Making life better in disadvantaged communities - our thoughts on everything - from Spirit Lake Consulting, Inc.
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I have often wondered why there are not alot of disabled leaders in small communities or reservations. And I think it has something to do with Native Americans first of all mostly passive anyway. Secondly, most people with disabilities are more concerned with their personal lives.
However, have you thought that in the way you are conducting yourself everyday by accomplishing personal task. That in fact, you are leading by example. We do not look at how people perform daily and what they get done, is only measured by work task. As for disabled people, our lives are measured in how we survive or personally manage our lives each day.
My questioin to each of you is this, how do you measure leadership? and how do disabled persons in your community demonstrate leadership?
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Willy, there are many definitions of leadership. Here is one of the more common ones: "the ability of an individual to influence, motivate, and enable others to contribute toward the effectiveness and success of the organizations of which they are members" (House, R. J. 2004: page 15). The measure of a leader is determined how well there are able to get people to do a particular task.
Your second question is more difficult to answer. When you say disable do you mean, bedridden, legally blind/deaf etc.? If that is the case, the very nature of their disability makes it almost impossible for them to obtain and hold a leadership position. On the other hand, those people confined to a wheel chair, or use a cane, or crutches to walk, or missing a limb etc., are certainly able to obtain a leadership position. I'm not sure, but I think before the ADA was passed it was very hard for a disable person to find a job much less get selected for a leadership position. As you pointed out, there are many different type of leaders and many disabled individuals are leaders in the sense they worked hard to live a product life
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I think Erich is right that, until recently with ADA, it was difficult for people with severe disabilities to hold leadership positions because organizations just said told them, "No, we don't think you could do the work." I think that still happens now, but to a much less extent.
It is true that when you look the people who have leadership positions in the National Federation for the Blind are blind, the president of Galludet is deaf nd the RSA has some people with disabilities in leadership positions. We won't have made real progress until you see those same people heading up Microsoft or the United Way or the University of North Dakota, and their disabilities are just incidental.
So, yes, I agree with you both, an important part of leadership, disabled or not, is by example.
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I think that a leader is anyone who goes against the grain and does what is not expected of them. It is very difficult to go against society and carve your own path in this world. Once this is done, it is an inspiration for everyone else to go out and make their own mark on this world.
For a disabled person to take charge of his/her own life, I agree with Erich in that disabled individuals are leaders because they work hard to live a productive life. Most people do not expect to see a disabled person working, or employed in a leadership position. When this is the case, the disabled individual is taking charge of his/her own life and working to make it better, which in turn sets an inspirational example for everyone.
To be a leader, the main characteristic that is needed is courage. Check out SLC's web section on courageous leadership: http://www.spiritlakeconsulting.com/lea … rage1.html
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Erich- In reference to my definition of a disabled, it refers to anyone who meets the Federal Regulation under the Vocational Rehabilitation Acts. Generally, this person is one who is trainable or employable.
Also, per your opinion on Leadershiip. I believe individuals who are confined to home and/or bedridden can be an effective leader from home or wherever they are residing.
With the technology today, people can get their message or leadership roles demonstrated in many facits. I just believe a person is either a leader or a follower. I do also believe people can be taught certain leadership responsibilties, but qualities are learned or inherited?
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