Peter J. Jessen

"Goals Per Action" Success Consultant

peterjj@peterjessen-gpa.com · peterjjgpa@icloud.com · 9931 SW 61st Ave., Portland, OR 97219 · Tel: 503.977.3240 · Fax: 503.977.3239

26.  LIST for Personal Time Management and Cooperative Team Building E Pluribus Unum:   out of many, one:  It takes ALL of you to make you One!
 
Peter J. Jessen
Wilson High School Leadership Group, December 2 & 9, 1998
 
Theme:  Working As A Team
 
Managing Time is possible:   make lists, keep a calendar.  Managing people is more difficult.  In one sense, you manage things but only lead people (in Harry Bredemeier's phrase, we have the  sovereignty/coordination problem:  how to coordinate inter-dependent role players (actors, individuals) in the teeth of their autonomy.  How can we lead each other & still have teamwork?  How do we handle our various meetings (from large group to small)?  How do we reconcile the group's AND each person's sovereignty?   Here are 12 statements to consider for being better stewards of time, talents, and treasury (bold = a book title): 
 
  1.  We need rules of procedures that we add Riddick's Rules of Procedure to that of Roberts'.
 
  2. We recognize the importance of an agenda and then follow the agenda format adopted, along with accompanying assignment charts (or lists) AND calendar charts, including meeting agreed upon deadlines.
 
  3.  We need to work more as a team and utilize our time in getting together to build positive relationships getting to yes by communicating openly and "unconditionally constructive".
 
  4.  Let's spread our teamwork throughout the school following the principles that will enable us to win friends and influence people, not make enemies and divide the team.  Make this part of our following the 7 habits of highly effective teens. 
 
  5.  Let's follow the principles of the one minute manager to set and meet goals, to praise each other and, as required, to reprimand.
 
  6.  Let's anticipate each other better and not take actions that end teamwork.  Let's be careful to make sure that we follow conduct expected (which means roles:  you can't live a role free existence, so don't break role).   What is expected?  
 
  7.  As school leaders, let's exercise leadership that "endures in a changing world" by turning to each other and saying, "lead on", not just "follow me."  Be positive and constructive.  Will we deal with the "hard facts" without being hard on each other?  Will we put data over hunches/experience?
 
  8.  That we always remember that we are not discussing some new "new" and "different," and that the simple is not always simplistic; thus we must all be able to say that all I really need to know I learned in kindergarten, where we first learned uncommon thoughts on common things.
 
  9.  That time management is an act of personal and organizational stewardship, and that in following the notion of first things first, in order to have principle centered leadership, so that we can transcend the ordinary so that we can have "constant energy", "thought power", "believe in ourselves" (the heart of teamwork), generate an "inflow of new thoughts which can re-make us", "create our own happiness", "break the worry habit" and "solve personal problems".  In taking responsibility, ask:   "Am I confident that this is the way I want to invest my time and life?"
 
10.  That in the sense that we represent the corporate body of our school, we must not forget that it will take teamwork to enable us to be able to engage in climbing the corporate Matterhorn, the secret for successful climbing being the continuing of our education so we know more, not less, and that it enable us to more carefully and thoughtfully delegate the work and tasks in order to share the load in true teamwork fashion. 
 
11.  Following these 12 points shows emotional intelligence, which is needed if we are to have a high enough adversity quotient, to enable turning obstacles into opportunities, as we stress for success through learned optimism, joyfully engaging full catastrophe living, which is why zebras don't get ulcers.  
 
12.  KEY #1:   L-I-S-T-S  (in #'s 1-11; need time lines to be effective).  Learn/understand the key dynamics of social change (source of uncertainty; the only constant) and social roles.  KEY #2:   c-o-l-l-a-b-o-r-a-t-I-o-n (which you can't have unless all is NEGOTIABLE) as opposed to just accommodation, avoidance, controlling, or compromise.  Hannah Arendt: meet "the irreversibility of human actions and words“ with "the power to forgive.”   Solve the chaos of “unpredictability [with] the power of promise.” Interact with civility, avoid any false pyramid of sacrifice.  Love kindness, do justice, walk humbly.  Debunk boys will be boys and help in (reviving Ophelia) rescuing the lives of adolescent girls. 
 
Mark Twain:

Inherently, each one of us has the substance within to achieve whatever our goals and dreams define.  What is missing from each of us is the training, education, knowledge and insight to utilize what we already have."

Thomas Huxley, British biologist
 
Perhaps the most valuable result of all education is the ability to make yourself to do the thing you have to do when it ought to be done whether you like it or not.  It is the first lesson that ought to be learned and however early a person's training begins, it is probably the last lesson a person learns thoroughly.
 
Peter L. Berger:  Reality is of course........until further notice.
 
Sandra Scarr:  Opportunity breads predestination.
 
Caveat:  leadership applies anywhere, to any system, any group, whether democratic (decisions determined by vote) or authoritative (not direct voting, although many listen to input).  Many institutions, by definition, cannot be.  Many situations require authorities (parenting, coaching, teaching, combat, etc.).  In others we vote for our leaders and either follow them or have them submit their decisions to us for a vote.  You cannot vote on truth.  You cannot vote on how much 2 + 2 equals.  And much that we hold to be true is our truth but not THE truth.  BUT:  you can negotiate with authority regarding "climate" and areas of their responsibility that deal with you.

Hence the even greater need for collaboration and exercising your leadership with positive action.