Leadership
“Leadership is a narrow concept” (Malphurs) for leaders are few in the overall population, for not every person is a leader. Working with college students, I had an young lady tell me, “I don’t want to be a leader.” Two other student informed me, “I don’t know how to be a leader” and “I’ve never had any Leadership training.” John Adair, in How to Grow Leaders, presents results form a survey that most organizations do not provide leadership development within a corporation. How do we generate leaders from and for the younger generations? Why should we? Leaders are important for our community and economy, for they lead small businesses, lead departments for major corporations, and ensure projects are completed. In recent years there have been reports of fewer leaders among the younger generations. One reason for this issues, Dr. John Maxwell sites, “leaders do not develop leaders” for they are fearful of losing power or prestige. He goes on to explain the signs of a “Great leaders [is to] produce other leaders” (Maxwell). As fathers pass their legacies onto their sons, so leader should pass the legacy of leadership onto the next generation. This will guaranty to a degree, businesses, governments, nonprofits, and schools don’t just fall apart or end up in bankruptcy when the leaders retire or pass-away. LEFTHP is using curriculums purchased or provided by experienced organizations with a proven record of success over several years. While integrating education, training, and experience form the leadership team to supplement previous mentioned curriculum and creation or seminars and workshops. One instructor served in the U.S. Army where he trained over 100 men in leadership skills. |
Mentoring
Through the Project Management Skills for Life and our Fathership is Leadership SM programs, LEFTHP will develop mentoring opportunities for those students who wish to participate. Our goal is to recruit members of the Project Management Institute’s local chapters to mentor students through the Project Management Skills for Life program. Through Fathership is Leadership SM the program will link young fathers with men who have years of fathering experience to answer questions, address situations, and provide encouragement. Mentoring as an art of teaching, training and developing people has been around for centuries. The Knights who protected kings and kingdoms would be mentored from 12 to 21 before becoming a knight. Apprenticeship through early America was mentoring, today mentoring has become a “buzz word” (Biehl) used in media, academia, and businesses. According to Bobb Biehl, author of Mentoring: How to Find a Mentor and How to Become One, “Mentoring is a lifelong relationship in which a mentor helps a protégé reach her/his God-given potential” (Biehl). Regi Campbell, refers to mentoring as “intentionally investing in the next generation.” Thus the correlation with LEFTHP, our goal is to prepare young leaders for the next generation. Through Project Management Skills for Life program, LEFTHP will recruit mentors who are certified as Project Management Professionals (PMP) to mentor the students as they complete the program’s course to help them understand project management and answer questions. If the mentor and mentee wishes to continue the relationship, it may lead to mentoring through earning the CAPM and or PMP certifications, possibility of helping with interviewing for project position upon graduation. Through Fathership is Leadership SM program’s goals are to help connect young men who have recently become fathers or about to; with men who are experience fathers. Experienced father who could advice the young fathers with care-giving of infants and toddlers to adolescents. Advice on teaching children, constructive criticism, and encouraging them through difficulties of live and parenthood. As LEFTHP engages in mentoring opportunities, our resources include: Mentoring: How to Find a Mentor and How to Become One, Boob Biehl The Mentor Leader, Tony Dungy Spiritual Mentoring of Teens, Joe White and Jim Weidmann Mentor Like Jesus, Regi Campbell Appreciating Mentorship, Ann LaFleur, RN |
Vision
When I first heard I needed a vision for my life I was not sure of the meaning. Then I was given an example of a great vision; it was Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr’s “I have a dream.” His dream was his vision for a better America. A vision is defined as “an informed bridge from the present to the future” (Barna). Meaning, one sees a problem and with education and experience develops a solution to the problem. Why the need for a vision? Dr. Robert Lewis has worked with men for over 20 years and author of The Men’s Fraternity. He states, “Without a compelling vision…men will settle for less in life. Brady and Woodward state, "vision is tomorrow's reality expressed as an idea today." (under construction) |