Comments | poodah: What is leadership and can an MPA program teach it?

poodah

What is leadership and can an MPA program teach it?

Jan 31, 2007 12:42

I <3 g00glereader.

In other news, I'm debating whether or not to take this Leadership class in addition to my Budget class. ( The pros and the cons )

school

Comments 12

gucky January 31 2007, 20:56:47 UTC

I'm a big fan of "easy" isn't always what's best. It sounds like, even with the hectic schedule, that this is a class you could ace.

Leadership is something you can't get too much of in a school setting because it gives you something to point to when employers ask about your leadership capabilities.

How much were the books? When does it start, because I wanted to see if you wanted to hang out and Tuesday's my day off ;)

When, exactly, are you going to be able to see and hang out and chill so you can have some sanity in the midst of dieting and working out and work and school?

poodah February 1 2007, 00:10:47 UTC

Never. I will never have a break. This class meets on Tuesdays from 7-10 PM. Nightmare. And if I take it, my weekends will be full of homework and shopping for this eating plan. My sister is pushing for me to take this class or some other class just to be done with it. Gah.

The more I think about it the less I want to take the class, but the more I realize I want to move forward and can't till I finish, I think I may need to take it.

hypnautika January 31 2007, 21:28:35 UTC

Two thoughts:

1) I've found that whatever the class, topic, assignments, or whatever, the learning experience has mostly do to with the awesomeness of the professor. I don't know if leadership can be taught with dry text, but an explosive, engaging leader of a teacher would be marvelous.

2) I'm kind of crazy about finishing as soon as possible and getting to the next step of whatever it is that I'm doing. I've waited and let myself fall behind to take specific classes that I thought would be more appropriate or interesting, and I've usually ended up horribly disappointed and just wishing I had gotten it over with earlier.

poodah February 1 2007, 00:13:10 UTC

Both good points. I think taking the class is the smart move, but I'm dreading the work and the full plate I'm serving myself between work, school, and diet/exercise plan. I suspect I won't be seeing anyone anytime soon ever again. And I'm STILL smarting from a comment Erik made about me being lame and leaving the party early. I couldn't help it, I was hungry, there was nothing I could eat, and even though I was wide awake then, I had stuff to do the next day. I hate being so busy with stuff that I can't really play. I'm sure you know the score.

bene February 1 2007, 00:32:54 UTC

Erik has little room to talk about being lame cause he's leaving :) When his work is in full swing, we're lucky to see him at all. Wish I'd been in a better mind-state on Saturday so we could have caught up . Honestly, i think you should take the class. It'll mean a crazy semester, but it puts you that much close to simply being done (Then again, i'm jaded by my attitudes from my time in college so take that as you will).

Just remember, it's about not finding the absolute right decision, but the one that in the long term will be the better decision.

*hugs*

poodah February 1 2007, 00:41:25 UTC

Thanks for the comment and the perspective that not everyone is free for fun--even Erik! Glad to know that anyways. Sigh. You're right about taking the long term perspective. Yes, maybe the next 2.5 months will suck a bit with busyness, but I am closer to being done that way and the class itself isn't going to totally suck. Long term, it is better to have only 2 classes left to go--I might even try and knock one out in the summer. Well, maybe.

Thread 6

thatgirljj January 31 2007, 22:08:26 UTC

I voted yes, but only because of the segment on "toxic leaders". A) Because I just think that's an awesome term! And B) Because I've worked places with that problem and it can be a serious issue.

The group assignments bit almost had me voting against though. In my experience those are always more trouble and stress than they're worth.

poodah February 1 2007, 00:16:47 UTC

Wait till you hear the group assignments:

1. teach a chapter from one of our textbooks to the class as if they never read the textbook, then write a 4 oage paper on the text (as a group) and a one page paper on how it went (as an individual).

2. Pick a leader and make a presentation and write a 4 page paper on him/her as a group. Write a one page paper on how the working together went (as an individual).

I hate to say it, but the assignments alone are swaying me toward dropping the class. They are SO LAME and will take up so much of my time. Especially if I get stuck with a mediocre group. I suppose I could take the class and not gun for an A in my usual fashion (ha).

wouch February 1 2007, 03:58:31 UTC

[i voted No as Tim...such is the effect of a shared workstation]
I realize that in general, I overcommit and as a result stress out

This is what I tend to do, too...making 120% time commitment. Of course, there's always another 15% unaccounted work/extra commitments that would appear out of nowhere and just put me over the edge. I'm not doing that this semester...I'm leaving holes in my schedule. So far, I have no problem filling them with productive stuff.

Even if it's easy, it's just ONE MORE THING to pile on top of a busy schedule.

If you're interested only in some aspects of the class and interactions with the professor, consider auditing and showing up only when the topic interests you. I do this a lot, even going to the office hours.

Oh yeah, I also think that the 90-day Plan thing seems so unforgiving so you shouldn't stress yourself further.

poodah February 2 2007, 23:43:05 UTC

I considered what the next 3 months will look like, versus the next year, versus the next year and a half. I also found out what other classes are on offer over the next few semesters. And, after considering all that, and talking it over with Jeff, I've decided I need to take the class or I may get stuck working on this MPA till Fall 2008. The problem is SFSU is poor and they don't offer the classes I need often enough. I've resigned myself to not getting and A (well, I'm lying, I'm trying to resign myself, but it's hard being a grade grubber). It will be tough through April, but Jeff has already lent a lot of support to working through the food program and I'm thinking it will get less challenging as I won't be starving most of the time (I get more food when I'm off detox--starting next week ( ... )