Leadership academy psychology

[idoubtit]

Hi all. I am scheduled to attend a leadership academy for women at my workplace. You had to be nominated by supervisors and they made it out to be some big deal but I'm not feeling it.

First, I've been to seminars such as this and it ends up being a lot of group exercises, some psychobabble and self-awareness things. I don't get much out of it. This time, the first project we had to was complete a Myers Briggs personality assessment. I looked up some skeptical viewpoints on this because it just didn't seem all that valid or useful of a test. I know I'm already quite introverted and analytical.

Any comments or advice on how to approach this experience? Worthwhile or not, I'm sure it will be a learning experience. But, I can't help thinking I might be the oddball in this class - I'm already skeptical of the premise.

 

[madurobob]

In my experience these things are meant more to be a networking opportunity for employees tagged by mgmt as future company leaders. Being sent means you're already recognized as having the skills they're looking for.

So, why not just go and have as much fun as possible? Be open and accepting and realize that everyone there knows its ******** on the surface, but its part of the game everyone has to play. The "learning experience" is learning the names and faces of the people who will be running the place in 10 years.

 

[bpesta22]

The MBTI sucks.

We have no idea really what leadership is, but we have plenty of theories:

Leaders are born.
Leaders are made
Leaders are defined by personality traits
Leaders are defined by behaviors
Leaders adjust to the situation (different styles are required in different situation).
Leaders do so by controlling rewards / punishment
Leaders do so by inspiring followers

In the end, anyone can be trained to manage-- you will experience lots of fluff and probably many group hugs-- but leaders are born: Charisma plus some minimum IQ level.

 

[tonyak]

In addition to your concerns, it also bothers me that the seminar is specifically for women. What is the implication here?

 

[bpesta22]

Glass ceiling probably.

 

[idoubtit]

In addition to your concerns, it also bothers me that the seminar is specifically for women. What is the implication here?

Hi Tonya. You know, I never even thought about that. There is so much nonsense going on here that this stuff doesn't even register.

 

[idoubtit]

In my experience these things are meant more to be a networking opportunity for employees tagged by mgmt as future company leaders. Being sent means you're already recognized as having the skills they're looking for.

So, why not just go and have as much fun as possible? Be open and accepting and realize that everyone there knows its ******** on the surface, but its part of the game everyone has to play. The "learning experience" is learning the names and faces of the people who will be running the place in 10 years.

That's an excellent insight and suggestion. It's funny about the whole management thing. I'm very much stuck in a good ole boy network. The only way to become mgmt is for those Dudes to GTFO by retiring. I probably don't have quite the skills they wish for. For one, I question authority. But, there aren't too many women left around here at a professional level from which to pick.

If nothing else, the experience will make a good blog post! I have firsthand experience that it's not what you know, yadayada...

 

[madurobob]

That's an excellent insight and suggestion. It's funny about the whole management thing. I'm very much stuck in a good ole boy network. The only way to become mgmt is for those Dudes to GTFO by retiring. I probably don't have quite the skills they wish for. For one, I question authority. But, there aren't too many women left around here at a professional level from which to pick.

If nothing else, the experience will make a good blog post! I have firsthand experience that it's not what you know, yadayada...

Well, I still think checking your natural cynicism at the door is the right thing to do for the class. But, your description of the company makes me wonder if this class is really just a charade to appease those who would complain of a lack of diversity and/or fresh blood.

My employer has a "manager training" class that all new managers are required to take. Its nearly universally seen as a pointless but necessary evil. I've not talked to one manager who claimed to get anything out of it other than meeting other new managers. But, you have to have it on your credentials to be a manager. I assume your "leadership academy" is something similar. So, its probably best to at least appear to be taking it seriously.

And, of course, blogging about the experience is a good way to let out all those "are you freakin' kidding me?" thoughts without actually rolling your eyes in class

 

[calebprime]

Just curious if you're from State College. Go Nittany!

 

[MatildaGage]

I know what you mean about all those introspective exercises.

I had to do something similar recently. I just resolved to play along and fake smile through the whole thing.

Though I did the Myers Briggs on my own (nothing to do with the workshop and I found it to be quite accurate and explained why people fail to "get" me.