Personal Reflection on Leadership

Personal Reflection on LeadershipIn my brief professional cargoner at IBM, I was part of a software development group where I was the youngest and least experienced person. I vividly remember that we had a team film director, highly experienced and professional but an ineffective attractor. He would perform his tasks but did not go that extra mile. On the other hand, one of my teammates-very less experienced compared to the manager was a true leader, his duties did not ask him of any such commitments, but he always went the extra mile to help the team. He took me under his wing, incite others in the team, and found innovative ways to solve the problem. He created an environment for high competence. He gave me so much confidence with his mentoring that I was acting at the highest level in no time. He created a synergy among the team that even the client praised. His actions re geniused me of a saying from Jack Welch, former chief operating officer of GE Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others. In my opinion, he was the true leader because he positioned the team at the centre of everything and took the responsibility of growing everyone.This experience was one of the most influential leadership lessons I have come crossways till now. I am definite that I allow have a clear picture in mind when I embark on future leadership roles.Before pursuing my degree at Cass, I had the opportunity to look around my brothers nascent IT firm which is primarily focused on web-based services and providing internet marketing solutions. Though a well rounded firm, I sensed a lack of strong innovation and new products. This might jeopardize the company in the long run. Ideally, after completing my graduate studies, I am neat to join him and oversee the launch of new products, specifically, something along the lines of an automatic website builder. Furthermore, I am also keen to move the c ompanys operations to different cities in the nation where there is an opportunity of further growth. Taking charge of being the Product Head and institute such flips depart require strong leadership skills. progressive Leadership Launching a technologically advanced product in my organization lead require me to adopt innovative leadership characteristics and work seamlessly across different sets of people having varied skills.A good innovation leader is characterized by the ability to excel ontwoconflicting skills creativity and discipline. creativeness involves skills such as idea generation and conceptualization while discipline involves the skill to implement and launch. A successful leader should measure the weight of two and take actions accordingly (Roland Bel, 2010). Furthermore, Innovative leaders are characterized by the following attributes (Jean-Philippe Deschamps, 2008)Mix of Emotion and RealismThe Acceptance of Uncertainty, Risks, and FailuresHigh Degree of Passi onThe Willingness to Proactively look for for External Technologies and IdeasThe Courage to Stop Projects, Not Just to Start ThemTalent for Attracting Innovators and Building and Steering Winning Teams jibe to the author if an individual needs to stupefy an innovative change in the organization, he or she should possess at least some of the qualities listed above so that they are successful in livery new products or services in the market.Adaptive Leadership and change Coming back to my tenure at IBM, what my colleague did differently with others in the team was that he forced us to think differently than other teams, livery out the best in everyone. Each one of us was flexible in taking any type of task, further increasing the teams flexibility and productivity. According to Ronald A.Heifetz and Donald L.Laurie (1997, p132-141) Organizations today require adaptive leadership where challenges reside not in the executive director suite but in the collective intelligence of emplo yees at all levels. This is where the success of many future ideas and entrepreneurial ventures will lie. I believe bringing in such a change will be one of my biggest challenge once I take the leadership role. Moreover, Adaptive change will require people to work in new ways, new relationships and take on new roles (Ronald A.Heifetz and Donald L.Laurie, 1997).I intend to carry out such changes through the implementation of different project management techniques such as Lean and Agile (Schwaber, 2004). These techniques have been successful in recent years as they are quite adaptive in nature. These techniques forces employees to adapt quickly, learn new things constantly and learn from their mistakes. In Particular, these techniques are found to be useful in major tech companies and technologically driven products and hence will suit the company style. I have already had experience with such techniques at IBM and hence I will be able to use my knowledge and skills to implement it within my future organization.A lot of companies such as IBM or Google make work shift of employees their top priority. They continuously invest in employee transformation and hence are able to meet the challenges of the changing environment. When I was working in IBM, I remember going through multiple trainings and workshops and these trainings did not just include technical trainings. Trainings such as communicating effectively, leading in teams, how to conduct meetings etc were equally important. According to Mike Pedler et al(1989,pp1-8) an organization which facilitates the learning of all its members and continuously transform itself is a learning company . My future goal will also be to change my organization into a learning company through employee development programs and knowledge management systems (Pedler et al, 1989) as currently there is lack of such learning.My skill warning The skills model provides a good overview of the skills which are necessary for an effective leader (M.D. Mumford et al, 2000). Appendix 1 lists my score in the three components which are described in the modelTechnical skills The high score in this regard can be attributed to my experience in software engineering and working on a complex product while I was working in IBM. My daily tasks almost always included problem-solving and analyzing product requirements in detail. According to Mumford et.al (2000, p.24) the experiences required in the course of leaders careers influence their knowledge and skills to solve complex problems. My background and experience will help me tackle problems during the development stage of the product.Human skill Throughout my professional experience I worked with different sets of people with varied skills and experience. The entire project in IBM consisted of over a hundred people in India, and the product had multiple features that required expertise and collaboration from multiple teams. This meant communicating with various team leads and delegating responsibilities. Though I had quite a sufficient experience working in teams, there is still development which needs to be done in this regard. For e.g. Participating in Toastmasters club at CASS will improve my communication and leadership skills. The experience of working with people from diff cultures and backgrounds in CASS will further improve my people skills. abstract skill Since my duties at IBM were basically technical I was largely uninvolved in the strategic decision-making process. My low score represents my lack of experience in this skill and needs the most development. Conceptual skills require working at an organization level and working with ideas (Peter G.Northouse, 2013). I plan to intern at a start-up company so that I am able to have experience at an organizational level. It will give me an overview of the challenges which are faced by new organizations when launching new products or services. Furthermore, not to forget the mentoring I will have f rom my brother who has been heading the company for a couple of years now. Learning form him will improve my understandings and will help me tackle issues at a higher level.Additionally, I will have to broaden my knowledge base further and enhance my entrepreneurial skills to be successful in my futures goals. Though Leadership theory and practice can greatly improve a persons leadership skills a competent backing leader is one who possesses a clear vision for his or her company, is keenly aware of emerging trends and possesses the ability to capitalize on them.ReferencesBel, Roland. 2010, Leadership and Innovation Learning from the Best, Wiley Periodicals-Global business and Organizational Excellence, pp 47-58Deschamps, J. P. (2008). Innovation leaders How senior executives stimulate, steer, and sustain innovation. Hoboken, NJ Wiley.Heifetz, Ronald A. Laurie, Donald L (1997), The work of Leadership, Breakthrough Leadership-Harvard business review, pp 132-141Mumford, M.D., Zaccaro , S.J., Harding, F.D., Jacobs, T.O., Fleishman, E.A.(2000). Leadership skills for a changing world settlement complex social problems. Leadership Quarterly, 11(1), 11-35Northouse, Peter.G (2013). Leadership Theory and Practice. Sage publications-6th edition, p46-51Schwaber, K (2004). Agile Project Management with Scrum, Microsoft Press, Redmond, WA,Pedler, Mike., Boydell, Tom., Burgoyne, John.(1989). Towards the learning company, Management education and development, Volume 20-part1, pp 1-8

Importance Of The Nile River For Egypt

Importance Of The Nile River For EgyptWater contamination is the presence of any substances in water which push aside be catastrophic for plants and animals that hot in water or people who use it. In other word it is the change in the chemical or physical properties of the water and this change can lead to cause damage and health hazards to animals and plants that live inside it or organisms that use it. (1)Importance of the Nile River for EgyptThe Nile River is the primary water resource in Egypt, where it represents more than 95% of the total water resources in Egypt and it is the lifeline for Egypt and there are many reasons for its importance which areEgyptians depends on it to acquire fresh water to use it for mingled purposes such as drinking, cooking, cleaning and other household uses.Use it for gardening where fertile land formed around the Nile River and they irrigated by Nile River.The Nile River is an important source of seek.It is use in water transportation becaus e it passes from south to north Egypt.Industry in Egypt depends a lot on the waters of the Nile River.Recently after the construction of the high-pitched Dam became the Nile River is an important source for generating electricity to Egypt. (2)(1) http//www.smokefreecolorado.com/cause-for-water- contaminations/(2) http//answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090216123423AALSyKICauses of pollutionThere are many sources of water pollution in Nile River.Industry wastewaterIndustry is an important user of water. In analogous time is an important producer of pollution. Water is very important in manufacture. Water demand for industry was 3.6 Billion Cubic Meters BCM/ social class in 2000. And they expect to be 5.5 Billion Cubic Meters BCM/year in 2017. So, when industry increases, the water demands increase.(1)Municipal WastewaterIn the city, the water which used by people going down through various treatment processes to make it healthy as possible before retire it back to environme nt. Treating water is help to minimize the negative effects of wastewater on the environment. However, some poor cities along Nile River cannot use treatment facilities which are valuable for them. The only way they can use it is dumped in the river without treated. (2)Statistics show that, whole g all overnments generate 3.5 Billion Cubic Meters BCM/year of wastewater. Of these wastewater 1.6 Billion Cubic Meters BCM/year receives treatment. In 2017, 1.7 Billion Cubic Meters BCM/year will receive treatment. Although the capacity will increase scarcely it will not be able to covers all wastewater. As it is show in table (1) the number of people serves increase and number of people not served increase because increasing in community. (3)http//www.irgltd.com/Resources/Publications/ANE/2002-09%20Survey%20of%20Nile%20System%20Pollution%20Sources-Egypt.pdfhttp//sitemaker.umich.edu/sec004_gp5/pollutionhttp//www.irgltd.com/Resources/Publications/ANE/2002-09%20Survey%20of%20Nile%20Syste m%20Pollution%20Sources-Egypt.pdfSo, it will not be able to decline the amount of wastewater that is not receiving treatment. (1)Agriculture WastewaterAgriculture is larger consumer of water. And it is in same time contributed in water pollution. Runoff from the agricultural sector frequently contains pollutants that may have an adverse effect on the river. Pollutants such as salts, nutrients want phosphorus and nitrogen, and pesticide residue can be found in this runoff. Agricultural runoff often is a non-point pollutant, in that it can come from anywhere in a region, and not from a specific drain. This can make it difficult to There are also problems associated with agricultural runoff seeping into the groundwater as well. (2) result of populationThere are many effect of Nile river pollution. Some of these effects areThe presence of oil on the surface of the river works as a buffer between the sun and the plants. This leads to death of seek and Lack of food for humans. In additi on, that will decrease the number of fishermen Many fishermen have either leftfield their jobs altogether or migrated, el-Fikky said. (3)http//www.irgltd.com/Resources/Publications/ANE/2002-09%20Survey%20of%20Nile%20System%20Pollution%20Sources-Egypt.pdfhttp//sitemaker.umich.edu/sec004_gp5/pollutionhttp//www.irinnews.org/Report/87416/EGYPT-River-pollution-hits-Nile-fishermenThe solid waste thrown in the river hinder the movement of fishermen net and torn nets which reduces the amount of fish and increase the cost on the fishermen. Saed said he usually catches 2kg of fish a day that equal to US$165 a month, but over the past few months he has had an additional headache his net needs replacing not every month as in the past but every few days, costing him up to $144 a month.The Nile river is source for drinking but because it polluted by human that could cause a harmful effect on human and cause a dangerous diseases. Not only for people whose drink from it but also for people who eat fish or plant from it. (1)http//www.irinnews.org/Report/87416/EGYPT-River-pollution-hits-Nile-fishermenAbstractWater pollution is a serious problem for the all world. And it is considered to be one of the most harmful problems change Egypt. The pollution of Nile River is increase especial in the past few decades.Although the Egyptians love the Nile River a lot and it is important for them, not only in economic damage but it has a significant meaning for them. But this did not protect it from pollution.In this report I will explain the meaning of water pollution. Then, I will take about the important of Nile River. After that, I will talk about causes of Nile River pollution which are industry wastewater, municipal wastewater and agriculture wastewater. Final, I will take about effect of Nile River pollution.IntroductionWater covers more than two thirds of the Earths surface and the rest taken up by land. When the population are increase, the demand for water sources are increase. One of these fresh water resources is Nile River. As we know water is essential for life. No organism can live without it. Water pollution is problem effect human, animals and plants. And it caused by different resource. In these report I will try to find the main causes of water pollution in Nile River and the effect of that pollution.SummaryIn the summary, as you see all water pollution in Nile rive and in any place in the world created by human and then he try again to solve it what he already create. I advice all people to maintain the environment. And entertain the water clean.ConclusionIn conclusion, I learn from these report that human create problem. Then, it is adversely affecting our life. For that, I think that the maintain of the environment is a joint operation between all members of the community.UAE UniversityFaculty of ScienceDepartment of BiologyPrinciples of Environmental ScienceDone by Shaikha Mohammed.ID 201003128.Instructor Dr. Tarek Youssef.

Racism in America :: essays papers

Racism in America The Construction of an Institution For hundreds of years, it has been truth that the unravels were biologicly dissimilar. The differences that separated society were base on scientifically based genetic differences that gave reason for the separation of races. However based on recent findings, it is known that this is not the case. In 1974 Richard Lewontin dispelled this myth with a study he did that prove that there are no genetic differences amid races. In fact he discovered if anything, there were more differences within the races then between the different races. Why then, do we still have use for different races? Why is racism still rampant in American society? The reason is that although race is not founded through science, this institution of American society is merely an obsolete combination of historical, social, and cultural construction. Historically our physical differences supplied reason to separate into races. In do ing this we wait the emergence of races. Europeans marked individuals that looked different from them and used this difference as a justification for their reasoning that these individuals were inferior to them. To support their claims, there was scientific research through to explain our differences. These differences were said to be biological. As early as the 1800s scientists purported these ideas to be true. One doctor believed that blacks suffered from a form of leprosy. Because science is said to be so exact and indisputable, Americans held these theories to be truth and used them to construct the different classifications of race. These biological findings provided the basis for the most corrupt institution in America racism. Through the classifying of population of color as inferior due to genetic reasoning, provided whites with an excuse to dominate. This social issue divided the country and served as a weapon to keep commonwealth of color in the minority and deni ed them of any economic or educational power that was necessary to survive in America. This social phenomenon further abused the biological differences to further oppress people of color. Race provided the perfect method of domination in America. To the dismay of racists around the country, a scientist decided to reevaluate the genetic differences between the races, that had been so cleverly constructed.

Slaves :: essays research papers

Slave Versus MasterSlavery was a huge part of Americas history and is impossible to sack today. African-Americans, during the 1860s, obviously disagreed with the widespread use of hard workerry and did whatever they could to showcase their disapproval of it. There are many examples of slaves hostility toward their masters, solely unfortunately the South was in addition heavily populated with slave owners for most(prenominal) of the protests to have a huge impact on the push for the abolition of slavery.The population of African-Americans in the South in 1860 is appalling. In 1860 the population was sixty-six percent discolor, thirty two percent slave, and an unbelievable two percent free blacks in the South. The lucky, few blacks that were free had to regard about the abuse and pain their fellow brothers had to go through. Although some plantation owners were pleasant to work for, it does seem that the majority of slave owners were harsh and brutal to their slaves. (Doc 113)Sl aves were considered as a piece of property to every slave owner and most lived a sad, to what they had to do. They protested in several different ways whether it be attacking the slave owner, wounding themselves, or simply accidentally breaking tool needed to perform their everyday duties. (Doc 115)A slave named Nat Turner led one of the most famous drive backs. Turner, a slave preacher, led an armed group of African-Americans on a killing spree from house to house in Southampton County, Virginia. They killed sixty white men, women, and children before being overcome by federal troops. Turners revolt rested with more than a hundred blacks being executed. This was the most catty of all the revolts and after Turners incident slave conspiracies, were always greatly feared for as long as slavery existed. (Brink 312)Another such revolt was by a slave named Gabriel Prosser, who gathered nearly 1,000 slaves to brawl with the slave owners. Somehow a couple of slaves gave the plot away, and it was uncovered and stopped by the Virginia militia. The end of the revolt led to the execution of Prosser and others. (Brink 312)Most slave revolts werent anywhere near as extreme as Turners or Prossers, but there were still many other forms of revolts. It was not unusual for slaves to run away, especially to the North where slavery was illegal, but it was uncommon for the slaves to make it too farther or get away.

Igbo Government and Social Structure :: Essays Papers

Igbo Government and Social StructureDetails of traditional Igbo government and social structure varied from focalise to place throughout the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but its characteristic nature remained the same. The basic unit of Igbo life was the village group, and the most universal institution was the utilisation of the family head. This was usually the oldest man of the oldest surviving generation. His role primarily involved settling family disputes, and because he controlled the channel of communication with the all-important ancestors, he commanded great respect and reverence. In some areas the government of chiefs and elders was composed of a governing age grade, in others the council of elders was made up of the oldest members of particular families.Titles played a major part in this society. There was a hierarchy of ascending titles that were to be taken in order, accompanied by an ascending scale of payments. The system acted as a primary form of so cial security, in that those who acquired titles paid a particular fee, and then were entitled to share in the payments of those who later acquired titles. A series of intense rituals were to be undertaken before acquiring a title, which was considered a symbol of character as well as of success. A titled mans life was prevail by numerous religious restrictions, and it was expected that these would be strictly adhered to. A few Igbo states, such as Aboh and Onitsha, which had a tradition of origin from elsewhere, were ruled by kings, which were regarded as sacred and lived in ritual seclusion. However, the decisions taken by these kings were by no means final, they were often challenged and overruled by other titled men with whom they were requisite to consult. In general, however, kingship was an unfamiliar concept to the majority of Igbos.A political institution that was widespread but not universal was that of the age-grade. Each age-grade was responsible for specific areas of company service, and this often promoted rivalry between the groups. This was actually a valuable instrument of social control, in that in order to preserve the good name of their age-group, its members became involved in disciplining and restraining those who tended to cause trouble within the community. Secret societies were also an instrument of social control. Their members would appear at night, masked, in the guise of supernatural beings. Any offenders in the community would be denounced.

Getting Back into the Game :: Personal Narrative Essays

Getting Back into the Game   I have always been involved in sports in some way or another. I was group captain in every sport imaginable in elementary school. Junior high I continued to be involved in sports, provided it wasnt until high school started that I really got into it. I played soccer, softball and basketball at Rogers High School. I particularly loved soccer. Just compete it gave me a rush I had never felt before. Also knowing that this sport took a lot of hard work and dedication gave me a champion of satisfaction, because I knew that I put everything I had into it. Putting a lot of dedication and hard work into something may prove to be useful in the future.   When I had my baby, being involved in sports at all seemed impossible. Then one day, my friend Cory from work was telling me that her daughter wanted to play soccer. She then said that she was going to coach because no one else had volunteered in her area. The only problem was that she di dnt know the first thing about soccer. That gave me an idea. I played soccer in high school, so I thought I could help her, so I did.   My friend Cory and I went down to Spokane Youth Sports Association and volunteered to perish soccer coaches. I couldnt believe that I was actually getting to do this. I thought it was going to be great. I had not played soccer in a while, so I was nervous when I first started coaching. I never knew how hard it would be to dedicate yourself and your time to something without getting make up for it. It was especially hard when the kids were more often than not pretty hard to deal with.   I was coaching a team of nine-year-old girls. Some of those girls seemed to want to be there, and others not. That made it very difficult to get all of their attention at once. Sometimes it was so bad I felt that I was wasting my time. still I stuck it out in hopes that they would come around, after all they were only nine. As time went on the girls started to come around and started listening and enjoying the

Achilles :: Free Essay Writer

From the initial callousness and stubborn temper of Achilles in the first books of the Iliad to the eventual humanization of Achilles in his interaction with the grieving father of Hector, whom Achilles himself slew, the Iliad can be seen to chronicle the maturation of the Greek hero during the terrible battles of the Trojan War. Achilles is a hero in the epic sense, complete with flaws and bad qualities that round out the character, but with passions and convictions that any reader can relate to. Throughout the course of the Iliad, Homer creates the character of Achilles to be that assortment of hero in every sense of the word. As the novel begins, we first meet with Achilles in his interaction with the great king, Agamemnon. It may be said that Achilles shows himself to be a horribly hard-headed individual, and this is obviously true. But, in this encounter with the powerful king, Achilles also shows some of his more respectable qualities such as courage, honor, and a sense of j ustice. Achilles does non feel that it is right that he or the rest of the soldiers should be punished for the brashness of their commander. So, as the epic starts to unwind, Achilles is described as a strong-willed, though a bit hot tempered, man. It is in the following books that Achilles shows some of his not to desirable qualities, yet in these qualities the character of Achilles is ultimately developed. Homer describes the plot of Achilles to avenge his humble at the hand of Agamemnon. He has his mother, the goddess Thetis, ask Zeus to punish the Achaeans on behalf of her and Achilles. Zeus reluctantly agrees to this, and Achilles success in having the whole of his people subjected to a merciless and costly war to get his revenge on Agamemnon. As the Trojan War presses foreword, taking countless lives of both Trojan and Achaean alike, Achilles stands by and watches, unwilling to introduce in the battle even when an apology from Agamemnon and pleading from his comrades is pr esented to him. He replies in this fashion, "Love him so well, and you may lose the love I bear you. You ought to benefactor me rather in troubling those that trouble me be king as much as I am, and share like honor with myself the others shall take my exercise stay here yourself and sleep comfortably in your bed at daybreak we will consider whether to remain or go.