Referring to Part II: Creating Abundance in the text Stories of Transformative Leadership in the Human Services (Chapter 14; pp. 65-81), the agency director, Helen, shares an ice-breaker experience she had while at a leadership workshop. It played an instrumental role in her understanding of what needed to be done to transform her organization. In this discussion you will participate in the online version of this icebreaker, which is as follows:
Helen told Nick about her most important teacher, someone supportive and very, very demanding. Other mentors mentioned included a caring aunt and a grandpa in a wheelchair dispensing fishing lessons. Take a moment to recall your most important mentor or teacher, someone whose relationship still matters to you and how you live your life. Your individual post in the group discussion board should address these questions:
Who was your most important teacher or mentor? (Include his or her full name).
Describe the organizational context in which you encountered this teacher/mentor (i.e. school, church, nonprofit organization, etc.)
What “lessons” did he or she provide that mattered so much to you?
How are the values in those lessons a concrete part of your life today? (remember to be concrete)
In your opinion, how did your mentor’s leadership affect the organizational context?
In your opinion, how was your mentor’s leadership affected by the organizational context?