Chapter 10 mainly discusses the need for creative solutions in leadership and other survival situations. The account of Steven Callahan really shows how creativity can save your life and make a big difference. When his raft started sinking, he somehow had to find a way to repair the hole that was causing it to deflate and came up with the idea to use a fork. Now, who would have thought a fork could save someone's life? The raft repair kit did not help and resources were limited so the only thing he could do was rely on his imagination and creativity, resulting in the crazy but wonderful idea of using a fork to clog the leak. It did not work straightaway and the situation seemed bleak but after several attempts Callahan managed to inflate the raft finally leading to success.
At first, I could not relate this story to leadership but I realised there was a connection when I reread Callahan's words, "Survival is the play and I want the leading role." Being a leader is not always about leading others but it is also about leading yourself. There are times when you have to take control of the situation regardless of whether you are in a team or not. If you are, then clearly leadership qualities are going to be necessary, but even if you are working alone there is equally a need for you to be a great leader. In this case, we are talking about creativity, and when problems arise for the group or for each individual it is important to be able to find creative solutions so that if the original plan fails, there can be an alternative.
Chapter 11 is an expansion of the skills mentioned in the previous chapters, and what I though was especially relevant to our lives was what the author calls the "art of thriving." There are five components to the structure; work, relationships, physical health, renewal and purpose. One way of thriving in life is through work and being passionate about it. If work becomes a form of creative expression and enjoyment, it will make life more rewarding. Relationships can also improve life satisfaction and give you the mental support you need, so it is important to socialise and communicate with the people around you. Of course, mental health is critical in all aspects of life but so is physical health. If you want to perform well, you have to sleep, eat and rest well. I am not very good at taking care of myself so this is something that I should work on. Renewal is similar to the idea of physical health and it basically means you should take the time to enjoy life through activities unrelated to work. For example, I started knitting and this has become a great way to renew myself and take a break from school work. Finally, finding a purpose in life can help increase personal effectiveness, and I believe the personal statement we wrote is linked to this idea.
The second part of the book seems more relevant and realistic. While the ten strategies made strong points about leadership, the examples were extreme and it was a little difficult to relate to but now the contents are becoming easier to understand. I want to try and apply all the knowledge I have gained so far through reading this book in order to make life more gratifying.
I agree with you that the book is getting easier to relate with modern day situations. Acknowledging that our classes are focused on leadership, I wonder what the conditions are for a good follower. There are obviously more followers than leaders. Maybe it would be better for the society if "good follower lessons" were given to company workers. (Especially in Japan.)
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