Archive for January, 2010
The Politics of Leadership
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010Like so many of us I am horrified by the devastation that plagues Haiti as a result of the earthquake on January 12, 2010. The images of the collapsed buildings and the bodies buried beneath the rubble are agonizing to see, but it is the faces of the men, women and children who survived the earthquake that haunt me the most. Although they are fortunate to have escaped with their lives, they are experiencing what can best be described as a living hell; and perhaps it is a life that only survivors of Hurricane Katrina, the Asian Tsunami, and other catastrophes can relate.
I am proud that the United States, and the Obama administration in particular, has demonstrated swift leadership for the people of Haiti. I am more proud that countries across the world have put their differences aside to come together to work toward a common good. Although rescue attempts and the provision of life’s necessities never seem to come soon enough, nor in adequate supply, it is clear to me that we have taken the lessons of Katrina seriously and responded to Haiti in a way that far surpasses our handling of previous natural disasters.
I have written academic articles, essays and now a book on crises, Leading Under Pressure, with a particular emphasis on the leadership needed to maneuver through crisis events. (more…)
Hope Is Not A Strategy
Monday, January 11th, 2010What better time to take stock of one’s state of affairs than at the dawn of a new decade. As we enter 2010 I am reflective about the status of not only my own, but also acutely mindful of the status of the organizations (corporate, not-for-profit, and government) that drive so much of both the mundane and the extraordinary circumstances in which we find ourselves. In the few years leading up to 2010 we witnessed numerous historic events. We watched in horror as the U.S. economy, and many other economies around the globe, faltered. We saw giants in the automotive, finance, insurance, and other industries tumble. We saw natural disasters ruin the lives of tens of thousands and governments struggle to protect their citizens in the wake of those disasters. We were besieged by horrific acts of terrorism, we witnessed lapses in ethical judgment that no one could have anticipated, and we had a front row seat as norms of civility and integrity that governed behavior of former generations were violated.
Despite these very disturbing situations, the latter part of 2008 also marked an historic moment with the election of President Obama, the U.S.’s first African American president. His presidential campaign was earmarked by a belief —a hope—that there would be a better tomorrow, and that he was the man to lead us there. (more…)
2/12/10- 10th Annual NAWMBA Women in Leadership Conference
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010Erika will be speaking at the NAWMBA (National Association of Women MBAs) 10th Annual Women in Leadership conference that will take place on Friday, February 12, 2010 on the Rice University campus at the Jones Graduate School of Business, Houston, Texas. This year’s conference theme is “Where to Next? Reinvent Your Career.” For more information, please visit http://business.rice.edu/NAWMBA_Conference.aspx.
Exploring Positive Relationships at Work
Tuesday, January 5th, 2010In Chapter 7 of Exploring Positive Relationships at Work, edited by Jane E. Dutton and Belle Ragins, Martin N. Davidson and Erika Hayes James look at diversity among coworkers. The authors point out that building positive relationships across differences in organizations requires conflict as well as learning.
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