1. In response to her findings on leadership preparation and these recurring stories, Roselinde Torres "travelled to different parts of the world to learn about effective and ineffective leadership practices in companies, countries, and non-profit organisations." She also went as far as South Africa to study how "Nelson Mandela anticipated and navigated his political, social ,and economic context," as a one-time president of that country.
3. The three questions are:
a) "Where are you looking to anticipate the next change to your business model or your life? "What people and activities surround you? Are you aware of the potential discontinuities that can cause changes in your business or life? It is also important to know your preparedness for change, because "change is constant," and remains the best friend of time, which waits for no man.
b) "What is the diversity measure of your personal and professional stakeholder network?" Do you have the capacity to develop relationships with people who are different from you? Networking in a diverse manner can help one to identify higher level patterns than that provided by limited world views. Some people only survive within their limited circles, because they are afraid to venture out into the wider world to embrace others. But, changes do happen and they do happen with global impact. So, it is important to think globally while acting locally.
c) "Are you courageous enough to abandon a practice that has made you successful in the past?" Are you stuck with the past or do you embrace change or even pioneer change? Past performance is not a good predictor of future results. Can you be daring enough to be different from your parents and forefathers. Paraphrasing Nelson Mandela, "hatred is learnt, but love is inbuilt." Do you allow love to propel your decisions and reactions?
4. I feel that the most important question to ask when working towards becoming a great leader in the cosmetology field is "What is the diversity measure of your personal and professional stakeholder network?
" This question becomes necessary in view of the interpersonal and creativity skills required by a cosmetologist. A good cosmetologist must develop relationships with people who are different from herself in order to maintain high level customer patronage. Creativity is also powered by and depicted in diversity. The great creator of the universe started it, by creating diverse things in their different kinds and species. So, are you ready to embrace diversity in your workers and customers? Or is your business model parochially niched?
5. According to Torres, "traditional development practices lead to outdated superhero thinking" that makes it hard to develop leaders for the future generations because a truly great and fully developed leader builds leaders who will take over from him or her. Leaders are not super-heros. Some are not born. Many more are made by time, place, and circumstance.
In cosmetology, there is no way that the leader will work alone. Many other cosmetologists and non-professional hands will be employed to meet customer demands. It is therefore important that the leader in this field seeks to develop others to assist her in the work and to improve the level of services she has already developed. A leader is not a ruler. A true leader leads people into the future while a ruler is concerned with the present short-term benefits.
Explanation:
a) Good leaders, according to Torres, "are the ones who go against the norm and actually build up the emotional stamina to push forward with change, despite the adversity of others." “Great leaders dare to be different," in their thoughts, choices, styles, and actions.
b) Cosmetology is the study and application of beauty treatments, including hair styling, skin care, cosmetics, manicures/pedicures, and permanent or non-permanent hair removal.
c) Many thanks to ted.com/talks/roselinde_torres_what_it_takes_to_be_a_great_leader/discussion and thecoachingroom.com.au/blog/being-an-effective-leader-in-the-21st-century, where most of the materials were gleaned for the research.
