SHU-A8-TC
November 2, 2000
Assignment #8: Prepare a midterm evaluation of the Leadership class, highlighting, in equal parts, what is being usefully learnt, and how the content and teaching of the course could be improved in the future.
Leadership:
Since the focus of this class focuses on leadership, there is a vast amount of material that proves relevant to course study, since basically all aspects of modern times incorporate aspects of leadership. Therefore, it is often difficult to discuss the aspects of leadership entirely. Nonetheless, throughout the first half of this class taught by Ambassador Kamal, we have began breaking apart the most important issues of leadership. Throughout this summary, one will find the progression of class study, and view possible alternative aspects for the second half of this semester.
Course Content:
Without reaching into the particular facts of leadership discourse, we will first look at what was learnt from the first book by Heifetz, entitled "Leadership Without Easy Answers". Since, this book served as the first look into the world of leadership study, this served as an introduction into the numerous pressing aspects of leadership. On a global spectrum, this book taught the class a general view of leadership concepts, including aspects towards political, economic, and political leadership. The next book written by John Gardner, entitled "On Leadership" took the class more in depth into leadership study. Since we had already read the basic concepts effecting leaders, the class was able to give more; therefore understand more. Each book was presented in-group presentations by the members of the class, and through criticism/praise from Ambassador Kamal, everyone understood the requirements of the class. Furthermore, the class learned to enhance their level of communication skills, since this is a necessity for all inspiring leaders. Presently, we are studying "Leadership and the Quest for Integrity", written by Joseph Badaracco and Richard Ellsworth. This book takes a more centralized approach towards leadership in the corporate spectrum. Since many classmates are aspiring to enter today's corporate world, many students have found important aspects of leadership, while further enhancing communication skills.
Critique:
Overall, there are little negative aspects of this class; however, there are some things that could be improved. Since leadership is everywhere, it would be very beneficial to incorporate some current events, or world leaders into the class discussion. This could take the class from simply text written material to truly functional and applicable knowledge. Knowledge is beneficial, but without an understanding of how that information applies to the real world, that same information proves simply useless. Therefore it would be both beneficial and extremely interesting to add aspects, or propose questions that require application of worldly knowledge with written text. Along these same lines, the class would understand leadership at its purest, if examples were added. There was one class where Ambassador Kamal added personal experience to a presentation. Since we, as a class, have a Professor with vast leadership practice, comprehension of leadership facts would stick in our minds if an actual event could be tied with an event. Overall, this class study has been extremely informative; however, present class material is not as clear and concise as prior material. Perhaps it is the writing style of the book entitled "Leadership and the Quest for Integrity" that causes this distinction. There is a lot of important facts included in this book, but the style causes frustration to understand the concepts.
Outlook:
There is no doubt that in the future, this class will continue closer towards excellence. It is obvious that presentations have been enhanced, through an understanding of successful communication strategies. Successful communication, at its purest form, lies with influential communication. Therefore, this progression together with a practical application of text material and events will create a unique class atmosphere.
