Comments on: Generation Y and the Perils of Milli Vanilli Leadership http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/ empowering a new generation of leaders Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:15:29 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Rosetta Thurman » Does Generation Y Really Want Change? http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/#comment-14036 Rosetta Thurman » Does Generation Y Really Want Change? Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:49:42 +0000 http://rosettathurman.com/blog/?p=1456#comment-14036 [...] leaders are not thinking about changing anything. The “next gen” is pretty much still emulating the older generations, afraid to fail, trying not to rock the boat for fear we won’t ever get a chance to sit at [...] [...] leaders are not thinking about changing anything. The “next gen” is pretty much still emulating the older generations, afraid to fail, trying not to rock the boat for fear we won’t ever get a chance to sit at [...]

]]> By: rosettathurman http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/#comment-8114 rosettathurman Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:10:49 +0000 http://rosettathurman.com/blog/?p=1456#comment-8114 @Chris - Thanks for stopping by! I know there are a ton of leadership theory models, but this one seemed fitting for what I wanted to illustrate. Your comment about leaders who put the needs of organization make me think of this MLK quote: "The urgency of the hour calls for leaders of wise judgement and sound integrity. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause." - Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1956 @Chris – Thanks for stopping by! I know there are a ton of leadership theory models, but this one seemed fitting for what I wanted to illustrate. Your comment about leaders who put the needs of organization make me think of this MLK quote:

“The urgency of the hour calls for leaders of wise judgement and sound integrity. Leaders not in love with money, but in love with justice. Leaders not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity. Leaders who can subject their particular egos to the greatness of the cause.” – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., 1956

]]> By: Chris Casquilho http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/#comment-8113 Chris Casquilho Fri, 10 Apr 2009 20:36:03 +0000 http://rosettathurman.com/blog/?p=1456#comment-8113 I'm only vaguely familiar with the Blake-Mouton grid - but I'm generally wary of such things because it's very easy to decide that team leadership is A-1 and then create a matrix that puts it at the upper right. I think the best leaders are the ones who put the needs and goals of the company ahead of their egos and personal needs. Once that's accomplished, I think a lot of other problems are taken care of, too. I’m only vaguely familiar with the Blake-Mouton grid – but I’m generally wary of such things because it’s very easy to decide that team leadership is A-1 and then create a matrix that puts it at the upper right.

I think the best leaders are the ones who put the needs and goals of the company ahead of their egos and personal needs. Once that’s accomplished, I think a lot of other problems are taken care of, too.

]]> By: rosettathurman http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/#comment-8092 rosettathurman Fri, 10 Apr 2009 16:24:02 +0000 http://rosettathurman.com/blog/?p=1456#comment-8092 @Elisa Thanks for stopping by! I'm glad to give you a taste of my love of 80s/early 90s music :) What I like about what you share about situations in which you've examined your own leadership, is that you made the choice of how to lead, and it sounds like it didn't compromise who you wanted to be or how you wanted to be seen as a leader. I keep wondering how this plays out when our generation starts being hired more and more for CEO jobs. What if the organization you're hired into is resistant to your leadership style? Do you continue to lead the way you think is best or get forced into being someone you're not? Maybe it's not worth it to keep pushing for change when no one wants to follow you. But if you think it IS worth it for that particular cause or organization, it seems to me that the next generation might have to endure the heartache and keep trying until the struggle pays off. I know it's easier to leave than to try to change things, but so many of our organizations NEED to be changed. My question is, who is going to do it if not us? @Elisa Thanks for stopping by! I’m glad to give you a taste of my love of 80s/early 90s music :)

What I like about what you share about situations in which you’ve examined your own leadership, is that you made the choice of how to lead, and it sounds like it didn’t compromise who you wanted to be or how you wanted to be seen as a leader.

I keep wondering how this plays out when our generation starts being hired more and more for CEO jobs. What if the organization you’re hired into is resistant to your leadership style? Do you continue to lead the way you think is best or get forced into being someone you’re not?

Maybe it’s not worth it to keep pushing for change when no one wants to follow you. But if you think it IS worth it for that particular cause or organization, it seems to me that the next generation might have to endure the heartache and keep trying until the struggle pays off. I know it’s easier to leave than to try to change things, but so many of our organizations NEED to be changed.

My question is, who is going to do it if not us?

]]> By: Elisa http://www.rosettathurman.com/2009/04/generation-y-and-the-perils-of-milli-vanilli-leadership/#comment-8084 Elisa Fri, 10 Apr 2009 15:49:21 +0000 http://rosettathurman.com/blog/?p=1456#comment-8084 While I don't necessarily disagree with Heather, I would echo your point Rosetta that if the organization is hierarchical and you don't like that, you can leave (or choose to not work there in the first place). I also agree with Eric that different situations require different kinds of leadership. I love collaborative team-oriented leadership, but I also know that sometimes, you just have to tell people what to do. An example: when I did Slumber Parties, I had to be somewhat authoritative (while still being friendly) with hostesses and guests. It was my business and I needed things to go a certain way or else I wasn't going to make any money. For good or for ill, I discovered that most people either want to be told what to do or they at least willing go along with what you say if you're the 'leader'. That's a powerful feeling and there is a part of me that understand why people get it in their heads that being authoritative is somehow better or more useful. Of course things go quicker if everyone asks 'how high?' when you say 'jump'. As we all know though, that type of situation also doesn't empower anyone or give them a feeling of ownership or agency in the decision making process. But coming back to my original point, if that is what it happening and you don't like it, its time to head out. PS This is the first time I've even thought about or remembered Milli Vanilli in years. Now I have "Girl You Know It's True" in my head :) While I don’t necessarily disagree with Heather, I would echo your point Rosetta that if the organization is hierarchical and you don’t like that, you can leave (or choose to not work there in the first place).

I also agree with Eric that different situations require different kinds of leadership. I love collaborative team-oriented leadership, but I also know that sometimes, you just have to tell people what to do.

An example: when I did Slumber Parties, I had to be somewhat authoritative (while still being friendly) with hostesses and guests. It was my business and I needed things to go a certain way or else I wasn’t going to make any money. For good or for ill, I discovered that most people either want to be told what to do or they at least willing go along with what you say if you’re the ‘leader’. That’s a powerful feeling and there is a part of me that understand why people get it in their heads that being authoritative is somehow better or more useful. Of course things go quicker if everyone asks ‘how high?’ when you say ‘jump’.

As we all know though, that type of situation also doesn’t empower anyone or give them a feeling of ownership or agency in the decision making process. But coming back to my original point, if that is what it happening and you don’t like it, its time to head out.

PS This is the first time I’ve even thought about or remembered Milli Vanilli in years. Now I have “Girl You Know It’s True” in my head :)

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