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Wednesday, Aug 25, 2010Discover the Distinctive Leader In You
Posted by dgore
DEAN’S MESSAGE
Distinctive Leadership 2015
By Linda A. Livingstone, Ph.D.
Warren Bennis, one of leadership’s most eminent thinkers, recently wrote that leadership is something many people aspire to, “(in) whatever role they actually play in life, because authentic leadership elevates whatever organization it is practiced in.” He goes on to say that the very quality of our lives depends on the quality of leadership—and the quality of the organizations and products they create.
We all have the capacity for leadership. Leaders are not an elite minority blessed with a special gene. Leaders are not so labeled because of a job title, wealth and fame, or the accolades of admirers. True leaders—authentic leaders–earn the mantle because of the achievement they inspire in other people and not the accomplishments they hoard for themselves. Leaders are always surveying the crowd, asking, “What can I do to help everyone I touch today reach their potential? How can I make a difference? How can I elevate my colleagues, my classmate, that stranger, and so forth?” Then, they act selflessly to ensure others shine. It is this remarkable affect that we must continuously aspire to discover within ourselves.
At the Graziadio School, our curriculum gives you a deeper understanding of your own values, so that you in turn may make decisions that better reflect your unique leadership style. Each step along your journey with us, every class, every project, is intended to encourage self –examination, challenge assumptions and evoke purposefulness. You may not always make the “right” decision, but we hope that those decisions arrive from awareness and thoughtfulness of their positive impact on others around you and society. By helping you to successfully anchor those decisions in the core values of integrity, stewardship, courage and compassion, we prepare you for the challenges of life and business as a values-centered leader.
The Graziadio School has always strived to be the “right fit” for those willing to risk themselves. If you are a student, you will find that essential call as you progress through the upcoming school year. Your professors will constantly push for you to risk yourself. As alumni, in the progress of life and professional excellence, willingness to risk yourself is an instilled learning and part of your DNA, hopefully fortified through your Graziadio School experience with a deeper understanding of your own values. Whether you are a current student or graduate, I challenge you to be a leader. Look at the people who surround you, listen with empathy and tell yourself, “Today it’s my job to inspire you.” Ask yourself, “How can I make a difference?” Then do it.
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Thanks Dean!!