Leaders who Inspire a Shared Vision passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future. Leaders who Inspire a Shared Vision passionately believe that they can make a difference. They envision the future, creating an ideal and unique image of what the organization can become. Through their magnetism and quiet persuasion, leaders enlist others in their dreams. They breathe life into their visions and get people to see exciting possibilities for the future. Example 1 "This is the moment." With those words, an echo of Martin Luther King's "Now is the time", Senator Barack Obama set out his vision for an America under his presidency, declaring himself the Democratic nominee. It was a moment of immense historical significance. After a marathon 2 year campaign, President Obama has become the first African American ever elected into the White House. Obama has constructed not so much a campaign as a movement. Campaigns are very much top down organizations focused on short term results -- let's get this person elected president -- while movements are constructed bottom-up with more long-term goals - - let's reshape the American political landscape. What Obama has been building can last longer than the individual campaign because it is as much structured around connections between voters as it is around connections between the candidate and the electorate. We see this in the use of MySpace, Facebook, and other social network site, which both build on the set of social ties that link people together and also enables new people to get into contact with each other. Obama embodies a networked model of the relations amongst all of us who are involved in the process of transforming American society. Those of us who are passionate about Obama (and yes, I'm an Obama boy) are responding to an alternative vision of the country -- one based less on fragmentation around identity politics or partisan differences than one which values diversity of perspectives as opening up the possibility of refining our collective organization and enabling us to solve problems together which defeat us as individuals. Example 1 "This is the moment." With those words, an echo of Martin Luther King's "Now is the time", Senator Barack Obama set out his vision for an America under his presidency, declaring himself the Democratic nominee. It was a moment of immense historical significance. After a marathon 2 year campaign, President Obama has become the first African American ever elected into the White House. Obama has constructed not so much a campaign as a movement. Campaigns are very much top down organizations focused on short term results -- let's get this person elected president -- while movements are constructed bottom-up with more long-term goals - - let's reshape the American political landscape. What Obama has been building can last longer than the individual campaign because it is as much structured around connections between voters as it is around connections between the candidate and the electorate. We see this in the use of MySpace, Facebook, and other social network site, which both build on the set of social ties that link people together and also enables new people to get into contact with each other. Obama embodies a networked model of the relations amongst all of us who are involved in the process of transforming American society. Those of us who are passionate about Obama (and yes, I'm an Obama boy) are responding to an alternative vision of the country -- one based less on fragmentation around identity politics or partisan differences than one which values diversity of perspectives as opening up the possibility of refining our collective organization and enabling us to solve problems together which defeat us as individuals. A Case Study The Participants Rahiel attended WWU for a Woodring major and minor in Diversity in Higher Education, held a 12 hour/week campus job, and a leadership position in an ethnic club. Jorge attended WWU to get a business administration degree then join the corporate world. He attended a few club meetings and occasionally attended campus events. The Problem Wanting to share cultural knowledge to the campus community includes hours of planning, hours of meetings, perhaps baking and bake sales, and trying to recruit others. Rahiel could imagine exciting possibilities for an upcoming, annual heritage dinner and invited other students to help in the planning. Rahiel’s vision anticipated a successful event with a lot of student participation in coordinating the details; it did not envision being the sole event planner nor missing class deadlines, reading assignments, and not attending classes. While the event was successful, there was an unseen consequence- Rahiel struggled through classes the rest of the quarter and had to drop one class. Rahiel forgot to engage and enlist others. Jorge did receive an invitation from Rahiel to participate in the planning, but didn’t consider his business degree relevant. He enjoyed attending the dinner, but later wondered why he didn’t see Rahiel anymore...and if he should have volunteered. The Insight The following year Rahiel was still passionate to plan a heritage dinner and determined to succeed academically. The simple invitations she made the previous year expanded into talking with other students, seeking their opinions, learning about their interests, abilities, and aspirations. The unique abilities Jorge brought included budgeting and photography- areas he hadn’t considered the year before to be relevant. Jorge expanded the event’s vision by finding Megumi’s interests and seeing her excited participation. - Engaging others includes more than an invitation to help. - Learning the skills and interests of other contributes to fulfilling goals. - Cultural events are important for our community. - Higher education is the “business” of engaging thoughtful minds across all disciplines. The Inquiries 1. What method was used to engage others and how could it be improved? 2. What valuable lesson(s) did both Rahiel and Jorge learn? 3. What pledge can you make to ensure inclusive goals? A Case Study The Participants Rahiel attended WWU for a Woodring major and minor in Diversity in Higher Education, held a 12 hour/week campus job, and a leadership position in an ethnic club. Jorge attended WWU to get a business administration degree then join the corporate world. He attended a few club meetings and occasionally attended campus events. The Problem Wanting to share cultural knowledge to the campus community includes hours of planning, hours of meetings, perhaps baking and bake sales, and trying to recruit others. Rahiel could imagine exciting possibilities for an upcoming, annual heritage dinner and invited other students to help in the planning. Rahiel’s vision anticipated a successful event with a lot of student participation in coordinating the details; it did not envision being the sole event planner nor missing class deadlines, reading assignments, and not attending classes. While the event was successful, there was an unseen consequence- Rahiel struggled through classes the rest of the quarter and had to drop one class. Rahiel forgot to engage and enlist others. Jorge did receive an invitation from Rahiel to participate in the planning, but didn’t consider his business degree relevant. He enjoyed attending the dinner, but later wondered why he didn’t see Rahiel anymore...and if he should have volunteered. The Insight The following year Rahiel was still passionate to plan a heritage dinner and determined to succeed academically. The simple invitations she made the previous year expanded into talking with other students, seeking their opinions, learning about their interests, abilities, and aspirations. The unique abilities Jorge brought included budgeting and photography- areas he hadn’t considered the year before to be relevant. Jorge expanded the event’s vision by finding Megumi’s interests and seeing her excited participation. - Engaging others includes more than an invitation to help. - Learning the skills and interests of other contributes to fulfilling goals. - Cultural events are important for our community. - Higher education is the “business” of engaging thoughtful minds across all disciplines. The Inquiries 1. What method was used to engage others and how could it be improved? 2. What valuable lesson(s) did both Rahiel and Jorge learn? 3. What pledge can you make to ensure inclusive goals? Example 2 Potlucks are a perfect way to share an inspired vision with others. The inspired vision of the whole is to enjoy the diversity and flavors of everyone by coming together and celebrating. This is a practice which happens plentifully within the Latino community. All it takes is one person to want to celebrate and all are almost 100% on board to bring their own individualism, which is usually a family recipe not individualistic, and bring all those together to fulfill the inspired vision with all. A vision to spend quality time and enjoy the spice of everyone’s life. Example 2 Potlucks are a perfect way to share an inspired vision with others. The inspired vision of the whole is to enjoy the diversity and flavors of everyone by coming together and celebrating. This is a practice which happens plentifully within the Latino community. All it takes is one person to want to celebrate and all are almost 100% on board to bring their own individualism, which is usually a family recipe not individualistic, and bring all those together to fulfill the inspired vision with all. A vision to spend quality time and enjoy the spice of everyone’s life. Key Findings 1.Begins with passion, feeling, concern, or/and inspiration that something is worth doing 2.Share goals 3.Keep an open mind 4.All contribute 5.Comes from relationship with others 6.Positive outlook 7.Clearly visualize a brighter tomorrow 8.Develops a sense of belonging to something very special 9.Dialogue, not a monologue 10.Visions are bigger than one’s self 11.Built from the bottom up 12.“Those who hear not the music, think the dancers mad.” Chinese proverb 13.Obama Key Findings 1.Begins with passion, feeling, concern, or/and inspiration that something is worth doing 2.Share goals 3.Keep an open mind 4.All contribute 5.Comes from relationship with others 6.Positive outlook 7.Clearly visualize a brighter tomorrow 8.Develops a sense of belonging to something very special 9.Dialogue, not a monologue 10.Visions are bigger than one’s self 11.Built from the bottom up 12.“Those who hear not the music, think the dancers mad.” Chinese proverb 13.Obama Acknowledgements: Western Leadership Advantage, Dr. Joanne DeMark, George Booker, James Kouzes & Barry Posner “The student leadership challenge”, Ahmed Abdirizak, Janna Cecka, Luis Ibarra, L’Shray Jones, and Eric Sanchez Acknowledgements: Western Leadership Advantage, Dr. Joanne DeMark, George Booker, James Kouzes & Barry Posner “The student leadership challenge”, Ahmed Abdirizak, Janna Cecka, Luis Ibarra, L’Shray Jones, and Eric Sanchez

The identity of I is one consisting of self power, self insight, self growth; an individualistic view on life, where one wants to achieve more than the other. Shifting from that viewpoint to We is focusing on a whole rather than the individual. Where the motive is to strive for the collective community and what is best for all. The identity of I is one consisting of self power, self insight, self growth; an individualistic view on life, where one wants to achieve more than the other. Shifting from that viewpoint to We is focusing on a whole rather than the individual. Where the motive is to strive for the collective community and what is best for all. Example 1 Just recently, I heard a friend sum up what she had learned after years of tracking the lives of young people seeking a better future. These young leaders had been working hard to finish high school and hopeful to enter college. She mentioned how many of these students attended conferences, joined clubs, started rallies, and initiated campaigns, etc, in an effort to bring about changes in their society, focusing their energies on problems both local and global. My friend who is a linguistics major, so one of the things that interested her was the language these young people used. Adult leaders, she suggested, tend to rely heavily on the first person pronoun: 'Here's what I will do for you', 'this is my position on the issues,' 'I have the experience needed to do the job.' By contrast, the youth leaders tended to deploy a third person language: 'what do we see as the problem here,' 'what do we want to do about It,' 'what are our goals for the next steps.' The young leaders were interested in the process as much as the product, trying to make sure that every perspective got heard and weighed appropriately before reaching a decision. They pooled information from multiple sources, valuing diversity of input because of what it would contribute to the final outcome. All of this came back to me as I have been listening to Barrack Obama. Commentators have noted his tendency to use "We" far more often than first ("I") or second person ("You" pronouns, often with only minimal understanding of what is at stake in this language choice. Some of this no doubt emerges from Obama's experience as a community organizer. Example 1 Just recently, I heard a friend sum up what she had learned after years of tracking the lives of young people seeking a better future. These young leaders had been working hard to finish high school and hopeful to enter college. She mentioned how many of these students attended conferences, joined clubs, started rallies, and initiated campaigns, etc, in an effort to bring about changes in their society, focusing their energies on problems both local and global. My friend who is a linguistics major, so one of the things that interested her was the language these young people used. Adult leaders, she suggested, tend to rely heavily on the first person pronoun: 'Here's what I will do for you', 'this is my position on the issues,' 'I have the experience needed to do the job.' By contrast, the youth leaders tended to deploy a third person language: 'what do we see as the problem here,' 'what do we want to do about It,' 'what are our goals for the next steps.' The young leaders were interested in the process as much as the product, trying to make sure that every perspective got heard and weighed appropriately before reaching a decision. They pooled information from multiple sources, valuing diversity of input because of what it would contribute to the final outcome. All of this came back to me as I have been listening to Barrack Obama. Commentators have noted his tendency to use "We" far more often than first ("I") or second person ("You" pronouns, often with only minimal understanding of what is at stake in this language choice. Some of this no doubt emerges from Obama's experience as a community organizer. A Case Study The Participants George W. Bush, his administration, the American people and the world. In the past 8 years our nation has suffered from an Individualistic leadership, which did not engage nor include the citizens. President George W. Bush subscribed to that philosophy of “anything goes” under his leadership without the consent of the American people. In 2009 our nation’s deficit is estimated at $440 billion U.S dollars. We are now as a nation suffering from the effects of that sort of leadership, in the collapse of but not limited to; the housing market, banks, employment, and two high costly wars. These catastrophes are the result of a bad leadership. Living in the United States we are grateful to be living in a democracy and hence now elected a president who not only understands but embodies the spirit of a Collectivist leadership. President Barack Obama not only shows in his words by using the word I an amazing 3 times in his inaugural speech but in his actions as well by releasing updates via web on You Tube every week. A Personal Application The Participants My neighborhood, landlord, property owner and I One of the biggest social-injustice my neighborhood faces is racism. In the summer of 2007, it was brought to my attention that residents in the complex I live in were being discriminated against. My neighborhood is a diverse and minority rich community of many races such as: Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and African. A majority of the people can not speak the English language. It is not a place where the residents are likely to complain to higher authorities against the landlord. Instead, my neighbors would come and knock at my door whenever they needed help translating their concerns regarding maintenance, paying rent, and carpet cleaning to name a few. I had heard from the older women in our apartment complex that our landlord is rude, disrespectful and unprofessional. However, a turning point for me was when a young woman resident was physically attacked by our landlord. It was then that we, as community, decided to take action against the discriminatory behavior of the management. I decided to turn my anger and frustration into action and knew that I alone could not resolve the issue and needed the help and support of the entire complex. Although I was only seventeen, I decided to represent our apartment complex in a neighborhood meeting with the owner who flew in from California. After listening and translating each victim’s story, I felt disappointed with how immigrants and refugees are often treated in this country as second class citizens because of their lack of education and knowledge of the English language. The landlord felt comfortable to verbally and physically harass the residents because she thought they would never have the will to rebel against her. I realized the power of people gathering together to create change and the importance of leaders who have the courage to speak up for them. After an intense and emotion filled meeting, the owner decided to terminate the landlord’s contract within a week. After receiving the good news, I saw relief in the eyes of the residents. A Case Study The Participants George W. Bush, his administration, the American people and the world. In the past 8 years our nation has suffered from an Individualistic leadership, which did not engage nor include the citizens. President George W. Bush subscribed to that philosophy of “anything goes” under his leadership without the consent of the American people. In 2009 our nation’s deficit is estimated at $440 billion U.S dollars. We are now as a nation suffering from the effects of that sort of leadership, in the collapse of but not limited to; the housing market, banks, employment, and two high costly wars. These catastrophes are the result of a bad leadership. Living in the United States we are grateful to be living in a democracy and hence now elected a president who not only understands but embodies the spirit of a Collectivist leadership. President Barack Obama not only shows in his words by using the word I an amazing 3 times in his inaugural speech but in his actions as well by releasing updates via web on You Tube every week. A Personal Application The Participants My neighborhood, landlord, property owner and I One of the biggest social-injustice my neighborhood faces is racism. In the summer of 2007, it was brought to my attention that residents in the complex I live in were being discriminated against. My neighborhood is a diverse and minority rich community of many races such as: Hispanic, Asian, Pacific Islander and African. A majority of the people can not speak the English language. It is not a place where the residents are likely to complain to higher authorities against the landlord. Instead, my neighbors would come and knock at my door whenever they needed help translating their concerns regarding maintenance, paying rent, and carpet cleaning to name a few. I had heard from the older women in our apartment complex that our landlord is rude, disrespectful and unprofessional. However, a turning point for me was when a young woman resident was physically attacked by our landlord. It was then that we, as community, decided to take action against the discriminatory behavior of the management. I decided to turn my anger and frustration into action and knew that I alone could not resolve the issue and needed the help and support of the entire complex. Although I was only seventeen, I decided to represent our apartment complex in a neighborhood meeting with the owner who flew in from California. After listening and translating each victim’s story, I felt disappointed with how immigrants and refugees are often treated in this country as second class citizens because of their lack of education and knowledge of the English language. The landlord felt comfortable to verbally and physically harass the residents because she thought they would never have the will to rebel against her. I realized the power of people gathering together to create change and the importance of leaders who have the courage to speak up for them. After an intense and emotion filled meeting, the owner decided to terminate the landlord’s contract within a week. After receiving the good news, I saw relief in the eyes of the residents. Example 2 At the beginning of my involvement with the Latino Student Union I was thinking of ways I could improve the organization, thinking of ways I could get its members more involved, and thinking of ways I could help LSU grow. What I didn’t think of before is not how I but what We as a group can do for the Latino Student Union to make it succeed as a whole. By putting together all the viewpoints and needs of the club the officer team in turn set up events, programs, and activities to offer a little bit of everything to all. If everyone’s happy, everyone’s happy! Example 2 At the beginning of my involvement with the Latino Student Union I was thinking of ways I could improve the organization, thinking of ways I could get its members more involved, and thinking of ways I could help LSU grow. What I didn’t think of before is not how I but what We as a group can do for the Latino Student Union to make it succeed as a whole. By putting together all the viewpoints and needs of the club the officer team in turn set up events, programs, and activities to offer a little bit of everything to all. If everyone’s happy, everyone’s happy! Key Findings 1.Generational 2.I is contained in We 3.Cultures share everything 4.Working together so everyone benefits 5.Cultures are collective and relish togetherness 6.Impeccably inclusive 7.I exists only in relationship to others 8.Cherish welfare, unity, and harmony 9.We is the reason we are alive 10.Centered on people not things 11.Our first culture was a We culture 12.Obama Key Findings 1.Generational 2.I is contained in We 3.Cultures share everything 4.Working together so everyone benefits 5.Cultures are collective and relish togetherness 6.Impeccably inclusive 7.I exists only in relationship to others 8.Cherish welfare, unity, and harmony 9.We is the reason we are alive 10.Centered on people not things 11.Our first culture was a We culture 12.Obama Acknowledgements: Western Leadership Advantage, Dr. Joanne DeMark, George Booker, Juana Bordas “Salsa, Soul, and Spirit: Leadership for a Multicultural Age”, Ahmed Abdirizak, Janna Cecka, Luis Ibarra, L’Shray Jones, and Eric Sanchez