Be A Good Follower, Become a Great leader

Adapted from Joseph Galea'a article in http://www.articlesbase.com/martial-arts-articles/be-a-good-follower-become-a-great-leader-1264502.html

Have you ever heard the expression “He’s a natural born leader?” This is one of those phrases that in reality is more ?ction than fact. Leadership qualities are developed “after birth” through the decisions we make and the decisions that are made for us in childhood. These decisions influence which people we choose to follow, which ultimately shapes our leadership abilities. Therefore, in order to become a great leader, you must First learn how to become a good follower.

To become a good follower you must carefully select your role models and mentors. No one can choose these people for you. These people will be the leaders who will shape your character and ultimately teach you how to be a great leader yourself.

Role models and mentors are not the same. A role model can be anyone who influences another person to act or be- have in ways similar to themselves.

They can be someone you know or someone you have never met. The similar characteristic between role models is that they are looked up to by the people who follow them. This is why many children choose sports heroes as role models. They would love to be like Michael Jordan, Wayne Gretzky or John Elway. I wonder how many children do the “Sammy Sosa jump” after they hit a baseball, or stick their tongue out when attempting to slam dunk a basketball like Michael Jordan?

But sports heroes are not the only type of role model that can impact a person’s life. Peers, teachers, and parents have an opportunity to make the strongest impact on us. And because a role model’s in?uence can be either good or bad, who we choose to emulate will ultimately determine the person we become. Children are the most impressionable because they are looking to de?ne themselves. They are at the time in their lives when selecting a positive role model is crucial. However, in a recent survey that asked children if they had a role model, 43% said they did not.

A mentor is a type of role model. The relationship between a person and a mentor is much more special because the mentor will have an impact through a direct personal relationship. The mentor and the person not only interact together but the mentor often takes a personal interest in the success of their “student”. The mentor is an important part of the person’s life.

A mentor can “take you under their wing” or you may seek them out based on a particular area of expertise they possess. If you are fortunate enough to have one or more mentors in your life, these will be the key people who will shape your leadership qualities, so choose them wisely.

The best way to choose a role model/ mentor is to examine your goals and seek out the people who have accomplished similar objectives. Once you ?nd some- one that you would like to follow, ask yourself how this person accomplished their objective. If they were successful in an honest and reputable way, then they will most likely be an excellent role model or mentor in your life. For example, if your goal is to be a great weight-lifter, a good role model would be a person who was dedicated to being successful through hard work and without the use of steroids.

As martial arts instructors, we strive to become positive role models for all our students. We have the unique opportunity to work with many people with varying goals. While we don’t expect you to choose our life’s path and open a martial arts school, we do expect your martial arts training to be an important tool in helping you achieve success in whatever you do.

If you have been a good follower and have chosen your leaders properly, you will have learned to lead others. Just as it comes time for children to leave home and enter the world as individuals, there also comes a time for followers to become leaders. As children can always come home for support, great leaders understand that continuing to have role models and leaders as a reference will foster continued personal growth. At our school, it is our mission to develop great leaders. Our tool is martial arts.

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

Characteristics of Good Followers

Adapted from Leadership, Get It Done. For more details on Rex Campbell book, refer to http://web.missouri.edu/~campbellr/Leadership/default.htm

Chapter 5 : Characteristics of Good Followers

This is a book about leadership. You may be asking yourself why is there a discussion on how to be a good follower. Most of us start in an organization or a community as a follower. It is rare that any of us will step into any type of leadership position, formal or informal without demonstrating that we can be and are good followers. For that reason, perhaps, I should have started the book with this chapter.

So, let's start with a simple statement: you nor I cannot be a good leader unless we are or can be a good follower. The characteristics of each position are very similar. There are people who may be good followers who do not make good leaders or even want to be leaders, but there are no good leaders who are not good followers. Sure, there are some people who think they are too good to be a follower, but I bet their parade has only one person in it: themselves. The skills that make for good followers also make for good leaders.

Successful followers (supporters or team members) come in a wide variety of personal characteristics. We have all met loners who cannot get along with anyone. These are relatively rare. For the most part, all of us are followers at one time or another. There are some characteristics or traits that make for being a better follower. Just as with leaders, motivation is the most important single factor. Which is most important your ego or getting the job done? If you focus on the goals to be achieved and are motivated, you will a good follower and, perhaps, even a good leader.

Second in this list are such characteristics are reliability and loyalty. These are also important for leaders. Very few of us have all of best characteristics to be a good follower to the limit, but the most effective follower and leaders regardless of which role will have most of them well developed. I cannot say it too often: these characteristics regardless of the degree to which you now have them can be further developed and enhanced. Improvement is limitless. Remember, changes in the personality traits take years of consistent work. We can and should start today, but don't expect instantaneous results.

Personality: An outgoing style - the ability and enjoyment of working with other people in a team is a useful skill. A sincere liking and respect for other people is a wonderful asset. Being well liked will certainly help in working in teams or any other social situation. Humor and warmth are effective here also. First and foremost, you must be a good team member (see below for further discussion of this characteristic).

Communications skills: A follower must be able to understand and communicate with the leader and other team members. An effective leader must have a large amount of feedback. It is your responsibility as a follower to provide this information to the leader. Tell him/her what is working and what is not. Give him/her the information from which good decisions can be made. All of this must be done in what is an acceptable manner for that leader and that group or organization. This takes considerable skill. How do you tell someone that his/her tactics are not working without offending him or her? Very few people including leaders can accept criticism gracefully. There is no one answer to that question that will fit all situations. The best answer is tact, which will vary from one group to another.

Cooperative/team player: Responsible/dependable: This is a maxim characteristic for followers. If a leader cannot depend upon you being a certain place or doing a job, you are useless to him/her. Worse than that, you may be a danger because he/she may be counting on you. If you have any hope any desire to be a member of a group, a team or anything except a loner, you must have or develop dependability. Start by being on time or a few minutes early for your next appointment. Keep a calendar or a date book. It is essential for almost any type of professional career. Dedicated/loyal: Yes, Absolutely! It is required. However, there may come a time when because the leader or the group is doing something illegal or immoral, you should not be loyal. You should report the behavior or actions to the appropriate people or authorities. Loyalty should not be blind or limitless.

Persistent/patient: There are times when you will need to relax and wait for events or time to pass regardless of whether you are a leader or a follower. And again, there will be times when you should push, you should not be satisfied with the status quo. Critical thinking is an important part of both being a good follower or a good leader.

Perceptive: You must be sensitive to other people's wants and needs and to changes in these wants and needs. Genuine interest in another person will often develop a sense of trust by that person. The ability to listen which will help you be sensitive to other people is an essential skill of a good follower.

Honesty/Trustworthy: You must be honest. Most people will believe and want to work with someone they trust. The narrow line is between being overly candid and criticism. When do you tell your best friend that their taste in clothes is, well, awful? The answer is probably when they will be criticized for their awful clothes if you don't tell. The art is telling them in a way that will not hurt their feelings. Honesty ranks right along with dependable as a maxim characteristic for good followers.

Praise and compliments: Almost everyone, leaders or followers, likes to be recognized especially if they have worked hard. People are more attracted by praise than by criticism and will be willing to work with you if you acknowledge their contributions. Let me repeat, it is very important that people be given recognition for their contributions. Whenever possible, always give credit.

Prepared: A good follower needs to be knowledgeable about the groups’ goals. An effective follower should be both organized and prepared. Obviously, this list includes much that makes a person a good human being, a good member of a family, a group, and an organization or of a community. I doubt if any of the list really surprised you. But how many of those do you need to work on? To repeat what I said at the start of this chapter, the equation for success for a follower is very similar to that for a leader. The more of these traits (tools) you have successfully developed the greater the probability of your success either as a follower or as a leader.

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A Mental Questionnaire Let's turn those traits of a good follower into a questionnaire of your characteristics as a follower. Remember, all of us even the President are followers at times. Be honest to yourself.

Do you cooperate with others to achieve the desired goal?

Are you willing to accept others' ideas?

Are you a team player? Or do you prefer to work by yourself?

Are you willing to give the leader and others credit and public recognition?

Are you loyal to the group?

Are you flexible? Or does it have to be done YOUR way? My way or the highway?

Are you rational or dogmatic?

Are you dedicated to the group's goals?

Are you dependable?

Can others count on you to do your part?

Can you provide constructive feedback without being negative?

There is no passing, perfect or final score for these questions. Our answers will change for different groups, different situations and different times. All of us can improve on all of these attributes, all of the time. Keep these questions in your mind, both when you are a leader and when you are a follower. They will help you succeed at both. I have a strong belief that you can be a winner as either a leader or a follower!

Therefore in life

My mind is full
but my might is not
courage we take
or courage we make
we thought of our future
but the future is leaving us
we tend to forget
but forget bad deeds we will not
therefore in life
utilise your time
eventhough your mind is full
AND YOU THINK
THAT YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

Toxic people

I've attended a workshop on LEADERSHIP AND CAREER DEVELOPMENT FOR YOUNG LECTURERS. Am I still young??? Hahaha. However, the topics covered are pretty much the same for other workshops on developing leadership skill (not just for lecturers (as expected though). Anticipating my mind through the workshop I realised that certain things presented differs from any other stuff that I had gone through before. The speakers, (TNC A of UTM) were relating all the skills presented with real life experience as an academics and administrator. This is kind of a rare situation and pretty much a hands-on learning into the topics with more precise details. One of the main topics that he mentioned was the Toxic People. In any organizations, there would be couple of people with certain or specific characteristic. We are not talking about the looks and appearance although this is quite essential but the leadership qualities. Types of people are crucial in order for any organization to succeed in pretty much everything. While explaining a meeting scenario, he mentioned about the ‘Toxic People’. This brought me far away from my desk and starts to evaluate matter for my own perspective. Colleagues, friends and subordinate have been a subject matter of my quest for this toxic. Strictly, I’m not labelling anyone however just to put the puzzle into place.

How to recognize this toxic branch of life? Well, this defined by certain criteria such as:

(source: http://hubpages.com/hub/ToxicPeople)

How to Recognize Toxic People Following is a list of commonly encountered types of toxic people, with descriptions of their basic toxic characteristics. 1. The Psychopath: The Psychopath lacks empathy and sympathy, is completely devoid of a conscience, and derives pleasure from others' suffering.

2. The Sociopath: The Sociopath completely disregards the rights and feelings of others, and is incapable of experiencing remorse, shame or guilt.

3. The Pathological Liar: The Pathological Liar lacks the capacity to tell the truth-in fact, the pathological lacks the ability to even recognize the truth.

4. The Emotional Wreck: The Emotional Wreck is constantly on an emotional rollercoaster. This individual simply cannot keep it together.

5. The Putdown Artist: The Putdown Artist is constantly making others the butt of jokes in an attempt to deflect attention away from their own shortcomings.

6. The Hatemonger/Blamemonger: The Hatemonger/Blamemonger hates everyone who is nicer, smarter, richer, better connected or more successful than they are. The Hatemonger/Blamemonger blames every individual and every group of individuals that is different from them for all of their particular problems, as well as for everything the Hatemonger/Blamemonger believes is wrong with the world in general.

7. The Misogynist/Misandrist/Misanthrope: The Misogynist hates women. The Misandrist hates women. The Misanthrope hates ALL humans without regard to gender. The Misogynist/Misandrist/Misanthrope blames women, men or people in general for all of their problems and failures.

8. The World Class Jerk: The World Class Jerk is a classless, uncouth, foul-mouthed jackass who is universally offensive.

9. The Moocher: The Moocher constantly asks to borrow everything money to breath mints. The Moocher develops amnesia when it's time to pay back a loan, and is never able to reciprocate a favor.

10. The Downer: The Downer is always in a bad mood. In fact, The Downer takes great pains to maintain their bad mood and to broadcast it to anyone who will listen.

11. The Illwill Ambassador: The Illwill Ambassador seeks out bad news and rumors and works overtime to make sure no one misses out on their malevolent mudslinging.

12. The Instigator: The Instigator lives to create discord, hostility and strife. The Instigator actually nurtures confrontation.

13. The Bully: The Bully thrives on dominating and humiliating those they perceive as weaker than them.

14. The Master Manipulator: The Master Manipulator uses cunning, trickery and subterfuge to control victims.

15. The Blackmailer: The Blackmailer works hard to gain your trust so they can learn your secrets and weaknesses and exploit them when you cross them.

16. The Blabbermouth: The Blabbermouth tells everything they know--especially your personal business.

17. The Generally Malcontent: The Generally Malcontent finds dissatisfaction with everything and makes a point of never being happy...ever.

18. The Love Predator: The Love Predator pretends to be your friend, finds out all your business and uses it to try to get your spouse or lover into bed. The Love Predator doesn't actually want your spouse or lover; they want you to know they slept with (or could have slept with) your spouse or lover.

19. The Self-Destructor: The Self-Destructor eats too much, drinks too much, smokes too much and parties too much. The Self-Destructor is the embodiment of the word reckless.

Avoid them as much as necessary. I’ve encountered with no 1,2,3,5,6,16, and 17 How about you guys out there? No 1 should pay a visit to the nearest Mental Institution.

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

SPRING FEST@ UTEM

05/03/2011

My friend from HEPA invited me to watch this show by the Chinese Cultural Club in UTeM. Thanks Bro Zem for the invitation. Frankly, they really know what they are doing. Eventhough its not that perfect but consider it for the angle that they are not a pro. However, they did a really good job. I can't imagine how this people (a usual student) could remember such long lines for this play. I should applause on the sound system that UTeM had because the sound quality is no where near average. It was outstanding despite the sound of breath form the actors mainly because of the micropohone positioned to near. I just wonder, when can I see the Malay play on the UTeM stage. Perhaps, not in near future.......

SPRING FEST@ UTEM



-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

PRK: Merlimau (N27) & Kerdau(N28)- By-Election Result

•Barisan Nasional (BN) mempertahankan kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Merlimau (N27) dan DUN Kerdau (N28) dalam pilihan raya kecil di kedua-dua kawasan itu semalam dengan meraih majoriti undi yang lebih besar.


•Di Merlimau, calon BN Roslan Ahmad, 44, memperoleh majoriti 3,643 undi menewaskan calon Pas, Yuhaizad Abdullah, 38. Di Kerdau pula, Syed Ibrahim Syed Ahmad, 44, mendapat majoriti 2,724 undi mengalahkan calon Pas, Hassanuddin Salim, 43.

Sumber: Utusan Malaysia

Just wondering, when will the campaigning session would be held without pointing on each other's fault. Just concentrating on how good you are as a leader...


-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

Feeling glad

I was wondering is it me or just the day? I should be hectic and slow today but neither that happens. Just a sudden thought of dreaming that rises to my mind. Maybe just the passion and courage that motivates me. Despite of being purely a natural human being, now I learn something which not really that new. Life must goes on doesn't matter what happen while driving through it. There are still a lot of things to do and yet to be done. Naturally, throw away the darkness and bring laughter to your life (if you may). I guess if I can do that then I'm no more natural as I could be.

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

2002-2004 Honda Civic Type-R

Posted on 11.29.2005 14:52 by Alex Damian
Filed under: Honda Honda Civic hatchback

The second generation Honda Civic Type-R is built at Honda’s Swindon factory in the United Kingdom, and exported to other countries, including Japan. It is the same factory that builds the Civic Si.

Features
The front-wheel-drive Type-R Civic only comes in three-door hatchback form, same as the Si, but the Type-R has stiffer body with front and rear bracing struts, and comes standard with a complete "ground effects" kit, rear spoiler, mesh grille, lower suspension and 17 inch wheels. The interior is fitted with Alcantara-trimmed sports seats, a metallic-trim center console and a rally-style six-speed manual shifter. Luxuries are kept at a minimum, with only power windows, remote power door locks and a CD player. No GPS navigation, no heated seats and no other such niceties are offered, not even as options.

The Type-R is powered by the new i-VTEC 4 cylinder engine, similar to the 200 hp Acura RSX Type-S engine, but different from the 160 hp Civic Si powerplant. The i-VTEC unit provides for smoother power delivery, unlike older VTEC engines which gave a sudden boost at a certain rpm. Like all Honda engines, the Type-R’s 197 hp engine provides most of its power in the higher rev range and is characteristically short on torque, with a peak torque figure of only 145 lb-ft, with barely anything available in the lower rev range. The six-speed close-ratio gearbox handles the power delivery. The car is built on a modified version of the current four-door Civic, meaning MacPherson strut suspension up front and double wishbones at the rear. The change from four-wheel double wishbones has noticeably hurt the handling dynamics of the Civic sedan, but it is less apparent in the highly-tuned Type-R. Large four-wheel disc brakes, vented at the front, offer decent braking performance, with ABS and EBD (Electronic Brake force Distribution) being standard features. The 17 inch alloy wheels are wrapped with ultra low profile 205/45R17 tyres.

The Civic Type-R has been on sale in Europe, Japan and some Middle Eastern countries for more than a year now. Rumor has it that the car will be offered in the Fall of 2003 as a 2004 model, although American Honda has been tight-lipped about any such plans.

source: http://www.topspeed.com/cars/honda/2002-2004-honda-civic-type-r-ar541.html

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

Grim

Do the dance, while you may
run the road while dust is gray
bottom of my heart I felt sorrow
down my mind i want to throw
the knowledge I gain
the fear i keen
It would follow me
whenever I'm in pain
distribute it while you may
while people don't really crave
the essence
the bit
the section
of your truthful knowledge
you will stand with some greatness
behold the key and try to forget
the grim manner in peoples heart

kam


-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-

In the nights - Song from BR

"In The Night"

In the city, the day is too hot
And you're hoping for relief, 'cuz your head is filled with pain,
But you get no relief, 'cuz the night is the same...
In the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
In the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
You live your life in darkness, you've got pennies on your eyes.
But you say that it's all right, 'cuz you've never lived a lie,
As you crawl back to your womblike existence in the night.
In the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
In the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
You can't see no light, but you hear those heavy footsteps,
And the little man inside twists your tormented mind.
Your mind is filled with shadows, your palms are wet with sweat.
Limbs are bound and tangled in a fatal net.
There are two things you can do.
One is turn and fight.
The other's run headlong into the night.
In the night, in the night you see through jaded eyes.
In the night, in the night you feel barely alive.
You can't see no light, but you hear those heavy footsteps,
And the breathing at your side, is it yours, or is it
Good bye!

Taken from BR

-I'll pray and dream, I'll rise and win-