Zander's Secret to shining eyes
8/24/2022
Benjamin Zander is an inspiration to the musical community. His charisma, humor, and charm exude through every fiber of his being, as he strives to bring to life the innermost excitement and vision within his attentive audience, dedicated students, and dear companions. A renowned conductor, Zander works to transform his orchestra into not only a highly esteemed group of musicians, but also a community of passionate people. As he describes his orchestra-members having “eyes shining,” he describes what being passionate about meaningful work looks like. When the eyes of his musicians are shining, Zander knows they all understand that the true meaning of their work goes farther than just themselves. As eyes shine, the heart inside is even more on fire about the good that is being carried out. As Zander suggests, to encourage shining eyes is to “awaken possibility in other people.” Zander combines his profound affection for classical music with his enlightened perseverance to empower all those who surround him through the ways he leads others. While he guides musical masterpieces with a conductor’s wand in hand, Zander proves to be increasingly effective in simultaneously displaying powerful leadership to all who watch him and follow his direction.
There is no doubt that Benjamin Zander is a revolutionary leader. From the way he fascinates every audience, to the inspiration he strikes in even the youngest of his students, Zander continues to prove repeatedly that he is worthy of respect and recognition through the way he helps others grow and flourish. Surprisingly enough though, many have varying diverse ways of viewing what makes a leader. Some insist that strong leaders are assertive and take charge, no matter the consequences. Similarly, others feel that leaders are simply the sharp-dressed executives with influential titles and spacious offices. Though these types of leaders may prove to do their jobs well, I personally see them as doing only that. They check off the boxes, accept the awards, and pay raises, but they often fail to truly inspire change and progress in the hearts of their followers. While these preppy “suits” may prove to be powerful in the workplace, I struggle to see them as authentic leaders in the grand scheme of things. Personally, leadership is a lot more about the hearts you transform and a lot less about the recognition you receive. As Benjamin Zander so clearly displays, leadership is the utilization of one's talents and skills to help many others reach and conquer their goals. It is taking a step down, so one can bring the whole team up with them. It is humbling oneself for the best interest of the larger group. For example, rather than clutch onto his power and influence with closed fists, Zander reaches down with his open hands to prioritize bringing his orchestra up with him every step of the way. Not only does he encourage a passionate and inspired environment, but he nurtures and fosters a group of musicians who are constantly working to become the best version of themselves. Zander’s leadership is such an outstanding inspiration to me in many ways. Most especially, Zander’s focus on encouraging the development of passionate people resonated with me greatly. Through his quirkiness and his grace, Zander inspired all those around him to lighten up and be who they truly are. He did all this, to encourage them to live life with a little less indifference and a little more “shining eyes.” As Zander depicts, leadership is all about being selfless in the pursuit of growth in one’s followers.
As explained, Zander proves to be an incredible leader on all fronts. From engaging every life he encounters, to valuing excellence in his work, Zander truly is exceptional in a wide variety of ways. This is largely because leadership is just his starting point for progress. Zander leads his orchestra and students primarily to be stronger human beings through a quest for passion and excitement in their work. But Zander does not just stop there. Rather, he continues and brings his leadership role one step further when he practices responsible leadership. Before I continue, let us take a second to unpack this. “Responsible Leadership.” Well, every leader is responsible, so is not responsible leadership no different than any other leadership? Surprisingly, the answer is no. Responsible leadership involves the explicit realization that all decisions have consequences that must be considered before acting. A responsible leader does not make decisions “on a whim.” Rather, they understand the inherent truth that their decisions have influence in many lives. Responsible leaders think through every move they make, keeping their followers’ best interests at heart. Any leader can delegate roles and get the job done. Responsible leaders go the extra mile to accommodate their community members with roles best suited for their preferences and abilities. Like Zander, responsible leaders understand the great responsibility that comes with guiding others through life and do not take it lightly. They do all they can for the community they build, to revolutionize the lives of all those they lead.
Enjoy the TedTalk yourself!
Watch it at https://www.ted.com/talks/benjamin_zander_the_transformative_power_of_classical_music
Getting loud while leading boldy
9/4/2022
It Might Get Loud. Three legendary guitarists. Three distinct styles. Three different generations. When they were put in a room together to explore their creative geniuses, no one knew what would happen. Not only did it get loud, but a wide range of leadership traits were simultaneously displayed. Between The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White, many aspects of leadership were depicted in everyday settings. For example, as they shared their histories and discussed their vastly diverse music styles, they remained open-minded to learning more about the others. In addition, they listened intently to what the others had to say. In leadership today, it is easy to overlook the importance of listening, especially when all the focus is put on the leader taking charge and making executive decisions. But as the musicians revealed, listening is one of the most crucial elements of leadership. As the 3 talents collaborated, they were intentional about what they shared and how they engaged in listening to the others share. This building of connection amplified the power of their leadership, as it displayed the importance of every member of the team. Through their strong listening skills, the artists revealed the true importance of valuing the thoughts, ideas, and opinions of every team member while working towards a common goal.
One common goal all artists shared was their mission to matter. Though there are many opinions on what it means to matter, I feel firm in my interpretation. To matter means to improve the lives of others and positively impact your surroundings. No matter how small or wide one’s reach is, every person on the planet has the potential to matter. By working to improve their personal world, whether it be through technological developments, increased education, or simply multiplied joy in the lives of others, individuals can matter in their own lives, relationships, and communities. With this definition of what it means to matter, I believe Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page all have and continue to matter in their own lives. For instance, The Edge says in It Might Get Loud, “the biggest thrill is having the power to really connect with people.” By this, The Edge reveals his internal motivations to matter by impacting the lives of all his listeners in a positive way. Connecting with listeners across the globe gives the featured musicians’ music a means to matter in countless lives.
It is apparent that mattering on a wide scale is often exclusive to individuals with the fame and range of internationally acclaimed guitarists. But that does not mean that it is impossible for everyday citizens to matter in their own unique way. For example, I prioritize mattering in my own life by positively affecting the lives of others in trivial ways. I aspire to do everything I do with an intense sense of purpose and intention, no matter how minor or unimportant it may seem. From letting strangers into traffic, to actively listening to the ideas and struggles of others, I work to make everyone around me feel as important and loved as possible. By bettering the lives of both close loved ones and complete strangers, I may not matter on the international level, but I do matter on the individual scale. By positively impacting one life at a time, I may continue to matter in many lives, no matter how minimal the reach may seem.
One common goal all artists shared was their mission to matter. Though there are many opinions on what it means to matter, I feel firm in my interpretation. To matter means to improve the lives of others and positively impact your surroundings. No matter how small or wide one’s reach is, every person on the planet has the potential to matter. By working to improve their personal world, whether it be through technological developments, increased education, or simply multiplied joy in the lives of others, individuals can matter in their own lives, relationships, and communities. With this definition of what it means to matter, I believe Jack White, The Edge, and Jimmy Page all have and continue to matter in their own lives. For instance, The Edge says in It Might Get Loud, “the biggest thrill is having the power to really connect with people.” By this, The Edge reveals his internal motivations to matter by impacting the lives of all his listeners in a positive way. Connecting with listeners across the globe gives the featured musicians’ music a means to matter in countless lives.
It is apparent that mattering on a wide scale is often exclusive to individuals with the fame and range of internationally acclaimed guitarists. But that does not mean that it is impossible for everyday citizens to matter in their own unique way. For example, I prioritize mattering in my own life by positively affecting the lives of others in trivial ways. I aspire to do everything I do with an intense sense of purpose and intention, no matter how minor or unimportant it may seem. From letting strangers into traffic, to actively listening to the ideas and struggles of others, I work to make everyone around me feel as important and loved as possible. By bettering the lives of both close loved ones and complete strangers, I may not matter on the international level, but I do matter on the individual scale. By positively impacting one life at a time, I may continue to matter in many lives, no matter how minimal the reach may seem.
genuine intentions
9/10/2022
One of my strongest goals in life is to brighten the lives of others. From complimenting strangers to supporting close friends, bettering the lives of others proves to be the most fulfilling task I perform. By pursuing both trivial and substantial ways of improving the lives of those around me, I find my purpose and my passion. Here is where my one word enters the scene. “Genuine.” To be genuine means to put sincerity and truth into everything one does. It means to be welcoming to all and bring warmth into every setting. Of all the traits that I hope my ideal self to have, genuineness is the most central quality that comes to mind. Not only does being genuine make others feel loved and valued, but it also encourages strangers to bring a bit more warmth into their own lives. I strongly believe that by being genuine myself, others are inspired to be genuine themselves. Thus, the warmth and brightness that emerges from simply one act of being genuine has the power to multiply as others feel inspired and follow suit. To be genuine means to be authentically compassionate to all. As I work to be genuine in every part of my life, I hope to continue to encourage others to do the same. This way, the community and well-being of our world can only grow.
Design thinking - to the extreme
9/16/2022
Arne Van Oosterom once said, “Design thinking is the glue between all disciplines.” The prestigious keynote speaker and leadership coach could not be more correct in this statement. Design thinking is a manner of solving problems and creating innovative ideas that puts all other creative processes to shame. It is a process that continues to inspire effective progress for both the thinkers and the “clients.”
One of the many ways that design thinking is set apart from more traditional ways of thought is its passionate motivation to understand the problem on the most genuine level. Rather than just research the history and statistics of the challenge at hand, design thinkers take it one step further by connecting with the project through the people involved. Empathy propels design thinkers to understand the full extent of the issue at hand, by focusing on the human element of the challenge. It proves to be critical to the design process, as it allows for personal connections to be made and more motivation to get the job done well. When design thinkers can clearly see how the problem is directly affecting the people involved, they can relate to them and be even more passionate about improving lives. Oftentimes, design thinkers take it one step further by traveling to the physical location that the problem concerns. Though this hassle of physically relocating may seem excessive, the truth is that it is vitally important to the process. By fully putting themselves out there and immersing themselves in the culture and environment of the challenge, design thinkers can get a full grasp on the situation at hand. Elements of the problem often can only be revealed when the problem-solvers see the full extent firsthand. By traveling to experience every angle of the issue, design thinkers prove to be much more successful at creating a sustainable solution to some of the world’s most pressing problems, all for the best interest of the end-user.
Not only do design thinkers get an advantage by traveling to a specific location, but they continue to inspire excellence through the mindset they adapt. Instead of encouraging attitudes of arrogance when looking for solutions, design thinking emphasizes the importance of being humble and assuming the open-mindedness of a novice. By taking on the perspective of a mere beginner, highly intelligent design thinkers allow themselves to think unconventionally with little to no consequence. Rather than to pursue only perfection in the design process, mistakes are encouraged, to widen the possibilities and investigate all options for success. Not only does a beginner’s mindset increase the levels of creativity in design thinkers, but it also makes them more effective at being empathetic to the people affected by the product. When design thinkers refrain from being pompous and overconfident, they open the door to authentic, approachable connection through the eyes of the end users, which often leads to more successful collaboration and solutions.
Though being humble through the design thinking process is notoriously more effective in finding a practical solution, overcoming one’s ego for the good of the group still often proves to be a challenge throughout the design-thinking project. As it is our human nature to be confident in our ideas, often conflict arises within design thinking groups when strategies and mindsets fail to align. These conflicts tend to raise tension and enact disagreements in the group setting, thus making the learning and work environment a difficult place to be open-minded or feel free to share all ideas. It is because of this that design thinking groups must persevere and work to stay receptive of all strategies, no matter how outlandish they may seem. But even more importantly, individuals must stay unattached to their opinions while focusing on what is best for the entirety of the project. Humility and grace must be encouraged to fill every space, as ideas lose momentum a time must come to switch gears. When this time comes, individuals must be agreeable enough to set their egos aside and focus on what is best for the project, while also being open to criticism. For a group to work closely with one another towards a substantial goal, all members must act with tact and kindness, with the firm understanding that it is a full group effort that will propel them to the finish line, not just individual motives. When the design thinkers have empathy not only towards the end-user but also towards their teammates, must more progress can be made towards finding a sustainable solution to pressing problems.
One of the many ways that design thinking is set apart from more traditional ways of thought is its passionate motivation to understand the problem on the most genuine level. Rather than just research the history and statistics of the challenge at hand, design thinkers take it one step further by connecting with the project through the people involved. Empathy propels design thinkers to understand the full extent of the issue at hand, by focusing on the human element of the challenge. It proves to be critical to the design process, as it allows for personal connections to be made and more motivation to get the job done well. When design thinkers can clearly see how the problem is directly affecting the people involved, they can relate to them and be even more passionate about improving lives. Oftentimes, design thinkers take it one step further by traveling to the physical location that the problem concerns. Though this hassle of physically relocating may seem excessive, the truth is that it is vitally important to the process. By fully putting themselves out there and immersing themselves in the culture and environment of the challenge, design thinkers can get a full grasp on the situation at hand. Elements of the problem often can only be revealed when the problem-solvers see the full extent firsthand. By traveling to experience every angle of the issue, design thinkers prove to be much more successful at creating a sustainable solution to some of the world’s most pressing problems, all for the best interest of the end-user.
Not only do design thinkers get an advantage by traveling to a specific location, but they continue to inspire excellence through the mindset they adapt. Instead of encouraging attitudes of arrogance when looking for solutions, design thinking emphasizes the importance of being humble and assuming the open-mindedness of a novice. By taking on the perspective of a mere beginner, highly intelligent design thinkers allow themselves to think unconventionally with little to no consequence. Rather than to pursue only perfection in the design process, mistakes are encouraged, to widen the possibilities and investigate all options for success. Not only does a beginner’s mindset increase the levels of creativity in design thinkers, but it also makes them more effective at being empathetic to the people affected by the product. When design thinkers refrain from being pompous and overconfident, they open the door to authentic, approachable connection through the eyes of the end users, which often leads to more successful collaboration and solutions.
Though being humble through the design thinking process is notoriously more effective in finding a practical solution, overcoming one’s ego for the good of the group still often proves to be a challenge throughout the design-thinking project. As it is our human nature to be confident in our ideas, often conflict arises within design thinking groups when strategies and mindsets fail to align. These conflicts tend to raise tension and enact disagreements in the group setting, thus making the learning and work environment a difficult place to be open-minded or feel free to share all ideas. It is because of this that design thinking groups must persevere and work to stay receptive of all strategies, no matter how outlandish they may seem. But even more importantly, individuals must stay unattached to their opinions while focusing on what is best for the entirety of the project. Humility and grace must be encouraged to fill every space, as ideas lose momentum a time must come to switch gears. When this time comes, individuals must be agreeable enough to set their egos aside and focus on what is best for the project, while also being open to criticism. For a group to work closely with one another towards a substantial goal, all members must act with tact and kindness, with the firm understanding that it is a full group effort that will propel them to the finish line, not just individual motives. When the design thinkers have empathy not only towards the end-user but also towards their teammates, must more progress can be made towards finding a sustainable solution to pressing problems.
The Power of Empathy probes
10/28/2022
In today’s fast-paced world, it can be incredibly difficult to slow down and take time to genuinely get to know the people around you. Empathy is the act of diving into an emotional issue or conflict, in order to fully understand the plight of the individual. The empathy step of design thinking is one that proves to be vital, as it intricately connects the creator to the end user.By pursuing an empathetic approach to problem-solving, the design team is best able to develop a solution that not only solves the problem, but also delivers the maximum satisfaction to the consumer. Empathy interviews utilize sincere conversation to tap into individuals’ emotions, to understand the full extent of the issue at hand. By asking specific questions and establishing an elevated level of trust with the client, one is best able to comprehend all elements of a conflict most fully.
This past week, I was granted the opportunity to interview John Mentgen, a fellow Scott Scholar I have yet to get to know closely. Throughout our conversation, our acquaintance blossomed into a deeper level of connection, due to the genuine intention we put into our work. As we discussed our individual experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we were able to get to know each other on a much more authentic level of understanding. Not only do empathy interviews allow for an open space of sincere conversation, but they also open the door to understanding another person by observing their body language in response to topics and questions. For instance, in my interview with John, there were many opportunities to notice how he was internally feeling throughout our discussion. As we discussed the less optimist parts of his story, I noticed his somber appearance, with rigid posture. In contrast, when reminiscing on his emotional peak of receiving the vaccine, he had a full smile on his face, with such joy in his eyes. By having the opportunity to intentionally connect with an individual and discuss a sensitive period in their life, it opens the door to greater emotional connection. Especially as one inquiries about the emotions of each experience, one can better empathize with others and their experiences.
As I talked with John, I realized the importance of asking high quality questions in my attempt to get the most thorough understanding of the situation. By first initiating conversation about the chronological event, it broke the ice and got him talking on a surface level. But by then unpacking his emotions about each individual detail, the understanding of his feelings and mindset grows and flourishes.
This past week, I was granted the opportunity to interview John Mentgen, a fellow Scott Scholar I have yet to get to know closely. Throughout our conversation, our acquaintance blossomed into a deeper level of connection, due to the genuine intention we put into our work. As we discussed our individual experiences with the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, we were able to get to know each other on a much more authentic level of understanding. Not only do empathy interviews allow for an open space of sincere conversation, but they also open the door to understanding another person by observing their body language in response to topics and questions. For instance, in my interview with John, there were many opportunities to notice how he was internally feeling throughout our discussion. As we discussed the less optimist parts of his story, I noticed his somber appearance, with rigid posture. In contrast, when reminiscing on his emotional peak of receiving the vaccine, he had a full smile on his face, with such joy in his eyes. By having the opportunity to intentionally connect with an individual and discuss a sensitive period in their life, it opens the door to greater emotional connection. Especially as one inquiries about the emotions of each experience, one can better empathize with others and their experiences.
As I talked with John, I realized the importance of asking high quality questions in my attempt to get the most thorough understanding of the situation. By first initiating conversation about the chronological event, it broke the ice and got him talking on a surface level. But by then unpacking his emotions about each individual detail, the understanding of his feelings and mindset grows and flourishes.
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