To Ken and LILTDY fellows!!!

Hello! This would become my last post for the course! It's unbelievable that we already have gone through a one term... Time flies so fast,,,feel like it's gone as quick as wink lol
For my last post, I first would like to thank Ken for being such a great teacher! As everyone already know, Ken worked really hard to bring best contribution to our learning in many different approaches such as conducting various group activities, having guest speakers and blog posting! I was so delighted to be a member of this class!
Another thing I'd like to mention is all fellows in this LILTIDY section!You guys are just super awesome!!!! I mean I really enjoyed having classes with you all! I've heard from some sempai that a section which has been reformed for research writing is tend to be not as friendly as the initial section. It's because people only keep relationship with old section mates or something,,,(←it sounds really awkward...but they told me so) So I did not have a good image of having and becoming a member of renewal section. I was totally wrong!!! should have been more strict critical thinker at that time!!!lol Everyone is so nice, cheerful and funny so that I've spent enjoyable time in all classes :) Thank you all! and I'm really looking forward to catching up with you guys seccon(don't know I spelled it right...)
LILTDY banzai!!!!^^

Presentation: Early childhood experience and Leadership skills

In my presentation, there is a part many of you found a difficulty to understand in the explanation of why it's highly recommend for educators to provide leadership education for children. So once again I would like to explain the same part in my writing.

The reason why leadership education is suggested is simply based on the concept of the sooner, the better. For young children’s leadership skills development at school, the combination of following three main ideas which are interaction, learning and community learning play a critical role to promote their development. According to researcher Alexis A. Soffler from Carld State University, when the time of these three ideas partially overlaps each other, there will generate the most influential opportunity for acquiring leadership quality(see fig. 1.). For each definition, interaction indicates social interactions with other students and teachers at school. Learning suggests many types of learning that occur at classroom not only learning general subjects but also learning through group activity or even a freeplay. The last one is classroom community which means that the social structures and relationships that support learning in a classroom. For example, having  opportunities to be  a class president and president of the student council. If children can successfully have experiences for each three fields at school, they will materially be able to develop their leadership skills. It does not mean the chance is not limited to young children, however, based on the sooner, the better concept, it is said that the outcome and influence is comparatively greater than experiencing this later in their life.

Hibiya Sensei's Presentation

I was very much appreciated for having Hibiya sensei for our guest speaker! I would like to thank Ken for providing us a such great opportunity.

First of all, It took me surprise to know how cheerful, passionate and friendly woman Hibiya sensei actually is. I had had this kinda image of Hibiya sensei is some how very serious and quite. I think it is because I have never had chance to talk to her before and also simply because of stereotype of what president of university is generally like. Fig 1 describes my exact idea of university president. However, Hibiya sensei was very attractive and interesting and I quite enjoyed her sense of humor thought the presentation.

Hibiya sensei has suggested several important tips for maintaining good self condition in everyday life. One of the tips I have taken an interest in was doing exercise everyday for keep oneself fit and healthy. I have actually been told my mother who's nurse to have moderate exercise to stay healthy but I have not really considered having exercise helps improving my quality of life as Hibiya sensei mentioned. I will try to give more time to myself for fitness in the future.

Other than that, Hibiya sensei has mentioned the importance of having international experience and acquiring third language at ICU. I profoundly understand the importance of those two matters and personally like to get involved in international opportunity and also learning different language. Therefore, I am going to participate in service learning in Indonesia in this summer and also intending to start studying spanish by myself. 

I will keep Hibiya sensei's message in my mind and hopefully able to utilize them efficiently in the process of my personal development.




　　Thank you!

Chapter 9 RISK...

Shackleton was a great risk taker over all. It can be clarified by just the moment of him headed up the first exp

edition to attempt a crossing of the Antarctic continent leaving home and family and a comfortable lifestyle to brave and bear bitter cold below the Antarctic Circle to until the last few steps he took for his and fellows safe returns. The word "risk" is defined as "the chance of damage or loss" in dictionary,however, Shackleton never considered risk as such a negative matter and he rather defined risk as a chance for adventure. 

As Ken has mentioned on the blog, I have never experienced necessary risk like Shackleton in my life either so that it was really hard to imagine how it would be really like taking risks at life-and death situation. 

While reading this chapter, I have once again realized the greatness of Shackleton's inner strengths and  power to take a such risky challenges from the right begging to the very end. He is indeed a legend 

    2014 Sochi Winter olympic

Hi all! Thank you for visiting my blog! I was looking for things I take an  to write on blog and I finally decided writing on Olympic held in Sochi.


I guess some of you have already been entertained by watching athletes performance and competition. The performance they show on the olympic stage is brimming over with enthusiasm and beauty which fascinate and move thousand of people as including myself. While watching their performance, I always wonder how do they maintain their self-confidence and what do they do for being mentally positive at such a great stage. I suppose pressure and stress from great expectation they receive are enormous and gives an extreme impact on their mental state. How do they manage such mental stress in competitive nature? From my curiosity, I have researched about it. A psychologist Jack J Lesyk has suggested 9 mental skills of successful athletes have.

Successful Athletes:

1. Choose and maintain a positive attitude.
2. Maintain a high level of self-motivation.
3. Set high, realistic goals.
4. Deal effectively with people.
5. Use positive self-talk.
6. Use positive mental imagery.
7. Manage anxiety effectively.
8. Manage their emotions effectively.
9. Maintain concentration. 

Those nine specific mental skills that contribute to success in sports. They are all learned and even can be improved with instruction and practice. Therefore, olympic athletes generally have mental training to gain those kind of skills for participating olympic games.

In the end, here is the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics medal counts for JAPAN up until now. Check this out!
  

            GO GO JAPAN!!!!!!!:)

Chapter8 Lighten Up

In this chapter the author mentioned "In stressful circumstances, when times are grim, celebration is usually the furthest thing from anyone's mind. Under survival conditions, laughter is an unnatural act, and in tough business situations, humor can seem frivolous, inappropriate, or out-of-touch." This is so true and I think it is nearly impossible for me to come up with something to cheer me up when my feeling is extremely down. What about you? When the time of hardship and you do not have any room to think about something else, feel so much pressure and stress, do you even try to think how you can cerebrate or make yourself laugh? I think only few can possibly do that just by themselves. To make it more realizable, I think we need others to act to make a kind of opportunity. What I really want to say is that, people really need a other's help and consideration to have a better life. This is getting little off topic...I guess...

Anyway, I personally thought I want be a kinda persona who can take care of myself with a suitable stress management strategy and also who is able to lighten others up when they are facing struggle.  

Conflict Strategy   ~Stress Management~

As we have discussed how we react and cope with our stressful time, I've decided to introduce my personal conflict strategy. 

I often have a nap in order to refresh my brain and feeling. It greatly helps me to relax and little bit more motivated after sleeping. Therefore, when I feel too much pressure, I always make sure to take a short nap rather than force myself to do what I have to do.

Another method is spending some times with my friends. I'm living at dorm with many other friends so that when I feel down, I luckily have a chance to chat with others and share my feeling through a consult. This is one of many what I really like about the dorm living with wonderful friends.

There surely thousand of other stress coping methods. The important thing is to realize the timing you are feeling stress and take care of yourself with suitable method. i have found a 5 tips to support your stress cooping. Check those out bellow.

 5 Ways to Less Stress

• Make connections – Good relationships with family and friends are important. Make an attempt to reconnect with people. Accepting help and support from those who care about you can help alleviate stress.
• Set realistic goals -Take small concrete steps to deal with tasks instead of overwhelming yourself with goals that are too far-reaching for busy times.
• Keep things in perspective – Try to consider stressful situations in a broader context and keep a long-term perspective. Avoid blowing events out of proportion.
• Take decisive actions – Instead of letting stressors get the best of you, make a decision to address the underlying cause of a stressful situation.
• Take care of yourself – Pay attention to your own needs and feelings. Engage in activities that you enjoy and find relaxing. Taking care of yourself helps keep your mind and body primed to deal with stressful situations.

Chapter 7-Conflict

In chapter7, it was mentioned how he faced and overcame conflicts during a time of crisis.
He had learned and understood team work is critical to the survival of crews and the most effective conflict management from the fate of Belgica. I can understand team work is very crucial when you are at the edge, however, is it really possible to not losing yourself, having empathy and maintain a will to survive all along especially when there is a involvement of life crisis. I presume it was because Shackleton could successfully conquer the critical time. He had a great know-how and experience to get over the hurdle. What if it's me or you whom in the same kind of situation as Shackleton? Are you be still willing enough to take care of others and maintain yourself? There is a great gap between our ideal and the reality. So that I think it would be really hard to act always based on what you think the best. There is a proverb "Every man loves himself best at long last" in Japanese. People more or less have a priority in oneself and it can easily get bigger and more powerful when it faced to a huge suppression of desire. Therefore, what Shackleton managed to do is not indeed what everyone can do in the critical state.

As for myself, I am having a heavy homework for one of my class and it has been a big concern recently. It's kinda slowly gnawing me mentally and physically hahaxD
It is not a matter of survival or anything but I can see everyone in my group is gradually losing themselves including myself! LOL I will remember to be empathetic and put my self into others shoes for avoiding myself from being too emotional and blinded to only focus on myself.

Leadership -  Hereditary or Acquirable??? 

                                                       

Good night everyone!!!
I have been thinking about my essay topic to be narrowed down to comparing of two theories of wether leadership is hereditary or acquired. Along the process of looking for some good sources, I have gradually noticed that there is not much source for the theory with the concept of leadership is acquirable. Therefore I will be changing my topic but I found some intreating sources regarding those two theories even though the number is takes way over one another, particularly in relation to the theory of leadership is  hereditary.

Theory 1 (Leadership is acquired!!!)

The quality of leadership is acquired from being influenced by surrounding situation in everyday lives. (focused on childhood.) eg, Shackleton.

The influence of environment, surrounding people,education etc…

→Without influence, leadership does not occur. In other words, leadership is the act of influencing outcomes.

One of John Maxwell’s more famous quotes is “Leadership is influence. Nothing more, nothing less.”

Theory 2 (Leadership is heredity!!!)

there are obvious genetics:Dyslexia for example.

that can alter how you think and approach situations. this is hereditary. Such types of traits can give someone a "brain" for leading... Not saying that they would be a good leader... but the potential is there.

                                                                            I personally think and desire it is to be that theory1 is more trust worthy. 

According to Dr Heifetz a professor at Harvard University, leadership is totally can not be defied as one's nature and it can possibly acquired through long process.

umm,,, I though this is very interesting...

For more details, you can visit NHK Hakunetsu Kyoushitsu to watch a video clip of his lecture on leadership. It is composed of several section and each topics relating to leadership is very interesting.

Team Work

Waky Waky! everyone! Morning:)) and T.G.I.F!!!! haha I've had a looong nap in the evening so that no feeling sleepy at all... I hope I'm not gonna sleep in today's classes...
Anyway, while I'm struggling to get some sleep, I decided to spend this time effectively by posting on my blog rather than just staying in my bed and count thousand of sheep. 

Anyway, I have been researching about "team work" related to by research writing.

To work together successfully, group members must demonstrate a sense of cohesion. 

Cohesion emerges as group members exhibit the following skills:

• Openness: Group members are willing to get to know one another, particularly those with different interests and backgrounds. They are open to new ideas, diverse viewpoints, and the variety of individuals present within the group. They listen to others and elicit their ideas. They know how to balance the need for cohesion within a group with the need for individual expression.
• Trust and self-disclosure: Group members trust one another enough to share their own ideas and feelings. A sense of mutual trust develops only to the extent that everyone is willing to self-disclose and be honest yet respectful. Trust also grows as group members demonstrate personal accountability for the tasks they have been assigned.
• Support: Group members demonstrate support for one another as they accomplish their goals. They exemplify a sense of team loyalty and both cheer on the group as a whole and help members who are experiencing difficulties. They view one another not as competitors (which is common within a typically individualistic educational system) but as collaborators.
• Respect: Group members communicate their opinions in a way that respects others, focusing on “What can we learn?” rather than “Who is to blame?” See constructive feedback in the process section for more details.

We have learned mainly about what is required to be a good leader. For next step, what kind factors does each one of members need to crate a good team work? It is specifically pointing out group works conducted in a team. 

 While I was looking for some sources, I have found out interesting cartoon animations from YouTube. Hope you like it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_Psl0nFEzw
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5L8Em5vU0FU

Is it only me who sees a small Shackleton in the little ant leader in second animation...:)

Optimism.

In chapter 3, the author mentioned another good quality for leaders should possess. It is "optimism" and I have researched about it deeply from out of my curiosity.


What does mean to be an optimism person?
Optimism comes from the Latin word optimism, meaning "best," which describes how an optimistic person is always looking for the best in any situation and expecting good things to happen. 
Optimism is the tendency to believe, expect or hope that things will turn out well. 
Even if something bad happens, like the loss of a job, an optimist sees the silver lining. For me, getting laid off was the catalyst that allowed me to start my own business. As I packed up my office, my mind was already whirling with the possibilities ahead. Without that push, I may never have made the leap to self-employment. Losing my job was a good thing after all.
Being optimism means being positive thinker!

"Before you instill optimism in others, you first find it in yourself..."
This is what Shackleton did while the crisis. It is as contagious as smile and moods as we previously learned in class. In the book it says he never gave up his hope and did not let his brief go way so that his strong will to survive gradually spread to others. 
I guess it is the most significant reasons of factor that lead them to return alive.

How come "VISIBILITY" is important to be a good leader?

      Hi there, I am feeling really sleepy but try to finish up heaps of my homework as much as I can...:( In the midst of depression and exhaustion from all those works, I don't strangely feel reluctant to read "Leading at the edge". I wonder why. I suppose it might be because you are able to learn so many new and significant things from the book and also can gain a grate crews and tips for a personal growth. Of course the fact of a non-fictional shackleton's legendary story is one of the most interesting points of this book but above all, shackleton's talents natured in himself which can been seen particularly in his leadership is so amazing that I greatly attracted every time I read this book. Even amongst those, the most interesting skill which got me surprised was him maintaining his Visibility throughout the hardship. Like we discussed during class today, I think visibility means to being more recognizable by others. The leader who works with others rather than just giving a order. In fact, shackleton minimized his and people's social status and equally gave a job to them as well as to himself. This is what we call "team"and"cooperation". They worked as "one". It was definitely not a"them and us situation".

       Therefore, when the time of I am being a some kind of leader, I will keep this thing in mind and try to be as cooperative and considerable as I can rather than being just bossy and offensive, and also not to leave tasks entirely up to others.

　　　　　　

　　　　　            　×

  　                 　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　

　   leave entire things to others...x(　　　　　　    ×

                                                     Being aggressive and offensive...x(  

↓　　↓　　↓

            One For All, All For One　　　 

What is required to be a good negotiator?

Happy New Year to all! May the year of 2014 will be happy and fruitful for everyone :)

  It's been a while since I last posted. For my first post of this year, I've selected a topic of Negotiation skills as we all have been working on previously. Through the reading "Developing effective negotiation skill", we've already found out what kind of qualities helps us to be a skilled negotiators. I personally thought those skilled negotiators really are like mentalists as they seemed to frequently use variety of techniques rerated to phycology during their negotiation. That is to say, they always carefully concern about how their behavior will be affect on people's feeling such as language use, tone and facial expression. Imagine you are to focus on those factors all the time during a negotiation, it would be very hard to maintain your concentration while you even have to seek informations and details to consider what is really the best outcome for both parties. I suppose that is the big reason why there are so many senior people who have been using those techniques and their skills for over years but who are clearly far from its perfection. 

   Skilled negotiators tend to approach people with a clarity in unoffensive way while using testing understanding and behavior labeling. They also try the hardest to avoid making a negative mood when it comes to take an opposing position as well as giving their internal information for making other parties feel secure. At the same time, they try to make other to be active rather than giving to much thinking and free time. A grate negotiators are excel in dealing with people and keep a good balance between tactics and compromise to reach a Win-Win situation. One more important point I've figured out from the negotiation activity we did in class on Monday, to close to a good negotiator, you have to become a good listener. You cannot make demands on one sided and neglect other's deal. You gotta respect others and try to reach the best outcome for both sides. Here are an awful example of negotiation which I've found on YouTube. It's got me laughing at the moment. Check this out!

The negotiation process - Funny Real Estate clip