Angelina Spauldings

Twelve Week Leadership Plan

The tail of the trials and tribulations of the warrior Odysseus in the
store of the Odyssey, tells about a man and his crew, that aimlessly
travel the world trying to return home after a mighty war. The problem
with Odysseus is that he is easily swayed by the influences of others.
For, the recklessness
of their own ways destroyed th
them all (The
nd
Odyssey, p. 3). Odysseus and his crew did not project a shared set of
values, and this inconstancy within the group is a major cause for
continuous calamities.

Week One:
May 2 through May 8

Now consider the perspective from Kouzes and Posner (2012) who
write that, asking what others think facilitates participation in
whatever decision will ultimately be determined and consequently
increases support for that decision. Asking good questions reduces
the risk that a decision might be undermined by either inadequate
consideration or unexpected opposition (p. 82). The recklessness
that Odysseus and his men encounter come from the leader
neglecting the perspectives of the men and making decisions without
the consideration of others perspectives.
Kouzes and Posner (2012) likely believe that reaching out to others
and seeking insight, rather than dictating the needs of others without
consideration, could have circumvented the problems within the
Odyssey. That is why in this first week of leadership enrichment the
focus will be on reaching out to others, specifically family, and
discussing what we would like our future to look like after graduation.
We will focus on learning of each others personal wants, professional
wants, and family wants to help develop a plan to align goals to
simultaneously meet the goals of the family.

Self-reflection, the willingness to seek

feedback, and the ability to then engage
in new behaviors based on this
information have been shown to be
predictive of future success (Kouzes &

Having a direction helps to keep life

on track!

Week Two:
May 9th through May 15th
This will be a unique week during this twelve-week leadership
journey. This will be one of only two weeks during this time period
that school will not be part of a regular schedule, due to the spring to
summer term break. For that reason it will be wise to be diligent on
how this open time will be allocated. After the pervious weeks
affirmation of values, it will be smart to be conscious about
choicesandactionsbecause other people use these signals to
determine (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 75) an individuals intentions.

The Values of Captain Cook

Tony Horwitz (2002) discuss the adventures of Captain James
Cook who, not only redrew the map of the world, creating a picture
of the globe much like the one we know today; he also transformed
the Wests image of nature and man (p. 4). Cooks
accomplishments circumnavigating the world for the British Royal
Navy likely came from his value system. His strong desire to keep
his men healthy, to the way Cook interacted with native people in
the Pacific islands, demonstrates that personal behaviors show
others the values that are most important to an individual.

Specific things to focus on:

Spend meaningful time with family.

Have lunch with a friend.
Work on personal growth and development by:
o Reading a book of choice.
o Cooking a new recipe.
o Learning a new exercise routine.
Short term planning and scheduling of events,
activities and tasks up until October 2016.

Week Three:
May 16th to May 22nd
This week will be a return to the regular schedule of working parttime; and being a full time mother, wife and student. This is the
last full term of course work prior to graduating in the fall. For this
reason it will be important to continue, to envision the future
(Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 108), while at the same time being
realisticof current conditions, strengths, and challenges (p.
109) during the active pursuit of achieving all undergraduate goals.

Stay Focused
Being present within the moment helps to maintain focus on the future.
An idealistic vision that is supported by goals helps to turn those goals
into achievable realities. Keeping a focus on the present to maintain a
path for the future helps to keep visions on a clear course. Being present
and aware of how todays actions impact future results can help keep an
open mind to the endless ways to achieve personal and professional
desires.

Entering a full transition

There is a popular saying that only the first time countsthat the
rites of passage do not appear in their complete formdo not even
exists except at the time of the first transition from one social
categoryto another (Van Gennep, p. 175), yet this is only a
saying and not necessarily the truth. As this is not the first attempt to
complete an undergraduate degree, this personal rite of passage has
taken many transitional turns. Leaving behind a social world, to enter
an academic world, than leaving academics and moving into a
professional world, and than back and forth again are all moments of
transition. Falling in and out of these moments until the final
transition of actually receiving a degree. That is why it is important to
keep focused, and continue on to complete a full transition to
entering a new territory of personal development: Having a college
degree.

Week Four:
May 23rd to May29th
As this leadership journey continues to move forward, it is
important to reflect on the other people that help to make the
achievement of personal and professional goals possible.
Personal aspirations cannot be achieved by individual effort alone,
but by the collective effort of the people in which individuals find
themselves surrounded by. For that reason it is wise to make
sure that the people on your team know that their work does, in
fact, matter (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 133). The time and effort
that others put forward to help achieve a vision is one of the main
driving forces as to how visions can turn into results. The support
garnered by others is part of the fuel that helps to move a dream
forward.

The spirit of Ubuntu

People are not people without other people (Varty, 2013, 3:21).
This saying comes from an African word known as Ubuntu, which
can also be translated as I am because of you (3:11).
The spirit of Ubuntu is alive in the belief that it takes a collective
effort to successfully live in the world. Yes a person can live in the
world without others. However, it is likely in a more collective
society, we realize from the inside that our own well being is deeply
tied to the well being of others (9:01). Ubuntu promotes a feeling
of unity and togetherness that helps to harvest an interlocking
group of people that work in an interdependent fashion to help
achieve results.
Ubuntu asks us to open our hearts and share (9:24). Those that
are important on this journey towards graduation day have opened
their hearts to share in the feelings of stress, joys and frustrations
that can be felt during such a hectic time. The ability for others to
accept the emotions that are conveyed during school, have opened
their hearts. These people have helped to create a world in which
the achievement of school is not just merely a dream, but rather a
reality, that comes from an understanding that we as a team in life
are only able to be our own individuals from the support of others.

Week Five:
May 30th to June 5th
This week of the leadership journey is a special moment within the
family. A member of the immediate family will be getting married.
As friends and family throughout the country gather we will be
participating in a rite of incorporation, of physical uniona
sacrament of communion (Van Gennep, p. 29). There is nothing
more fun to be around than someone who is openly excited about
the magic that can happen (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 151) at this
special time for the new couple and for the family as the group
accepts a new member in to the clan. This will be a week full of
embracing spiritual, family and social tradition as the new couple
transitions from being single entities to a dual entity.

A Family Affair
During this ceremony, time of transition, a more personal role of
upholding specific traditions will be a main responsibility. The
many different tasks that will need to be completed and the many
different activities that will need to be completed to help others
meet the responsibilities of the weeding will require a passive role,
but a role none the less. As this week progresses it will be wise to
maintain a positive demeanor to help reduce stress and to be
ready to help within a moments notice to assist in unforeseen
circumstances.
If youre not excited about the possibilities, you cant expect others
to be (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 150). During this time
leadership will focus on supporting others. This will be a time of
true reciprocity in which the honor of the giver and recipient are
engaged (Van Gennep, p. xi). Both those that are being
celebrated and those that are celebrating this moment in time will
be participants in the system of giving and receiving of gifts. These
gifts are not only the tangible items that will be seen presented at a
table during the feasting ceremonies, but rather also the
nontangible gifts of time and presences that will be offered. The
non-physical gifts once offered to me by the same family members
will now be reciprocated towards the newest extension of the
family. This is a time of joyful transition, which will be affirmed
through the act of reciprocity.

Week Six:
June 6th to June 12th
This week is the middle of the leadership journey. Hopefully at this
time a few things have developed. First, a clear understanding of
the goals and direction the family wishes to move towards.
Second, reaffirmation of values occurs by focusing on personal
growth and development. As well as, practicing the social rituals of
the rites of ceremonial passage while at the same time practicing
the virtues of reciprocity. And while this journey is playing out, will
stay focused on moving towards a graduation date.

Looking Past Ones

Moving
Self.beyond habitual thinking patterns is the starting point to
imaging truly novel alternatives (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p.
173). To go beyond the patterns of personal thought, acts of
divergent thinking will be sought. This week will be centered in a
different area of the country, the upper North East, where the
cultural way of thinking is not necessarily the same as the people
below the Mason Dixon line.

This will be a new area of the country to explore.

Seeking Alternative
The
culture, the society, the history of the land may have some
Perspectives.

Seeking Divergent
This
base of this weeks leadership journey will be to learn new
Knowledge
perspectives, which will be done by:

Engage a distant relative in a one-on-one

conversation to learn personal insights.
Search out an alternative publication that presents
an opposite opinion of personal beliefs.
Drive a different route south from the north that
offers alternative points of interest.
6

Week Seven:
June 13th to June 19th
Framing the challenge as something too gigantic can actually
have the effect of dampening motivation (p. 190), but when you
make progress incrementally. You break the long journey down
into milestones (Kouzes & Posner, 2014, p. 190). This week
marks the close to the first term of the summer semester. As the
time for graduation comes closer, it will be important to celebrate
each step that it takes to get closer to commencement day.

Breaking it Down
This is the third attempt to complete an undergraduate program.
Prior to enrolling into ASU program, the task of achieving an
undergraduate degree seemed monumental. The expense, a new
child, and a partner whose career comes with extensive travel
seemed to be three very good reasons not to return to school.
However, after breaking the problem down it became an easier,
more achievable, goal. An employer that is willing to supplement
the remainder of costs, to parents that are willing to help with
childcare needs, to a supportive partner who helps to reduce the
pressures of returning to school are all factors as to why I returned
to school. Having the ability to break down the problem and
understand how to overcome the details, rather than the problem
as a whole, helped to make the decision to return to school much
easier.

Small Wins!
The start of the fall term will mark two years since becoming a
student at ASU. Two years for a journey that has taken almost
fifteen years to complete. Even though returning to school and
completing a degree seemed overwhelming, once the concerns
were broken down to manageable pieces the fear of returning to
school diminished. This week marks then end of the first of the last
three terms as an undergraduate student at ASU. At the end of this
week a small win will most likely be celebrated.

Week Eight:
June 20th to June 26th
This is the second, and final, week of this twelve-week journey that
will not have school as part of the regularly weekly schedule. This
will be a time that will allow for a greater opportunity to take part in
learning that will enrich personal interests. Learning is a master
skill. When you fully engage in learningyou are going to
experience the thrill of improvement and the taste of success
(Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 202)

Boldly Learning
Cooktransformed theimage of nature and man. His initial
Pacific sailwas the first of its kind in Britain a voyage of
scientific discovery[with] trained observers: artists, astronomers,
naturalist (Horiwitz, 2002, p. 4). Cook travelled to places that had
never been seen by Western eyes, interacted with native people at
a deep personal level, and introduced new knowledge to the world;
which could have all been suppressed if Cook did not have the
desire to learn and know himself. If Cook did not take the personal
innovative to work hard to reach a command in the Royal British
Navy, than these opportunities likely would not have been afforded
to the now man that was once a poor farm boy. Cooks ability to be
an active learner and seek out new opportunities, he was able to
help enlighten the world.

Captain James Cook

Remembering History
Captain Cook had been commissioned to lead the charge of learning
for his country. This week the command to learn will come from
within. This weeks active learning will come from a desire to have a
stronger historical perspective of the city of Baltimore, and specifically
the neighborhood of Mount Vernon. This research will be completed
by visiting the Maryland Historical Societies Library, by visiting the
Enoch Pratt Free Library Appointment Only archives (student status
will allow accesses), and by visiting the various historical landmarks
throughout the neighborhood denoted by the Federal Registration of
National Landmarks. This growth mindset (Kouzes & Posner, 2012,
p. 202) comes from a desire to be more active and engaged in the
politics of the city. At this time the city of Baltimore is highly
considering altering the statues in the Mt. Vernon Park and other sites
in the neighborhood to erase any indications of moral indiscretions of
past leaders of the city. The purpose of this learning will be to
formulate an argument to present to the City Counsel that it is better to
educate through tours and plaque to educate rather than eradicate the
details that helped to drive so many monuments moments within the
history of the city, the state and the nation.

Washington Monument, Mt. Vernon,

Baltimore, MD

Week Nine:
June 27th to July 3rd

Virginia Woolf

This week marks the beginning of the second half of the summer
semester. Last year at this time only three credits were taken,
because it was the middle of the summer and an extra break from
the workload needed to be had. However, this summer that is not
a luxury that can be had as six credits will be taken this half of the
term, for a total of twelve credits for the semester. This is the final
term required prior to receiving an undergraduate degree (the
continuation into the fall will help complete the requirements for a
minor in American History and will allow this educational adventure
to end with a recognition of honors). The most important thing to
remember during this time is not to be debilitated by the stress
of a difficult experience[but rather be] challenged and energized
by it (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, p. 193). Utilizing a psychological
hardiness (pp. 192 195) to help continue to drive forward
through the final stresses of this journey will only boast a reward of
achievement in the end. The only way to reach this result is to
keep a stern focus on the end goal, and not to allow a break down
in mental or emotional capacity to become to overwhelming.

Keep Calm and Carry On

As Virginia Woolf discuss the examination of multiple publications
that spread lies about woman made it difficult for her to remain
calm. A very elementary exercise in psychologyshowed me, on
looking ay my notebookanger had snatched my pencilbut what
was anger doing there? Interest, confusion, amusement, boredom
all of these emotions I could trace and name as they succeeded
each other (Woolf, p. 21). Even though Woolf had been
overcome with emotion, she could do nothing but step back and
review the notes she took on the subject of woman that had been
written exclusive by men. She was able to maintain her
composure and use this information to her advantage, and not
allow this to suffocate her true intentions of learning the importance
of woman needing a room of ones own.

Week Ten:
July 4th to July 10th
This is a week in the United States calendar in which
Independence Day is celebrated. For that reason during this
holiday it will be not only part of a patriotic duty, but also a personal
duty, to provide recognition of the celebration with a day of service.
Among the normal celebrations of watching fire works and
gathering with friends and family for cookouts, this will be a time to
show concern for the people that fought for this freedom.

Connecting to the journey

Kouzes and Posner (2012) discuss that the concern you show for
others is one of the clearest and most unambiguous singlesbut
thisis something people have to see inactions (p. 223).

The freedoms that are allowed today are the freedoms that have
been provided by those have become before me. Even though this
may be retrospective version of Ubuntu (Varty, 2013), I am allowed
to be who I am today due to the sacrifice of others. For that reason
it will be important to show reciprocity (Mauss) for those that have
given time, or in life, to this holiday in which the nation celebrates
its Independence day.

How?
The gifts that others have provided for me will be returned via a
day of service. On a small island town just before the Rockaways
in Queens, New York a park lies in Broad Channel. This is a
memorial park that acknowledges the fallen sons and daughters of
the town. Before the celebrations begin the town gathers the day
before the holiday to raise a flag in honor of those who have
served, and then those in attendance help clean up the park and
the surrounding area. It is an annual practice that is only a small
token of gratitude that can be shown to those that have gifted me
so much.

10

Week Eleven:
July 11th to July 17th
Public ceremoniesserve as a collective reminder of why people
are there, of the values and visions hey share (Kouzes & Posner,
2012, p. 308). This weekend a celebration of recognition of ten
years of marriage will be acknowledged. This will occur at a public
event on the site of campground that has been a mutual meeting
spot for friends and family well over ten years.

The Power of People

The site of the campground and the people that are participating in this ceremony affirms how important
these people and the campground site are in our lives. The people attending this event have been part of
many other celebrations and festivities throughout our marriage. This gathering will be a testament of the
relationships we as a couple have built together, but it is also a public celebration of those people that are
have been important in our lives throughout our marriage thus far.

11

Week Twelve:
July 18th to July 24th
Recognition should be personalized; otherwise it will quickly be
forgotten and discounted. It should be made and expressed from
the heart (Kouzes & Posner, 2012, pp. 285 286).

Personally Acknowledging
This is the final week of the twelve-week leadership journey. After
Others
structuring this leadership journey, one thing has become very
clear. That it is the people in my life are who are the coaches and
leaders that help me to be who I am. That it is about the team that
surrounds me in life, which helps me to reach my personal and
professional goals. Without the help from family and friends as a
support team, it is likely to believe that my achievements would
have been even tougher fought for.

For the reasons stated above, this will be a week in which the effort
will be made to personalize recognition for the people that have
truly helped me on this journey through life. It will then only be
right to have the recognition go above and beyond for the people
that are being acknowledged, because it feels important to
reciprocate the perceived effort that has been provided to help
reach a desired end result.

Potential Recognition
A hand written note mailed to a persons home
Methods:
expressing thanks.

Having flowers sent to a family members home.

Simply giving someone a hug and saying thank

you.
Taking the time to help them towards achieving
personal goals.

12

References

Kouzes, J. & Posner, B. (2012). The Leadership Challenge: How to make extraordinary things
happen in organizations, fifth edition. Jossey-Bass. Danvers, MA.
Horwitz, T. (2002). Blue latitudes. New York: Henry Holt and Company
Mauss, M. (1990). The gift: The form and reason for exchange in archaic societies. New York: Routledge
Classics
OGL 360. (n.d.) The Odyssey (synopsis0. Retrieved from https://myasucourses.asu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid13102270-dt-content-rid-73090361_1/courses/2016SpringB-X-OGL360-24013-

28008/2Odyssey

%20of%20Homer_Synopsis_withExcerpts_andIllustrations_v3c%281%29.pdf

Van Gennep, A. (1960). The rites of passage. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press
Varty, B. (2013, Dec). What i learned from nelson mandela [Video clip]. Retrieved from
http://www.ted.com/talks/boyd_varty_what_i_learned_from_nelson_mandela
Wolf, V. (n.d.). A room of ones won. In A project Gutenberg of australia [E-book].

13