Curiosity 2 Follow Up

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine, All Rights Reserved 2008

Curioser and Curioser…

“Wonder, connected with the principle of rational curiosity, is the source of all knowledge and discovery.” - Samuel Horsley

“It is curious that physical courage should be so common in this world, and moral courage so rare.” - Mark Twain

Welcome Alumni…

__________________________________

• Curriculum Learning Day: Municipal Issues
• Key Leadership Skill: Ethics
  
  
  How much curiosity did our guest speakers stir up in you? This post is a list of follow up points which were mentioned at our first Community Learning Day, including the answer to Mayor Krassilowsky’s ethics question.
  
  1. The Bellamy Report, all about bad judgement, corruption, bribery and scandals as mentioned by John Hannam: http://www.mississauga.ca/file/COM/Bellamy_Report___Mississauga.pdf
  
  2. This link leads you to Megatrends 2010, referenced by Mayor Richard Harvey: http://www.yourlifework.com/List-of-Megatrends.html .
  
  “There’s a crisis in ethics, with collateral damage to people, society and ecology.” “Know your core values and have the courage to live them in all areas of your life.”
  
  3. Association of Municipalities of Ontario, referenced by Mayor Anne Krassilowsky: http://www.amo.on.ca/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home . This is Municipal Government Week.
  
  4. Northwestern Ontario Common Voice: http://www.fonom.org/NOMAPresentation.pdf
  
  5. Mayor Krassilowsky’s Question: "Is it ethical to break the law to change an unjust law?"
  
  Answer: “If the change “betters society” it may be worth it. BUT no matter if it is for the greater good, there will still be winners and losers.” She adds, “if it feels wrong, it is. Honesty, fairness, full disclosure, being as clear about things as possible; allegiance to contracts and to people. Ethics walks with you and through you."
  
  
  BONUS:
  
  6. AN INVITATION: This relates directly to one of LTB's Community Action Projects!
  Free seminars are part of Tamarack’s Practical Visionaries series to envision a better future for communities, and create the means to help us to get there. Register here:
  
  http://tamarackcommunity.ca/g1_events_LCtele.html
  http://tamarackcommunity.ca/downloads/index/PB_comm_harnessing.pdf
  The Six Elements of Successful Innovation
  Date: Tuesday, October 28, 2008
  Time: 12:00pm Eastern
  Speakers: Al Etmanski & Vickie Cammack
  Description: Learn the secrets of successful social innovations with two of Canada’s leading social innovators.
  
  MORE ON MUNICIPAL ISSUES: JUST RELEASED
  
  7. The Sunshine Law: Open Municipal Meetings in Ontario:
  http://www.ombudsman.on.ca/media/31906/the%20watchdog%20e-newsletter_oct%2008.pdf
  
  IN THE NEWS:
  
  8. $$$ Chronicle Journal (October 20, 2008) Maxwell House Coffee is accepting nominations for do-gooders until March 31. Applications are available online at http://www.brewsomegood.ca/. Also featured in video: Thunder Bay’s Jaako Polkki, age 12 and his fundraising campaign for Malawi. He received $10,000 from Maxwell House!
  
  
  Your turn....I'm curious about what you are following
  
  Have a great link about leadership, a good book or blog you're reading? COMMENT on your favourite quotes from politics and ethics to why you should hang around at the farmer's market or walk instead of driving…
  
  HOW TO COMMENT: find the “date” directly below this post, “comments” beside, and click on “comments”.
  
  
  
  Yours in leadership,
  
  Maggie

Your Leadership Code of Ethics

How Does A Leader Change? Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine. All Rights Reserved.

The Leadership Test

Whether you’re living in the mudflats of Alaska or the urban forests of Northern Ontario, you are the target of political messages this month. With opposing perspectives about the meaning of patriotism in the United States and Canada, and promises of change blowing in the winds on both sides of the border, what better time to reflect about your own leadership style? What are the challenges on your personal campaign’s scorecard?

Impressions of a leader’s influence can be measured in many ways. More often than not, it’s the perception of ethics and the discernment of the communication which can sway followers away from or toward the cause. It’s how leaders calibrate their intentions, design meetings and come to terms with the juxtaposition of vision, passion and reality, that add up to what we call a “reputation”.

Take Nelson Mandela and his lifetime of service, including 27 years behind bars where, he says, “my greatest deprivation was spent without hearing a baby cry or holding a child’s hand.” Time Magazine (July 21, 2008) featured his 8 Secrets of Leadership, well worth the read. The questions below are based on his secrets.

As the media continues to reveal the truth behind the candidates for highest level powers in North America, I urge you to consider your own capacity and capability in leadership, no matter how seasoned or inexperienced you may be at the moment. Using the key leadership skills of "REFLECTION" and "APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY", take time this week to test your own leadership.

Question 1: How do you define courage? Is it the absence of fear or inspiring others, and yourself to move beyond it?

Question 2: How do you measure the distance between you as a leader and your followers? Who and what might you be leaving behind?

Question 3: What are the advantages and dangers of leading from the back, and inspiring others to believe that they are in front?

Question 4: Who is your enemy, and what is their favourite sport? What tactic could attack you in your blindspot?

Question 5: Who are your friends and how close do you keep them? How do you keep your rivals even closer?

Question 6: What does appearance have to do with leadership? Which facial expressions convey your leadership abilities (plus and minus)?

Question 7: Do you operate in black and white or grey zones? What are the consequences?

Question 8: Is it okay to quit? How do you know when the right time is to quit? Is quitting part of your strategic plan?


Ultimately, it’s tempting to watch the political antics and then judge candidates than it is to be one yourself. It’s also easier to judge you, as the leader of a corporation, government department or a community organization. Two pieces of information are equally important: what people tell you, and what they do NOT tell you.

These nuances can be compiled into your personal reservoir of experiences, if you are paying attention and making notes along the way. Leadership isn’t learned through reading books, although lifelong learning is certainly an important function. Leadership development, attending the school of hard knocks as well as taking time to celebrate victories, connects you to the people around you no matter where in the world your board room chair may be located.

Your Leadership CODE OF ETHICS defines the fine lines of the actions you must take and the decisions you make. As a leader, you can’t hide in the mudflats, or in the bushes, no matter how far north or south you might be.

Author Maggie Chicoine, originally published as The Tuesday File in LakeSuperiorNews.com

PS: For an interesting read on the Landminds of Being a Mayor, go to Municipal World Magazine, here: http://www.municipalworld.com/index.php/FeaturedArticle/Cuff

More than Reading the Rhetoric

"Keeping A Close Eye on the Candidates"

Photo Credit: Richard Chicoine, All Rights Reserved

Election and Selection

Leadership is in the spotlight this week as Northern Ontario and North America prepare to elect leaders.

Here’s a sampling of leadership videos, blogs and articles, Canadian and American. Think about these people as your “virtual mentors”.

Remember to take notes. Find examples of ethics in leadership. Reflect... Record your (AI) questions... Analyze your own beliefs, values, ethics as you read and listen.

A. Canadian Election Coverage from CBC - issues, biographies
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/

Superior North: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/riding/198/index.html

Thunder Bay Rainy River: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/riding/197/index.html

B. See the FIRST televised debate in the USA: "American Experience, The First Debate" @ http://www.pbs.org/vote2008/ Nixon/Kennedy: What has really changed between Republicans and Democrats? (The 60's mode...yikes, it's back!)

C. CBC News Sunday about Leadership: What is a Great Leader? http://www.cbc.ca/sunday/2008/09/092808_2.html

D. Women and Elections "SHElections?" (Canadian Style) CBC PM Kim Campbell on Women: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/story/2008/09/26/bc-kim-campbell-women-election.html

American Style: google Sarah Palin, or Alaska Politics

E. FOR FUTURE REFERENCE:

Great news from our Thunder Bay Public Library.

Chief Librarian Gina LaForce and Joanna Aegard (Alumni 2005-06) advises us about a Leadership Collection, inspired by LTB. “The link below will take you to a list of leadership books (and ebooks / dvds / audiobooks etc.) in the Library's online catalogue. The link is dynamic, so updates automatically as we add new materials.”

http://tinyurl.com/2xgncc

F. JUST FOR FUN: Palin and Clinton on SNL (couldn't resist!)

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/palin-hillary-open/656281/

From Ormiston Online (CBC), Canadian Humour http://www.cbc.ca/news/canadavotes/campaign2/ormiston/2008/09/leader_larks.html

G. For October 16: See the links in the top right column for your recommended readings for "Municipal Day".

&... Share your favourite links and recommended reading by clicking on "Comments" below this post. Alumni and LTB Board are welcome to join in! Option: email maggiechicoine@gmail.com and I will post for you.

Here's to keeping a close eye on leadership, political savvy style.

- Maggie