Delta Omicron

The associate member process of any fraternity demands a lot out of each new potential brother. In order for the group to get through this process they must work together and as a team. It is very true, the saying, "you are only as strong as your weakest link." Team culture played a big role in the development of us as a team. The brothers let us know from the very beginning that the only way we were going to reach are goal, of all getting initiated, was to operate together. We must from an individuals standpoint, bring our best talents out, and from s team standpoint, function synergistically as a unit to achieve our common goals (1000 Ventures). In addition each new member must be committed, held accountable, and trust one another. An example of accountability is holding each associate member accountable for getting ten interviews done each week. In order for all of us to be successful, each person must interview at least ten brothers a week. 


Diversity is important in any organization. Bringing different viewpoints to the table is critical for finding the best solution to a problem. For this example, I will focus on psychological differences among people. "Just like our gender, age, and race influence how we approach certain situations, so do the ways in which we differ psychologically"(Buffalo State). There indeed is a diverse group of people in this pledge class. People from all parts of the east cost including Florida, New York, and Connecticut. Everyone has different perspectives on life and can contribute something different to the group. This is very helpful when completing the pledge project. The idea is to build a post and chain fence along the edge of the property. With each of our bits of knowledge we were able to come up with  a plan to build the fence that would be perfectly placed. Diversity was one of the biggest keys to our success. 


Our pledge class does a lot to team building and building camaraderie. We have done a lot with developing social relations but having dinners ever Wednesday, working together on tasks, and being in constant communication with one another. Whenever we are faced with a challenge like pledge class shirts, we always work together and use the decision making process to find a solution. Since we all were a part of the decision making, we can all come to a consensus and support what ever solution is pushed through. We have clear goals and have fostered a climate of trust and support. 


Whether is is the pledge project, t-shirt, or anything else, we have developed S.M.A.R.T. goals to figure out what we want to achieve and how we are going to get there (management help). With the team culture, diversity, and team building or class has implemented and created, I feel very confident in this team being successful in the future. 




























http://www.1000ventures.com/business_guide/crosscuttings/culture_team.html
http://www.buffalostate.edu/orgs/cbir/readingroom/html/Puccio-99.html
http://managementhelp.org/groups/team-building.htm

Washington and Leadership

Washington D.C. is the most conflict driven city in the United States. There is never ending conflict between all politicians on each side of the aisle. There has been a heavily talked about debate in recent years over whether or not Washington is broken. The source of this is healthy versus unhealthy conflict. When healthy conflict occurs people have legitimate differences of opinion and the impact the decision will have. However in the past decade a lot of unhealthy conflict has come in to play on capital hill. Many politicians have hidden agendas and conflict therefore arises between individual and group goals. 

Many times we go along with what these people are doing because they have legitimate power. When someone has legitimate power it is based on the recognition and acceptance of a person's authority. Since the average person doesn't have time to actually see what politicians are doing we either simply accept it or criticize them for everything. However this is America and what people say matters. There is unequal power in society however with high-status people having more say than low-status people because they have more which they can give to the political candidate of their choice. In recent elections it is proven true that the more funding one campaign receives, the are most likely to win. 

Sometimes it is extremely difficult to see what a leader is about because they can hide behind their charismatic personality, motivation of others, effort, and so forth. The fact is leaders are both born and made. This can be exemplified by both the situational and contingency approach. The situational approach states that leaders are only important at certain moments and in most day-to-day operations their impact is small. The contingency approach is also very important because it links traits and behaviors to situations. 

The problem in Washington is not going to go away anytime soon. I believe the system is broken and it is going to take people to realize the unhealthy conflict and do something to stop it. Political candidates should not be voted into office based on their reward power and what they can do for lobbyist but rather on expert and information power where people are elected on their credibility and knowledge of the problem at hand.

http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2010/09/broken-washington-201009

http://www.hrbartender.com/2010/training/7-types-of-power-in-the-workplace/

http://www.drnadig.com/conflict.htm

http://www.nwlink.com/~donclark/leader/leadchr.html

http://www.enotes.com/contingency-approach-management-reference/contingency-approach-management

"The Phi Sigma Kappa Creed. I hereby solemnly declare My Faith in the wisdom and love of God; in the dignity and worth of my fellowmen; in the strength and beauty of true Fraternity; in the history and future of my Country; and in the traditions and program of my Alma Mater."


I recently decided to join a fraternity, Phi Sigma Kappa. Coming together with a group of guys, specifically one's pledge class, can be very difficult when everyone is meeting each other for the first time. This is where emotional intelligence plays an integral part in developing a cohesive group that is all on the same page. I have been pledging for two weeks now and see how important and useful it is to be able to read others, read the group, and read the environment so that I can understand others feelings, determine group needs, and accurately discern and respond to the organization.


One big project that our pledge class must complete is the pledge house project: come up with and design a project that will better the house. This can be difficult because, being that everyone has just met, we are still in the forming stage of group development and it could be hard to disagree with other members with out it reflecting bad upon yourself. 

We are indeed working to be a team. We have a purpose, productivity, numbers, longevity, accountability, and power. I believe two very important parts for each individual of the team to know is the ability to understand their own emotions as well as the ability to understand others emotions. Emotions are what guide human choice and inspire behavior. In order for my pledge class to make the right decisions and all become brothers of the fraternity we will most definitely need to be aware of our emotions. 


I am extremely happy to be a part of Phi Sigma Kappa. I believe if I can use my emotional intelligence and it's seven skills (identity, motivation, emotional awareness, communication, stress tolerance, conflict resolution, positive mod) to my advantage I will be very successful in helping my pledge class be the best class this fraternity has ever seen.


http://eqi.org/elit.htm#Definition%20of%20Emotional%20Literacy
http://www.drexel.edu/oca/l/tipsheets/Group_Development.pdf
http://yolocoaching.com/services/emotional-intelligence/
http://www.phisigmakappa.org/about-psk

Virginia Beach leadership Workshop is a week long program for high school students from around the city to learn about the dynamics of leadership. Three key lessons I learned from the workshop were group dynamics, the decision making process, and group roles.

We start off the week by getting separated into councils and group dynamics begin. The first stage of group dynamics is forming. This stage is how my council started because no one knew each other and no one wanted to step on anyone's toes. From this stage we had a project to complete. Come up with a five minute skit about your council name and your members. We had to do this thought the decision making process. The process has seven steps: develop constraints, set goals, brainstorm ideas, discussion, keep scratch, implement idea, and housekeeping. This has been the most efficient decision making process I have ever used. One of the keeps the process being successful is the discussion. No one is allowed to talk negatively about an idea, only why they like a certain idea. This ensures a free judgement environment where everyone feels they can contribute. 

 During the process however is when the storming began. Everyone had a vested interest in the end product and wanted to make sure their idea went though. This was the hardest stage to get through but people eventually understand that when the group is leaning one way sometimes you have to fight another day. Another disagreement we had was about the roles of the group members and who should take on each responsibility. 

Once the project was completed my council had to reflect and establish rule and roles for the team and team members. I This can be characterized by the norming stage. I believe through this stage we developed an increased level of trust and team support. was elected the president of my council. As the leader of the group I had to take on different roles at times which included information giver, coordinator, energizer, and at times harmonizer. Through this we developed a sense of cohesion; the interpersonal  bonds that hold a group together and the most important aspect of a group. 


From then on we became a very focused group hitting on all cylinders. This is know as the preforming stage. We knew exactly how the DMP process went and knew how to operate to achieve the best results efficiently and effectively. Stress was easily handled  when the deadline to finish the future projects were approaching.


Virginia Beach Leadership Workshop was a wonderful experience where I learned a ton about leadership and developed my leadership skills. Once the workshop was over we began the adjourning stage where the completion of goals was finished and it was the end of the group. 


http://managementhelp.org/groups/dynamics-theories.htm

http://www.abacon.com/commstudies/groups/roles.html

http://www.selfempoweringtips.com/decision-making/8-Steps-Decision-Making-Process-Example-Management.html

Logan Thomas’ pass complete to Danny Coale for 16 yards to the Virginia Tech 39 for a 1st down. Logan Thomas pass complete to Marcus Davis for 11 yards to the 50 yard line for a 1st down. Logan Thomas’ pass complete to David Wilson for 4 yards to the Miami 46. Logan Thomas’ quarterback draw for 19 yards for a TOUCHDOWN with 51 seconds left.

Football games against Miami University are always special for the Hokies, but never has one been as crazy as this one. It will go down as one of the best games ever played in Lane Stadium. The Hokies bonded together as a team with one goal in mind, beat Miami. The Virginia Tech football team is the true definition of a traditional work group, with Frank Beamer at the helm. If the team was a company, Logan Thomas would be in the middle-level management category. A big key to winning the game was in fact the quarterback play of Logan Thomas. Logan Thomas completed 23 of 25 passes for 310 yards and 3 touchdowns. This was the best completion percentage by any quarterback under coach Frank Beamer and at 92%, one of the best percentages in college football history. The team has definitely reached the preforming stage of group dynamics.

Logan Thomas grew up right in front of our eyes. From that game on, he has become the leader of the Virginia Tech football team. What helped him do this? It is often said that 90% of sports is mental. It’s true! I played varsity basketball in high school all four years, and I can promise you that so much of any game is mental. Attitude is everything, whether it is on the basketball court or football field. Something changed in Logan Thomas’ mind that day that gave him the confidence and attitude needed to be a great quarterback. That’s where Tyrod Taylor comes in. 

Tyrod Taylor is the true definition of a transformational leader. A transformational leader is one who leads others so that they can lead themselves. Tyrod Taylor showed his mutual influence on his successor, Logan Thomas, with words of encouragement and confidence in him. He wanted Logan Thomas to know that he was now “the guy,” and it was his turn to shine. Before the Hokies’ last possession, Tyrod Taylor approached Logan Thomas and said, “This is where legends are made. This is where you make your legacy. Go ahead and do it. And whatever happens after that happens." Logan Thomas' individual motivation to step out of the shadows of Tyrod Taylor helped him prevail. 

If this was any other former player, it would not have meant so much to Logan Thomas. Tyrod Taylor and Logan Thomas' interdependent relationship helped with that. Tyrod Taylor is one of the best players Virginia Tech has seen since Michael Vick. Tyrod Taylor is the guy Logan Thomas looks up to the most. Most importantly, he is his mentor. When the guy who was the leader of the football team for so many years tells you it is your turn to lead, you listen. 

Logan Thomas listened very well. The win was vastly important to keeping the Hokies’ chances alive to be repeating as ACC champions. Logan Thomas has now taken over that leadership role. The Miami game will always be remembered as the turning point in Logan Thomas’ collegiate career. The team was successful, they completed their task. 


http://www.usatoday.com/sports/college/football/acc/story/2011-10-08/virginia-tech-miami/50705300/1


http://www.hokiesports.com/football/

http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2011-10-08/sports/fl-game-story-miami-virginia-tech-1009-20111008_1_lamar-miller-lane-stadium-al-golden

http://www.roanoke.com/virginiatech/299482