if you're reading this, you're either
a) visiting this blog for the first time
b) bored
c) trying to practice your reading skills
d) jeremiah marvelling at his genius
e) a retard who doesn't realise the symbols on the left are links
Friday, June 11, 2004
[[
amen]]
I thought Pido had some very good points to say on LTC. I agree whole-heartedly. This is what he said:
"I was doing some reflection on LTC and came to the conclusion that contradiction and too high expectations will kill you.
1. Group Development
Every group will take time to bond, and be enthusiastic. The group will have to go through a number of stages.
SHY-->BUILDUP-->HONEYMOON-->CONFLICT-->CONCLUSION-->PROPER GROUP
Such a process will take over a year to cultivate. How can you expect a proper group to be formed in less than 3 days? A hyper screaming shouting group might seem like a proper group, but is it really? When it comes to the crunch, the difficult part of planning and executing tasks, will they be able to gel together? Having fun and laughing together does not make a proper group.
2. Group Dynamics
Every group has different people but all are leaders in their own right. It may be seem that they are just silent and followers, yet to lead you must learn how to follow. Sometimes, all you need to do, is to fade to let others shine.
Come on, open your eyes, if the "Leader" refuses to take into account your perspective after you tell him it over 6 times, of course you're going to shut up and not let group UNITY be affected.
A group can only have so many "Leaders". If you expect all to be "Leaders", don't you understand that there will be conflict of opinions? A true leader knows when to step back to let others have a swing at hitting.
Following is also as important as leading. It is a silent method of leadership, without the glory and the attention. It is called servant leadership. You do things without wanting to be noticed - the silent leader, the one who does not glorify his deeds.
Everyone has their own strengths, you should not just notice the ones who are in the limelight, look at those who are quiet and notice their strengths, LOOK AT THE SMALL THINGS.
3. Elitism
Throughout the camp, I get the impression that the teachers believe that the Council is an Elite Group, a bunch of Super Leaders. This cannot be true. Can it?
Once we begin thinking ourselves as elite, we are going to lose the little respect that we have, we are going to lose the little standing we have amongst our peers. There are many others out there who are so much better than us who did not choose to run for council. Let me list a few, Shamus, Jackson etc etc.. Shamus would have made a wonderful councillor with his enthusiasm. Still can't forget him belaying me during rock climbing. I really wanted to conquer that frigging wall, because he was there giving me support.
The moment you start thinking you're better, you're going to be shot down. We are not better than others. We are merely ordinary people given an extraordinary chance to SERVE others. As a servant leader, we must not be above others, but below them. Serving others is an honour, it is a form of leadership.
The way you serve must be through the actions you perform, not the words you speak. Shouting and screaming and cheering has no effect on gaining respect. Let's take an example, would you rather a rah rah let's have fun all day person doing an important project or a committed one doing it for you?
4. Bonding with other leaders
This relates closely to the above point. Talking to them, being in the group with them, actually ensures a human touch to council. It will show others that we are human, we can fail, we are not perfect. Isn't that helpful? That way, when we are unable to achieve certain things, they will understand that it is not our fault.
How do you expect us to gain their support if we don't even know them? We will be seen as arrogant, self-centred if we are grouped together.
Also, in what other ways do you want us to gain their support under the system of the camp? The camp was built around a group system. You can't cross boundaries even if you wanted to. Aharai wanted to co-operate with another group during certain activities, but were denied that chance. See! Look at your flawed system before condemning us."
`donovan. |8:55 PM|
