[Vnbiz] Leadership -- What are you looking for in your leader?
AD Marshall
admarshall at gmail.com
Tue Jul 17 16:33:39 PDT 2007
All excellent lists to consider. I'd side with Craig's emerging preference
for the shorter listings. As Tea's concern about being repetitive
suggested, i suspect that if the lists were analysed to reduce them to their
core or synonymous meanings, as a good editor might do, we'd find a lot of
overlap between each list.
Further, as info' overload plagues us all, i'd suspect most of us find
ourselves daunted when presented, at the outset, with texts longer than a
few paragraphs. If folks here or elsewhere are really interested and want
more info, they can either look it up online or elsewhere or ask for it
(also a great indicator to authors whether their efforts are productive or
not).
*Perhaps* we could:
01. Take a couple steps back and
(a) provide more specific criteria for the lists sought, such as length,
format, scope (business, government or general; Vietnam or global?) and
(b) rationalize and summarize what we've collected so far (Relevant Online
Tools: http://dictionary.reference.com/ ; http://thesaurus.reference.com/
; http://www.saigon.com/~vietdict/ ).
02. Add some examples. Just for example, for the list i provided i had
three models of a leader in mind: (i) Kurt Vonnegut Jr, (ii) Fred Burke,
Managing Lawyer, Baker & McKenzie Vietnam and (iii) vague impressions of
what other sorts of people i'd work for without too many questions simply
because s/he had these good qualities ("virtues") which i lack, respect and
sometimes wish i could attain.
Just my two dong's worth. I personally don't yet have the motivation to do
what i've just suggested. ;)
On 7/17/07, Craig Stevenson <cstevenson2000 at gmail.com> wrote:
>
> [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
>
> Integrity and Virtue, I am starting to like the shorter listings better.
>
> Very good additions,
> From them we should be ore likely to have the others, no?
>
> Craig
>
> On 7/17/07, Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran <tealetran at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tealetran@gmail.com>>
> wrote:
> >
> > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> >
> >
> >
> > Absolutely a great list and very sensible anh Shane. So is anh Craig.
> > Sis Lien's addition is equally important. Thank you so much. I would like
> > to mention one more trait that I sincerely believe a sensible leader should
> > have and that is:
> >
> > * VIRTUE
> >
> > I hope this addition of mine is not a repetitive of number *7 on your
> > list anh Shane.
> >
> > Be well and be safe everyone.
> >
> >
> > On 7/15/07, Shane Wall <shane.wall at translingualexpress.com
> > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=shane.wall@translingualexpress.com>>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > >
> > >
> > > Great list Craig.
> > >
> > > Here's my list, not in prioritized order because I consider all of
> > > them
> > > equally important, and some comments, thoughts or examples.
> > >
> > > *1. Willing to openly canvass and listen to all opinions, including
> > > ones the leader may disagree with.*
> > > Only by listening to all views and perspectives can the correct
> > > one be found.
> > >
> > > *2. Be totally committed to the welfare of the "entity" being led as
> > > a
> > > whole, not just elements within it.*
> > > If only one section of the entity is cared for, human nature will
> > > quickly ensure that the entity disintegrates. This also means that
> > > sometimes a leader must be willing to harm part of the whole in order
> > > for the whole to become or remain healthy. A true example is the Ship
> > > Captain whose ship has an uncontrolled fire in the engineroom. He
> > > knows
> > > there are 4 sailors still in the engineroom and 195 others safe. He
> > > does
> > > not know if the 4 are still alive or dead already. He orders the
> > > engineroom sealed and the firefighting chemical Halon to be dumped
> > > into
> > > the compartment. Halon is lethally toxic when it reacts with fire
> > > (that's part of how it works). He knows if the 4 are alive, he has
> > > just
> > > killed them. He knows if he does not extinguish the fire, he places
> > > all
> > > 195 others in jeopardy. I know this story is FACT because it happened
> > > in
> > > the Royal Australian Navy when I was still serving.
> > >
> > > *3. Not afraid to make the hard decisions, like the example above,
> > > for
> > > the good of the whole.*
> > >
> > > *4. Able to be self-critical and honest about mistakes or errors.*
> > > The member of a sports team who gives their all and is defeated by
> > > their opponent because the coach put them in the wrong position or
> > > gave
> > > the wrong task is not to blame for losing the game, the coach who put
> > > there is. The coach must then be able to exonerate the player and take
> > > the blame.
> > >
> > > *5. Never asks another to do what he/she would not do themselves*,
> > > a.k.a. lead by example or leading from the front.
> > > This does not mean the leader has to actually participate, but it
> > > does mean that those being led must know that when placed in the same
> > > position, the leader DID do exactly what he/she is now asking others
> > > to
> > > do, so understands their plight.
> > >
> > > *6. Is cooperative rather than combative or manipulative.*
> > >
> > > *7. Honest, moral, ethical and upstanding with a sense of justice and
> > > what is "right".*
> > > Nothing loses the respect of the led faster than some misdeed by
> > > a
> > > leader. Nonetheless, this does not mean the leader cannot have made
> > > mistakes, (See 4. above), but just how they handle them. Another true
> > > story. On learning that their team leader was simply writing his own
> > > reports based on his own presumptions and perceptions and not
> > > analyzing
> > > and compiling their results and reports as he should have done, the
> > > team
> > > simply stopped collecting the information and writing the reports -
> > > not
> > > a healthy situation for intelligence operators. When I took over the
> > > team, they were the worst, most demoralized team and the laughing
> > > stock
> > > of the Unit. Morale was deeper than Whale doo-doo!
> > >
> > > *8. Openly and equitably distributes and shares the benefits and
> > > burdens.*
> > > I've seen instances where everything is shared equally (a
> > > Communist-style model) and others where things are shared according to
> > > pre-determined criteria or systems (a Capitalist-style model). From my
> > > (limited) experience, it doesn't seem to matter which method is used,
> > > rather that it is open and mutually agreed upon (See 6. above).
> > >
> > > *9. Deep understanding of the aspirations, wishes, needs and desires
> > > of
> > > the led.*
> > > Without this understanding, no leader can ever hope to satisfy
> > > these things for their followers.
> > >
> > > *10. Willingness to delegate responsibilities, reward success and
> > > rectify the causes of failure.*
> > > By letting people undertake important tasks, rewarding them when
> > > they succeed and helping rectify the reasons they may have failed, a
> > > leader builds trust. From mutual trust comes teamwork. From teamwork
> > > comes success. Any team-building guru will tell you that, or something
> > > similar.
> > >
> > > Finally, I don't remember where this comes from, but I remember a
> > > definition of "Leadership":
> > >
> > > _*"The ability to make others willingly do what they otherwise do not
> > > want to do."*_
> > >
> > > Have a pleasant Sunday all.
> > >
> > > Shane
> > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > Mr. Shane Wall
> > > Principal,
> > >
> > > Trans Lingual Express
> > > 120/14 Mai Thi Luu St,
> > > P. Dakao, Q.1, HCMC,
> > > Vietnam
> > >
> > > Mail: shane.wall at translingualexpress.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=shane.wall@translingualexpress.com>
> > > Web: www.translingualexpress.com
> > >
> > > Mbl: +84 (090) 9484 753 (Anh) - Tel: +84 (8) 820 9143 (Viet)
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > Craig Stevenson wrote:
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > >
> > > > To answer the original question, traits of the (one) leader I have
> > > in
> > > > mind:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > 1. great concern for his followers
> > > > 2. willing to make the hard decisions
> > > > 3. open, communicative, and energetic
> > > > 4. includes the concerns/needs of others in his/her
> > > decision-making
> > > > process
> > > > 5. Inspiring
> > > > 6. dedicated
> > > > 7. honest
> > > > 8. hard-working
> > > > 9. serves as a role model
> > > >
> > > > I listed these as they came to mind, not sure how to prioritize them
> > >
> > > > or if I should, perhaps they are prioritized. Perhaps they are
> > > > intertwined and couldn't be separated fully, either to answer the
> > > > question, or for the purposes of scientific study.
> > > >
> > > > Craig
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 7/14/07, *AD Marshall* < admarshall at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=admarshall@gmail.com>
> > > > <mailto:admarshall at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=admarshall@gmail.com>>>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thien oi,
> > > >
> > > > Your comments on group (or "community"?) development and
> > > > maintenance (BeLow) are indeed intriguing, to say the least,
> > > > especially your concluding comment that, "I [ie, you] must be
> > > the
> > > > one who takes the final decision".
> > > >
> > > > Thanks indeed for yet again dispelling any notion i might have
> > > > again entertained that living here might be becoming monotonous
> > > or
> > > > even predictable.
> > > >
> > > > Admittedly i must wonder if i'm witnessing or experiencing some
> > > > sort of communications disconnect or not. But assuming "not", i
> > >
> > > > would then wonder at what sorts of correlations might be found
> > > > between your comments and the incessant lament i've heard from
> > > > people here who source Vietnamese software programmers for
> > > > overseas work, ie, that Vietnamese programmers are remarkably
> > > > team-work challenged.
> > > >
> > > > With warm wishes,
> > > > AD Marshall
> > > >
> > > > On 7/15/07, *Tran Ba Thien* < tranbathien at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com>
> > > > <mailto:tranbathien at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com>>>
> > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear anh Hoanh and CACC,
> > > >
> > > > First I am not very cynical on against the current social
> > > > system of Vietnam.I feel ok with this circumstance and
> > > > condition. It meets my needs and my values of democracy and
> > > > values of development. No, I never agree the system totally.
> > > > but I encounter not many problems to complain.
> > > >
> > > > In the role of a leader, what do I need to do for me and for
> > >
> > > > my members? It's very interesting question.
> > > >
> > > > -First I need to achieve the goal of my group as effective
> > > as
> > > > possible.
> > > > -Then I need to set up friendship environment in our group.
> > > I
> > > > may name the activity as building up group culture. I need
> > > to
> > > > respect my member's idea, their values and their hopes. I
> > > need
> > > > to litsen to them and protect their reputation their
> > > interests.
> > > >
> > > > -Every member and I need to understand that the success of
> > > our
> > > > group is from all not from some specific persons.
> > > > -The group must give opportunities of developing to every
> > > > member in equally and fairly.
> > > >
> > > > I must be the one who takes the final decision
> > > >
> > > > If I cannot apply one of the above indicators, I must
> > > resign.
> > > >
> > > > best regards,
> > > > Tran Ba Thien
> > > > tranbathien at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com>
> > > > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > ----- Original Message -----
> > > > *From:* Tran Dinh Hoanh
> > > > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tdhoanh@gmail.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *To:* vnbiz at vietlinks.net<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=vnbiz@vietlinks.net>
> > > > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=vnbiz@vietlinks.net
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > *Sent:* Sunday, July 15, 2007 5:45 AM
> > > > *Subject:* Re: [Vnbiz] Leadership -- What are you
> > > looking
> > > > for in your leader?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> > > > Dear brother Thien & CACC,
> > > >
> > > > Thanks for the frank and emotional response, anh Thien.
> > > > And thanks for your frankness and courage. Frankness
> > > and
> > > > courage are very rare commodity anywhere in the world.
> > > >
> > > > Of course, I understand exactly what you are talking
> > > > about. If there is any consolation, I have never been
> > > able
> > > > to choose anyone I really like either. When I was in
> > > > Vietnam, of course, we had no choice. In the US, I
> > > often
> > > > did the task of choosing the least bad guy among the bad
> > > > guys. Hard to find good leaders. That is just the
> > > nature
> > > > of life.
> > > >
> > > > The issues you raise are not simple matters. As you
> > > say,
> > > > we cannot give the 3-yr-old kid the 7-yr-old-kid
> > > > clothing. Democracy is a process, in which economic and
> > > > social development as well as the human relationship
> > > among
> > > > the citizens play a major role. Indeed, I think
> > > democracy
> > > > is not a destination, but a journey.
> > > >
> > > > These all are matters close to my heart. But we will
> > > > develop this thread about democracy, choosing leaders
> > > and
> > > > citizen responsibilities in the future, so that we don't
> > > > confuse our current discussion: What is your own idea
> > > of
> > > > leadership?
> > > >
> > > > So brother Thien, assuming that you don't really care
> > > > about other leaders because you have no right to really
> > > > choose the leaders you like and everything is imposed
> > > from
> > > > above, I agree with you absolutely and I am sympathetic
> > > > with you. So let me switch the angle a little and ask
> > > you
> > > > this question: You must be the leader of someone, be
> > > that
> > > > your younger brother or sister, your children, your
> > > > students, or someone you have been mentoring. In
> > > > such capacity as that person's leader, what do you think
> > >
> > > > you need in order to to fulfill your job?
> > > >
> > > > I don't care about other guys. I care about you. What
> > > > your idea of leadership is? What do you demand of
> > > > yourself as a leader of someone?
> > > >
> > > > Have a great day!
> > > >
> > > > Hoanh
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On 7/13/07, *Tran Ba Thien* < tranbathien at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com>
> > > > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com
> > > >>
> > > > wrote:
> > > >
> > > > [ Vietnam Business Forum ]
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Dear anh Hoanh,
> > > >
> > > > for the question of yours, I tell you my truth.
> > > That's
> > > > what I really performed in every election in
> > > Vietnam.
> > > >
> > > > I have no choice, nothing at all. My family members
> > > > and I used to meet together then asked who might
> > > have
> > > > time to go voting. Then we selected someone. The
> > > > person would take our voter card to go to the voting
> > > > place. The person would have no choice at all.
> > > He/she
> > > > deleted some candidates accidentally then voted.
> > > >
> > > > It's not my joke story. But It's my real. Sometime,
> > > I
> > > > don't care the percentage of who have real choice
> > > and
> > > > who have no choice in election. A few months ago, in
> > > > the voting day for congress election, my friend was
> > > > very busy. No one of his family could go voting.
> > > then
> > > > his "to truong dan pho" came and asked his family
> > > gave
> > > > him their voter cards. He did voting for them.
> > > >
> > > > Sorry for this story. I just want to tell you the
> > > truth.
> > > >
> > > > In my real life, I really don't have opportunity to
> > > > choose and to vote my leader. The position is set up
> > > > from above. But if you want to know my knowledge
> > > about
> > > > how to choose my leaders, I can tell you many
> > > things.
> > > > All of them come from my theory, my dream and
> > > nothing
> > > > from my real. You might be surprised. I can
> > > understand
> > > > your reaction. For me, my choice is not to select
> > > how
> > > > to perform my democracy but what I can gain from
> > > this
> > > > type of democracy. I feel ok. This type of society
> > > can
> > > > give me enough opportunity to get paid, to get food
> > > > and that's all.
> > > >
> > > > In the future I may change it. Yes, it's very
> > > simple.
> > > > When the boy is 3 year you just give him 3-year
> > > > clothes. When he is 10 you need to give him 10-year
> > > > clothes. You don't need to give 3-year boy a 10-year
> > > > clothes because it cannot meet his needs. Then the
> > > > type of democracy is the same. I think we have
> > > talked
> > > > about definition of democracy many times. In this
> > > > issues, I don't want to talk about democracy but
> > > > leadership. I have no choice in electing. Then I
> > > > cannot give you a correct answer. I am very serious.
> > > I
> > > > understand my answer doesn't meet your question
> > > > correctly. But according to your words, I try to
> > > give
> > > > my best.
> > > >
> > > > best regards,
> > > > Tran Ba Thien
> > > > tranbathien at gmail.com<https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com>
> > > > <https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=tranbathien@gmail.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > --
> > > > Tran Dinh Hoanh, LLB, JD
> > > > Washington DC
> > > >
> > > >
> > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------
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> >
> >
> > --
> > Tea (Tuy-Phuong) LeTran
> >
> > Form is not different from Void, Void is not different from Form
> > Form is Void, Void is Form
> > (The Great-Wisdom-Beyond-Wisdom Heart Sutra)
> >
> > Sa('c ba^'t di. Kho^ng, Kho^ng ba^'t di. Sa('c
> > Sa('c tu+'c thi. Kho^ng, Kho^ng tu+'c thi. Sa('c
> > ( Ba't Nha~ Ta^m Kinh )
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