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September 24, 2008
Show Your Bridge Building Skills
If we can get beyond the fear about our own personal
lives and look at the "big picture," we must admit
that we are certainly living in interesting times. We
are facing enormous social, economic, political and
environmental problems on a global scale, and there
are no easy answers for solving them.
Will people unite to effectively address these
problems?
Or, we will become frustrated, avoid the overarching
issues and wrap our arms around ourselves, each
seeking protection individually wherever we can find
it?
I believe the answers to those questions will depend
on the leadership which bubbles up from the combined
stress of all of these issues. Through effective
leadership, we may discover that, when we must make
monumental choices, we value community more than
individuality.
In local government, in state government, in federal
government and at the international level, we need
leaders with a sense of self-esteem and independence.
We need bridge builders, who will persevere under
difficult situations, and have the ability to grasp
the unique patterns of each issue. That means
recognizing the things that go together and the things
that will never go together.
That type of leadership, gained through experience,
will also continue to be valuable on the job.
On eSight, Liz Seger has written some excellent
articles about leadership. In one of them, she says:
"Too often today people are polarized and not really
principle-centered. Instead, they let their fears
take over their lives. Rather than having an
'abundance' mentality (where they realize that there
is going to be enough for everyone if everyone works
together), there is a 'lacking' mentality.
"The self-talk is this: 'I'll never be enough; I'll
never have enough. Someone is going to get more than
me; I can't let that happen.'
"…A lacking mentality is what makes CEOs of
corporations spend lavishly on parties, using
company profits to fill "a hole in their souls" with
more and more stuff yet depriving their employees,
shareholders and others.
"A win-win situation, however, is where everyone
benefits. Everyone works together without personal
agendas to do the best they can.
"Stephen Covey says highly effective leaders are willing to share recognition and power with others because they approach life from a win-win perspective. They see abundance instead of scarcity. They love to share recognition and power. Why? Because it's not a limited pie. It's an ever enlarging pie."
See "Characteristic of Leadership: Sharing Recognition, Power."
According to Covey, leaders do not feel threatened by
change, comparison or criticism. They are secure
enough to find guidance, discover their mission,
define their roles, write their scripts and set their
goals. They have the wisdom to learn from their
mistakes, and they seek to improve how they
communicate and cooperate, even under conditions of
stress and fatigue.
See "The Four Dimensions of Leadership."
On the eSight Networking Forum last week, Liz
explained what all of this means to job seekers with a
disability. She writes:
"I heard the late Randy Pausch, in his last lecture,
say, 'Play the cards you are dealt. You can't change
them but you can at least play the hand you have and
do it to the best of your ability.'
"Getting the job really isn't about the employer; it's
about you and how much you want it.
"(This is how) Randy Pausch (put it): 'The brick walls
are there so that the people who really want it will
be weeded out and break through. Break down those
barriers, break down that brick wall by being the best
(empowered you) you can be.'"
You may have had to develop a sense of self-esteem
without the support others would think you'd naturally
receive from friends and acquaintances who also have
disabilities.
You may have had to seek mentors and role models
outside of the disability community. Reaching out into
the unknown -- beyond your comfort zone to the abled
world -- is often a lonely journey. But, by doing so,
you've developed authenticity and perseverance, a
sense of self-worth and an independence. You've found
your own dignity.
And, in the process, you may have become a bridge
builder between abled and disabled people or between
groups of people from different cultures or between
young or elderly or between people with different
political assumptions. You may have found yourself in
situations where you've been able to help people
understand one another and appreciate how much they
are alike despite their apparent differences.
You may feel awkward in having one foot in each world.
But, that bridge building experience is precisely what
we need today in small and large businesses and in
state and federal government as well as on the
international stage.
You may have acquired, without recognizing
it, the ability to lay the foundation for mutual
understanding and common purpose. And that skill set
can be applied to a wide variety of situations.
See "My Critical First Steps in Building a Resume:
List Accomplishments, Key Success Factors."
That leads me to this week's discussion question.
What bit of personal experience can you cite as
evidence for prospective employers that you have
acquired skills for bringing people together?
Add your comments to this posting
Posted by Jim Hasse at September 24, 2008 11:45 AM
Comments
In my 28 year career in public/private sectors, academia and non-profit management, it has always been critical to draw together the diversity of entities into a cohesive, unified organization. This is accomplished by identifying each individual strength and combining those strengths into the unified package to benefit the organization and its constituencies. The critical strength in bridging the skism is best described by the "Salad Bowl" analogy:
-In a Salad Bowl everyone has their own unique characteristics, i.e. the tomato taste like a tomato; carrots taste like carrots, etc. Once the Salid is mixed, each critical component gives up something for a uniformed presentation but, retains its individual uniqueness.
It's much the same when considering what people with disabilities (PWD's) contribute to an organization or, a potential Employer. While each has it's given uniqueness, strengths and abilities, it's not about the individual but, what that individual can do to contribute to the betterment of the organization and its mission.
Posted by: James J. Elekes, M.Ed, MPA, CPM at September 24, 2008 07:20 PM
In terms of bridging the gap between myself and employers, It really hasn't been difficult, because when I walk into a prospective restaurant or louange, to demonstrate my skills as a jazz pianist, I go in with my cane, and confident manner. Having your material together as far as resume, and a program for performance prepared is a plus too. Then to releave the owner of your visual impairment, explain that any assistance will be minimal, and that should do the trick! Then just leave the owner and his clients wishing for more at the end of the evening!
Posted by: Scott Treeman at September 26, 2008 10:01 AM
Wonderful comment Scott! LIke the analogy James, Isn't that really what we all want to do, leave the boss, customer service reps, customers, students, employees wanting more? In our own smalll way whatever it is we want to be remembered for our contributions, our committments, our service? Whether you're teaching abs to pre-Kindergarteners or advance Business at Wharton.
I've volunteered and worked for many community causes in my life time and I've been told that I bring the gift of being able to see the big picture to the particular "world" view we're discussing at any moment. I try not to hold partisan grudges. I work for the good of "all the people ", even though who would be considered my enemies or my competitiors or my adversaries. I don't see them as "mortal enemies" but rather poeple who share a different opinion.
There is always a path to consensus, to community building. But you have to want to find it and bring it to your community or the board room or your lecture hall. You have to learn the skills of consensus building , of leadership, of self-esteem and for the "common" good rather than an individual benefit.
We share more things in common than we do differences-one heart beat, the ability to be of service, the ability to "help" in our fashion, love of family, community,love of country. We all feel the same emotions , we just may express in different ways.
It's doesn't have to be " my way " or the " highway". Kind of you give a little and I'll give a little and together we can get it done. Working together to get it done with dignity for all.
That's my view to bridge the "gap",
Posted by: Liz S at September 29, 2008 01:02 PM