Smart companies invest in their current and future leaders.
I finished teaching my MBA
Reflections From the Classroom
501 class last night, and as with many things, closure is bittersweet. You start to get to know a group of students, and then the experience comes to an end. It never ceases to amaze me how diverse and interesting a classroom full of graduate students can be. I also admire their ambition and willingness to make the sacrifice of sitting in a classroom at night after working all day. It also can’t be easy to complete the assignments required for the class on top of work deadlines and responsibilities. You can’t fake commitment – it either exists or it doesn’t. When you teach leadership at a graduate level (which I do part-time), it’s easy to be an optimist. You get to see the vibrancy and drive that exist in people. These are individuals who are proactively investing their money and time to better themselves and create a more hopeful future. Some students naturally excel, while others demonstrate their brilliance through various assignments and discussions. If you are paying close enough attention, it does support the management philosophy that every individual has a strength. Individuals will step up if they are properly motivated and given the opportunity to do so. No one at this level wants to fail. The instructor needs to remember this reality. I don’t subscribe to the theory that our future is bleak and our country is on the downside.Our Future Is Not Bleak
Sure, we have our problems, but that is to be expected. Democracy and Capitalism can be messy. Previous generations fought for our independence, lived through a civil war, navigated two world wars, pushed through desegregation, endured the Cold War, battled health epidemics, managed the Great Depression, and faced numerous other challenges. In each case, groups of talented and committed people rallied together behind a common cause, put aside their individual differences, leveraged each other’s skills and talents, and focused on meaningful work with a higher purpose. They put the good of the group ahead of their self-interest.Cultivating the Next Leaders
What we need now and always is leadership to help us overcome the obstacles that lie in our path. Last night was a small step in that direction. I’m certain the scene that played out in my classroom over the past eight weeks was replayed all over the country in classrooms both big and small. A group of dedicated, hardworking people invested time, effort, and mental energy to learn how to become better managers and leaders. They were listening to lectures, reading books, watching videos, sharing experiences, completing assignments, and building relationships that will help them create a brighter future for themselves and others. I am grateful to every student who made this sacrifice and am confident that our companies, communities, and nation will ultimately benefit. Keep the faith and don’t succumb to the cynicism that’s out there in leadership.Keep the Faith in Good People
There are still many good people who are continually striving to grow and make a positive difference. I encourage you to always be on the lookout for them and give them opportunities whenever you can. Remember that true leaders always prioritize the collective good over their self-interest. Sadly, the media praises leaders who are clearly in it for their egos and wallets.Related articles
- Developing Organizational Leaders (shrm.org)
- Why Leadership Development is More Important Than Ever (trainingindustry.com)
- Leadership & my Classroom (teacher-chef.com)
- Why Do Leadership Development Programs Fail? (capacity-building.com)