By Lt. Col. Ralph Gracia
Guest Columnist
[caption id="attachment_474" align="alignleft" width="300"] From left to right MSgt Eddie Carr, AFJROTC Instructor, Ms. Alexander Hernandez, Principal, Lt Col Ralph Gracia, AFJROTC Unit Commander, and Mr. Peter Ng-A-Fook, Assistant Principal[/caption]
The old cliché “Let’s pull something out of a hat” may work for magicians, but it may not yield the same result for leaders who are guiding people in organizations. When you start pulling things out of the air your results may not have the desired outcome. Now, there are times we may disparage magical thinking – the belief that our thoughts or actions have consequences far beyond what the evidence supports. Ironically, when it comes to leadership, the belief in magical thinking appears to be alive and well, according to Professor Maia Young, University of California.
The author refers to some people’s perception that a leader has “magical thinking.” These people witness a leader being successful and wonder how success was achieved. They assume that the leader is charismatic and visionary, rather than hardworking. We all want to believe in the magic of leadership if we have success pulling off the trick. Young draws a comparison between leaders and magicians. Even though we know, intellectually, that elephants do not transform into mice, most of us happily go along with magic shows nonetheless. Amazingly enough, we’re not bothered by the things we don’t see; but instead, what made the magic happen! In my experience, nothing comes from magic; it’s hard work and dedication toward the mission that gets things done. My Air Force Junior ROTC unit was named a Distinguish Unit, and MSgt Eddie Carr and I were honored as Outstanding Instructors two years in a row. But that wasn’t magical. It took people working together toward a common goal. The ability to stay humble and perform with confidence was the result of a leader moving an organization in a successful direction.
The real “magical combination” for a successful leader comes from the ability to have confidence and humility, according to Haudan, Chairman of Root, Inc. I personally believe humility is the freedom of arrogance and pride. Likewise, confidence flows from genuine competence and individual self-worth. Leaders and those who follow understand and learn that sometimes a good helping hand is vital and necessary for organizational magic!
ESPAÑOL
Nada Mágico- ¡Simplemente un Liderazgo Correcto!
Por Lt. Col. Ralph Gracia Guest Columnist
El viejo cliché “Vamos a sacar algo de un sombrero” puede funcionar para los magos, pero no puede dar el mismo resultado para los líderes que están guiando las personas en las organizaciones. Cuando obtiene ideas del aire, sus resultados pueden no tener el resultado deseado.
Actualmente, hay oca-
siones en las que podemos desacreditar el pensamiento mágico – la creencia de que nuestros pensamientos o acciones tienen consecuencias mucho más allá de lo que apoya la evidencia. Irónicamente, cuando se trata de liderazgo, la creencia en el pensamiento mágico parece estar vivo y ser correcto, según la profesora Maia Young, de la Universidad de California.
El autor se refiere a la percepción de algunas personas de que un líder tiene “pensamiento mágico”. Estas personas son testigos de un líder exitoso y se preguntan cómo logró el éxito. Ellos asumen que el líder es carismático y visionario, en lugar de trabajador.
Todos queremos creer en la magia del liderazgo si tenemos éxito dejando a un lado el truco. Young hace una comparación entre los líderes y los magos. A pesar de que sabemos, intelectualmente, que los elefantes no se transforman en ratones, la ma-
yoría de nosotros felizmente asistimos a espectáculos de magia, no obs-tante.
Sorprendentemente, no estamos molestos por las cosas que no vemos; pero en su lugar, ¡hacemos que la magia suceda! En mi experiencia, nada viene de la magia; es trabajo duro y dedicación hacia la misión que hace que se den las cosas.
Mi unidad ROTC de la Fuerza Aérea Junior fue nombrada Unidad Distinguida y el Sargento Prime-ro Eddie Carr y yo fuimos honrados como Instructores Sobresalientes durante dos años consecutivos, pero eso no fue mágico. Esto conllevó a que las personas trabajaran juntas hacia un objetivo común. La capacidad de permanecer humildes y trabajar con confianza fue el resultado de un líder dirigiendo una organización en una dirección acertada.
La verdadera “combinación mágica” para un líder de éxito proviene de la capacidad de tener confianza y humildad, según Haudan, presidente de Root, Inc. Personalmente creo que la humildad es la libertad de la arrogancia y el orgullo.
Del mismo modo, la confianza se deriva de una verdadera competencia y autoestima individual. Los líderes y quienes le siguen, entienden y aprenden que a veces ¡una buena mano de ayuda es vital y necesaria para la magia de la organización!
Teniente Coronel Ralph Gracia, USAF (Retirado), EdD (sirvió honorablemente durante 21 años). El Dr. Gracia ha estado enseñando liderazgo desde 2003. email:
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From left to right MSgt Eddie Carr, AFJROTC Instructor, Ms. Alexander Hernandez, Principal, Lt Col Ralph Gracia, AFJROTC Unit Commander, and Mr. Peter Ng-A-Fook, Assistant Principal[/caption]
The old cliché “Let’s pull something out of a hat” may work for magicians, but it may not yield the same result for leaders who are guiding people in organizations. When you start pulling things out of the air your results may not have the desired outcome. Now, there are times we may disparage magical thinking – the belief that our thoughts or actions have consequences far beyond what the evidence supports. Ironically, when it comes to leadership, the belief in magical thinking appears to be alive and well, according to Professor Maia Young, University of California.
The author refers to some people’s perception that a leader has “magical thinking.” These people witness a leader being successful and wonder how success was achieved. They assume that the leader is charismatic and visionary, rather than hardworking. We all want to believe in the magic of leadership if we have success pulling off the trick. Young draws a comparison between leaders and magicians. Even though we know, intellectually, that elephants do not transform into mice, most of us happily go along with magic shows nonetheless. Amazingly enough, we’re not bothered by the things we don’t see; but instead, what made the magic happen! In my experience, nothing comes from magic; it’s hard work and dedication toward the mission that gets things done. My Air Force Junior ROTC unit was named a Distinguish Unit, and MSgt Eddie Carr and I were honored as Outstanding Instructors two years in a row. But that wasn’t magical. It took people working together toward a common goal. The ability to stay humble and perform with confidence was the result of a leader moving an organization in a successful direction.
The real “magical combination” for a successful leader comes from the ability to have confidence and humility, according to Haudan, Chairman of Root, Inc. I personally believe humility is the freedom of arrogance and pride. Likewise, confidence flows from genuine competence and individual self-worth. Leaders and those who follow understand and learn that sometimes a good helping hand is vital and necessary for organizational magic!
ESPAÑOL