Thomas' Thoughts on Ch. 6 by: Thomas

I have come to understand my own schema through my surroundings growing up. Just like everyone else, my parents were very influential. They molded the way I live my life. There have been a couple of family friends who I have sought advice from. Throughout the years, I have had numerous coaches. There have only been a few special ones that have impacted me on a level outside of athletics. They taught me things about life and simply used sports as a means to an end. My friends have also influenced me greatly.

One phrase I constantly use is, "Life is about developing relationships." They are not all good. I have learned more from bad experiences and enemies than people I get along with. I also believe strongly in learning from mistakes.

I like to people watch. I learn from others all the time. I like observing how people do things, and why they do them. I take my observations of others-whether good or bad, and apply them to my life. Sometimes it's a trick or phrase, other times I see how I would not want to act in certain situations.

My schema has developed as combination of two things:

• direct learning from those whose opinions I really cherish and respect
• silently observing others

I think high school is childish and simply the gateway to college or the rest of your life. Looking back, I think of how many times I went against my morals or beliefs simply to fit in. I also think people need that 4 year experience to help them determine what they want to or don't want to become.

Now that I am in college I feel like I can be myself.

A common theme I have found running through college kids is how much more accepting they are of others when they get to college (just as Dan stated). If we are more accepting of others, and stand up for what we believe in, it is much easier to impact others. Also, higher institutions of education have less people who are naive or close-minded.

I use my competitive drive as a means to influence change. I don't think I am going to change the world, but I do think I can change a few lives. Also, by simply shutting your mouth and opening your eyes and ears, you would be amazed at what you can learn. The only chance I have for change is that those who listen/pay attention take to heart what I have to offer.

Chater 6 Response

Schema is defined as the basic building blocks of knowledge to be the symbols or categories that are stored in long-term memory. People are affected by their environment around them and how they interact with people. Also how the person’s experiences are in effect for how their leadership will be interpreted. If they are in an unfamiliar place they might be shy and not be able to show their leadership skills well enough.
I also agree when the book says, “leadership is not simply the result of possessing knowledge; instead situations must be perceived, and these situational perceptions must be related to knowledge structures.” I have been through a lot of situations during college where I can examine myself and see how my leadership skills have developed. I have grown over the years from different people in my life by observing them and developing my own leadership skills and morals. My friends and parents have helped me put this all together and make me an all around person with going to a liberal arts college.
I have done many assessments during my college career to show what characteristics of leadership I have and use them in different situations. During different activities in college, such as my fraternity, living with others, and working on campus, I can use these different skills in different situations in life and for my future. My schema has been shaped since freshman year, where I have changed my morals of accepting everyone in every situation I encounter, which I learned from friends and family. My friends taught me to accept everyone for who they were and not be so judgmental, which I was during high school and my earlier years before college. This might make me naïve because I cannot trust everyone I meet. I have also learned how to put these skills into different situations in school.

Response to Chapter 6 Information Processing and Leadership

According to the text, a schema can be identified as “the basic building blocks of knowledge to the symbols and categories that are stored in long-term memory.” Theses categories are used to interpret and adapt to surroundings in a given situation based on personal experiences. The information processing and leadership takes into consideration that the schemata of the leader and subordinates are different. The environment can also have a positive or negative affect on how the leadership is interpreted by the leader and the followers.

I agree with the fact that “leadership is not simply the result of possessing knowledge; instead situations must be perceived, and these situational perceptions must be related to knowledge structures.” As a leadership minor and a college student, I have reflected on my own person schema (the source of my behaviors). My personal schema has been developed and influenced by my parents, teachers, advisors, sports, and activities I have participated in throughout my life. My studies at St. Norbert College within my major and minor course I have learned essential information to be better leader in my desired workplace. My behaviors are influenced by obtained knowledge, experiences, environment, and interpretation of others in a given situation.

I agree with Teresa that throughout my college career I have done a variety of self assessments, and from experiences I have learned how to communicate, understand information, and how to teach others. Through various experiences with social groups, roommates, and on-campus involvement I have an understanding on how I behave or react in a given situation. My schema has been shaped in a significant way since freshmen year. I use to be more timid in situations, where the environment was perceived to be negative or unfamiliar. Now, I approach these situations with a positive attitude and confidence, because I have the knowledge and experience to embrace more leadership roles.

Information Processing and Leadership Chapter 6

Like many other leadership studies, this chapter focuses on how leadership works. There are many traits that correspond with leadership, and as minors i think we have beaten these traits to death at this point. We all get that leaders have certain traits that distinguish them as leaders. This chapter takes those traits various leaders possesses and turns them into action. The action of a leader is dependent on those actions of the followers. This chapter claims that leadership is, "a social process, one involving both a leader and a follower. Leadership is the investigation of how one individual, labeled a leader, influences a second individual or group, labeled the follower. 

The process to get things flowing between said leader and the followers are information sharing. This is a process in understanding the schema of the leader and that of the followers. Schema for the leader are the source of one's own behavior, and for the follower, the schema are the standards against which these behaviors are compared. This chapter centers in on many studies done on leadership methods and management styles and how people respond to leaders. How does a leader get things done? In many corporate jobs i would imagine, and with the economy, fear drives people to do quality work assigned by their leader (manager, boss etc). I think passion has been a long standing means to make change. It is with the given information that leaders can understand their environment, their audience and their aim. Over the course of my college career, i have done many self assessments, and analysis of me and how i obtain information, give it out, communicate and what makes me tick. Those are essential in order to properly understand ones own influence and then taken a step further in understanding those subordinate to a position of leadership. 

The question part of this blog that i will post is in relation to ones schema. All of us are leadership minors and have had and still have roles of leadership. We are those with the ability to influence, the mind to challenge, and the will to change. How do we come to understand our own schema (the source of ones own behaviors)? In a college setting how do we use our schemas to influence change?

I can say in my life, my behavior and schema has been partly from my upbringing and my education through my parents. Seeing how they behave and generally learning right from wrong. College has taught me the kind of person i want to be, and shaped my behavior around gathering traits and qualities that give me the step in becoming a competent, passionate, dedicated and well rounded person. My schema is shown in how i interact with my friends. The devotion i have to my education and the hopefully positive nature i give off. My schema is shaped through years of observation and assessment on the behaviors i want to portray.