The first section of Komives basically focused on who is a leader and what is a leader. Some ideas the authors presented that I liked are:
"'leadership is not something a leader possesses so much as a process involving followership' [and] followership is really leadership in action among people in the group."(p 13) This is definitely something I've always believed and also one of the main points Christine (the woman I interviewed) stressed. We have to remember to be a leader, people choose to follow - that's an active process not passive.
"'Public leadership does not engage followers; rather, it involves collaboration, audiences, and other self-organized groups...effective leaders are forced to become 'leader-followers' simultaneously. [I]t is shared at different times by different people.'"(p 16) I thought this was a good point. Again, stressing the importance of followership. But, also that a leader needs to know when to step aside because someone can do better or enact more change or inspire more. Furthermore, this in not a bad thing, it's knowing your strengths and weaknesses, like Shannon had pointed out in class.
"'...[l]eadership means different things to different people.'"(p 35)
"'Leadership is a process in response to a situational need for change facilitated by a vision and tangible action motivating others to the achievement of that vision.'" (p 52) To me this is the point of leaders & leadership. We follow certain leaders because we believe they would do the best, at that time, to enact the changes which are perceived to be needed. Whether the change or vision is positive or negative, people will follow someone who presents an issue they believe in.
"'Competent, confident leaders tolerate honest mistakes that are not the result of negligence. A leader who sets a standard of ＆zero defects, no mistakes' is also saying, 'Don't take any chances.'" (p 77-78) So often people think that you have to be perfect in order to be "good," at anything. But, mistakes are essential to learning and improving yourself and things around you.
The last point is about competition & collaboration, which the authors discussed as a process of relational leadership. Whether competing to outdo yourself or another, Americans are always trying to be the best. I am the same way in many things (or maybe all!) For me though, I am generally trying to outdo myself. It should always be better than last time - whether it's a presentation, homework assignment, cooking (because I love to cook) or something to do with work. I wonder what it is that makes so many people feel they have to be perfect. I don't feel I can't take chances, but definitely am disappointed when I mess up.
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Your last point about people striving for perfection is an interesting one, and it is something we were talking about the other day in my Social Inequalities class. We were talking about social class and the American core values and how our society places such a strong emphasis on individual achievement. People tend to judge the character of others in terms of their failures rather than in terms of their successes. If someone is poor, people tend to jump to the conclusion that that person is not trying hard enough and that it is their fault that they are at the "bottom" of society...
Maybe this is why we tend to shoot for perfection. We are so terrified of failing and looking like failures in the eyes of others that we push ourselves to be close to perfect.
If I made a meal for my family (because I LOVE cooking too!!), I wouldn't be so worried about how I thought it tasted as I would about whether or not my family enjoyed it...
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