LM1C-2
‘The Art of Possibilities: Transforming professional and personal life’ by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander, Penguin Books 2002
This book offers twelve practices for bringing creativity into all human endeavours.
Table of Contents
- Tutorial Video
- Reading Materials
- This lesson has an extensive reading section. We recommend that you try to complete all of the reading: don’t be tempted to skip ahead!
- Creativity and Innovation at Work:
- ‘The Art of Possibilities: Transforming professional and personal life’ by Benjamin Zander and Rosamund Stone Zander, Penguin Books 2002
- 'A Peacock in the Land of Penguins: A fable about creativity and courage' by BJ Gallagher and WH Schmidt, published by Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 4th Edition 2015
- However, if you are unable to locate them click on the icons below and use the following alternatives:
- This second video is called 'Perry the Peacock' and is a 5 minute version of the same story.
- Now watch this 6 minute video on YouTube about Benjamin Zander and how he inspires others.
What can you learn from watching the video? - Laser Learning Reading Text 1: Team building
- Does your vision influence team practice?
- ‘Creating a shared vision with a project team’ from the Fast Project Management Institute website.
- ‘What is a shared vision?’
- Laser Learning Reading Text 2: Getting the team involved
- Reflecting on your organisation
- Laser Learning Reading Text 3: Developing the team
- Laser Learning Reading Text 4: Giving assertive feedback
- Presentation
- Click on the icon to the left to launch this lesson's PowerPoint slideshow entitled ''Developing a Positive Culture'
- Click on the icon to the left to launch this second PowerPoint slideshow entitled ''The Art of Negotiation'
- Click on the icon to the left to launch this third PowerPoint slideshow entitled ''Leading a Team'
- Click on the icon to the left to launch this PowerPoint slideshow entitled ''Communicating the Vision to the Team'
- Good Practice Example
- Interactive Quiz
- Evidence Opportunities
- Extended Learning
- Use the internet to research the following: Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, The Hawthorne Studies, Douglas McGregor, Elton Mayo
- Obtain and read one of the following books:‘Dealing with Difficult People’ by Roberta Cava, published by Piatkus Books; ‘Early Childhood Services: Theory, Policy and Practice’ edited by H. Penn, published by Open University Press; ‘Managing Staff in Early Years Settings’ by Ann Langston and Adrian Smith, published by Routledge
- As a senior member of the team, your role will often bring you into contact with team members who have difficulties communicating with you. Use the internet to find out ways that you can adapt the way you communicate to ensure effective communication with those:Who have a hearing impairment;For whom English is not their first language;Who have a fear of authorityWho think they know best
- Click on the link below to read a useful document ‘When work gets personal: Managing emotional employees’ from ERC.
- Click on the link to the left to read another article about staff meetings in educational settings on the American website, Education World
- Click on the link to the left to read an excellent article about team-building and team roles from the management expertise portal BNET, provided via Scribd
- Click on the link to the left to visit the Team Technology website, which has lots of useful guides and tips on team building
- Obtain and read a copy of ‘Leadership and the one-minute manager’, Blanchard, K., Zigarmi, P. and Zigarmi, D. Published by Harper Collins Entertainment (2004). ISBN 978-0007103416
- Obtain and read a copy of ‘Seven Habits of Highly Effective People’, Covey, S.R., published by Simon and Schuster Ltd (2004). ISBN 978-0684858395
- Read this online article about the 'Importance of leadership in early years management' on the Blossom Education website.
- Use the internet to find inspirational and wise sayings from leaders of yesterday and today. Select ones that mean something to you. Type them out and put them up somewhere that will allow you to see them often.
- Try to get hold of a copy of the book ‘The John Adair Handbook of Management and Leadership’
- Analyse a successful team. It could be a team that is known to you personally or a famous team such as French and Saunders (comedians), U2 (rock group). Write a report on their success and pinpoint what it is that makes them so successful.
- Use the interest to search for “what drives behaviour” and research the subject of behaviour drivers further.
- Describe the word ‘motivation’ and research motivational statements. Put each one onto a sheet of A4 paper and put one up each week in your staff room. Monitor staff reactions to the statements and how it changes morale.
- Think of 5 team building activities you could use to build the team e.g. organising a team picnic where everyone brings a part of the meal to share and organises activities for the event.
- Find out about John Adair’s Action-Centred Leaderships model. This model concludes that a leader’s behaviour impacts on their effectiveness.
- Click on the link to visit the ‘All About Leadership’ pages of the Free Management Library
- Google the phrase “leadership theories” and browse websites that give some in-depth information in this subject. Make notes on the 8 major theories.
- Think And Challenge
- Think And Challenge
- Think And Challenge
- Think And Challenge
- Think And Challenge
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