emails or they never do (Madden and Jones, 2008, p. 13).
• More connected may not mean more invested. As networked workers interact more with co-workers or managers professional lines may blur – making it more difficult to be professional on the job. 
• These tools can be misused in a way that violates trust. Friedman (2007) explains “when terrorists take instruments from our daily lives – the car, the airplane, the tennis shoe, the cell phone – and turn them into weapons of indiscriminate violence, they reduce trust” (p. 557). This does not just include terrorists from outside our own countries – this also includes those we work with, go to the gym with, and are friends with – Friedman (2007) writes about cell phones not being allowed at the gym because people abused their use by taking nude photographs of people in the locker room and sharing them on the internet (p. 534).

 

The free use of internet at work can pose challenges for both the networked worker and management at the organization. Friedman (2007) writes “whatever the innovation, people will find a way to use it and abuse it” (p. 534). The opportunity then, is to deter abuse of the free use of internet in the workplace. Challenges present opportunities for organizations to flourish or falter. What opportunities do the above challenges (cons) present?

Social media platforms such as Facebook or Twitter can be utilized to help advertise for a business or organization. If used in a way that is respectful to the organization networked workers can share good information with the world. For example, a Facebook status such as: I love my job! Starbucks is such a great place to work – my customers are amazing! would promote the company’s image. Customers would see this status and think good thoughts about Starbucks. If, on the other hand, customers saw this status: I hate that place! The customers at Starbucks are all spoiled and rude – I can’t wait to quit! would likely elicit an entirely different set of feelings. 

Instant messaging presents an opportunity in that an organization can utilize it for communication within the organization.  A person who works on the tenth floor can send an instant message rather than walking down several flights of stairs. Instant messaging, for some, can seem more personal than emailing or even talking on the phone. 

If a company or organization does not want certain sites to be visited from their internet source it is simple – block the site. Otherwise, the internet can be used for research, connecting employees from around the world, and for stimulating new ideas. 

Pros and cons can be identified for any tool, gadget, or process – for anything really. What is important is to try to view cons through a different lens in order to develop innovative or creative ways to change the con to a pro for the organization (Lowney, 2003). In doing so the organization will be more technologically savvy, more adaptable to change, and more sustainable for the future.

Friedman, T.L. (2007). The world is flat: A brief history of the twenty-first century. Farrar, Straus & Girous (Ed.). New York, NY: Picador.

Lowney, C. (2003) Heroic leadership: Best practices from a 450-year-old company that changed the world. Chicago: Loyola Press.

            Madden, M., & Jones, S. (2008, September 24). Networked Workers. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2008/Networked-Workers.aspx