The qualities of leadership of Randy Pausch were clearly displayed in his presentation. Fullan (2001) identified leaders having the characteristics of hope, enthusiasm, and energy. In watching the YouTube video of his talk, Randy’s enthusiasm and energy were clearly evident. His words and actions also displayed the hope he had for beating his cancer.
The turning points in his life were described in his book. He noted his marriage and the subsequent births of his three children as examples. One of his dreams was to work as a Disney Imagineer. He applied for a position after completing his doctorate and was turned down. He discussed how brick walls were there, not to keep individuals out, but to show how badly a person wanted to achieve something (Pausch & Zaslow, 2008). Randy’s perseverance and drive eventually paid off and he worked as an Imagineer while taking a sabbatical from the university he was working at.
Obstacles were not something which prevented him from obtaining a goal or a dream. He learned to work around them or to overcome them. While not always successful, he used that experience for learning and to go at the hurdle from a different direction.
Dr. Pausch’s ideal leader was Captain James T. Kirk from the television show Star Trek. Randy described him as having the spirit of a dynamic leader who knew how to inspire others and how to delegate. In using him as a role model, he felt he became a better educator and person (Pausch & Zaslow, 2008). Catalano (2006) identified a number of leadership traits which included self-motivation, initiative, self-confidence, creativity, persistence, stress tolerance, risk taking, and ability to accept criticism. These qualities were applied to nursing leaders but are important for leaders in many fields. Randy Pausch saw all of these in Captain Kirk. I identified these traits in him.
Catalano, J. T. (2006). Nursing Now: Today’s Issues, Tomorrow’s Trends (4th ed.). Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company.
Fullan, M. (2001). Leadership and Sustainability. Retrieved February 2, 2009, from Center for Development and Learning Web Site: http://www.cdl.org/resource-library/articles/ldr_sustainability.php
Pausch, R., & Zaslow, J. (2008). The Last Lecture.
Hello Nick,
ReplyDeleteYou clearly outline some qualities of leadership that you, as a nurse, use in your work. For me, no work is more important than that involved in saving lives everyday. I have a tremendous respect for all of you. Dr. Pauch's hero/mentor for his own life may appear almost laughable to some, but even a fictional character can serve as an example of leadership. We all know some of the nonfictional characters that we look up to often fail in our view.
Which one(s) of the behavior characteristics would you apply to Dr. Pausch: controller, supporter, analyzer, promoter? Based on the information you give us I would gestimate him to be a supporter/analyzer. While we view Dr. Pausch as the central figure of your choice, I also think about his wife. Surely she also is an example of strong leadership. I am sure the life she gives as a mother since her husband's death is no easy task; I know so because my mother had to serve as both mother and father after my father's untimely death at age 39. The survivors are as much leaders as the victims.
I feel that both of our leaders, Dr. Randy Pausch and Oprah Winfrey, have displayed the characteristics that Fullan describes such as hope, enthusiasm and energy. While both leaders deal with the public, they have done so using these three qualities. When these leaders have spoken with a message, it had been conveyed in such a way that the listener wants to become their own agent of change. These leaders have spoken with a message of hope and done so through enthusiasm and energy.
ReplyDeleteWe need more leaders that can use their experiences to motivate others. By speaking from experience, others are more likely to relate and try to change accordingly.
Nick,
ReplyDeleteThe qualities Dr. Pausch had, as described in Fullan's book, are the same characteristics that were present in Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. You mentioned self-motivation, initiative, self-confidence, creativity, persistence, stress tolerance, risk taking, and ability to accept criticism.It took all of these traits for Dr. King to continue his quest for equality, and it obvious took those traits for Dr. Pausch to achieve his goals. Look at the persistance he exhibited as he tried to become a Disney imagineer. Obviously it took persistence and stress tolerance to accept his cancer and battle for survival. In each case, roadblocks were in his way, but as you said, he learned to go around them. That's a characteristic we all need. It's one that is valuable to students as well.
Dr. Pausch's example serves as a role model for those trying to achieve what they believe is impossible.