Tag Archives: leadership

07 Jan

Breathing

peteraltschul music 3 0

And she did one other extremely helpful thing: she breathed expressively before especially important entrances.

My organ teacher introduced me to this technique in high school. During lessons, he taught me how to read his…..

19 Oct

Corners

peteraltschul diversity 5 0

Corners are quirky.

Rectangular or rounded. Narrow or sweeping. Sharp or gradual.

I hear a wide variety of reactions from sighted people when my guide dog and I barrel around corners at a four mile-per-hour clip. Surprised gasps. Nervous laughter. Shrieks. Breathless apologies, followed by “I didn’t see you.”

And the occasional “Oh shit!”

These reactions take place because light-dependent people often find it hard to see around corners.

Life presents us with unexpected corners of all shapes and sizes……

28 Jun

Leadership Is For Everyone

peteraltschul organization behavior 0 0

“Leadership isn’t for everyone,” asserts Tacy Byham (1). Before you take on a leadership assignment, he says, answer these ten questions, and if you answer “no” to too many, don’t lead. The questions center around “why lead?”, as well as “people skills”, ability to learn, and flexibility.

All good questions.

But each of us engage in leadership activities all the time: influencing others to move in a given direction and/or supporting them to get there. We often lead without even…..

21 Jun

Guest Blogger David Michels

peteraltschul Motivation Vs. Influence 0 0

Because I Said So: Lessons in Parenting and Change Management http://www.bain.com/publications/articles/because-i-said-so.aspx

20 Sep

Hooked on Marty

peteraltschul music 5 0

In high school and college, I sang in several choirs, each led by talented, well-organized conductors. I currently sing in four choirs with equally talented, organized conductors, and appreciate their leadership as they steer us volunteer singers towards performing repertoire in wide-ranging styles.

And then there’s Marty.

I first met Marty several years ago when he took charge of the Agape Singers, a church choir that sings contemporary Christian music. I wasn’t sure what to make of him. He never…..

31 Aug

Dogs Lead Too

peteraltschul dogs 3 0

Hunter, a multicolored standard poodle, thundered up a set of stairs, followed closely by Heath, a black Labrador. They barreled into a large room, panting, tails wagging, leaving behind muddy pawprints and spraying water everywhere. As Heath leapt onto a leather couch, he used his nose to click on the Service Dog channel.

“Dogs lead too! Dogs lead too! Dogs lead too!” chanted a pack of dogs of all sizes and colors. “Service Dogs of America!” banners were everywhere.

“What’s…..

11 Aug

Four Satirists

peteraltschul politics 2 0

“The California Legislature is debating a bill that has passed through committee that would phase out hierarchy within a company. The bill is considered a landmark bill by many to eliminate what has been referred to as `wholesale oppression` of employees of a company.”

Thus begins a column written by Bruce Bialosky and posted on Townhall.com on August 2, 2015. The balance of the piece consists of quotes by left-leaning politicians and organizations.

“Ridiculous!” I thought, thinking that this might…..

08 Jun

Courageous Leadership

peteraltschul politics 3 0

“The timid civilized world has found nothing with which to oppose the onslaught of a sudden revival of barefaced barbarity, other than concessions and smiles.” – Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, during a 1978 speech at Harvard University

Thus begins a June 1, 2015 column written by Chris Skates and posted on Townhall.com. Later in the column, he stated that when liberals point out that issues ranging from crime to ISIS are complex, they show a lack of moral clarity and courage.

Moral…..

12 May

Scars

peteraltschul Stereotypes and diversity 3 0

At the beginning of J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series, Harry received a scar in the shape of a lightning bolt as a result of Lord Voldemort’s failed effort to murder him. As the series unfolds, he often could know what “the Dark Lord” was feeling, doing, or thinking through his scar even though they were hundreds of miles apart. This connection became both a blessing and a curse.

As we go through life, each of us acquire psychic scars based…..

16 Apr

Breathing While Leading

peteraltschul music 4 0

Recently, I sang baritone in two performances of Carl Orff’s “Carmina Burana.” I was assigned to stand in a spot close to both the instrumentalists and the conductor, making it easier for me to anticipate her cues even though I couldn’t see her wave her baton. And she did one other extremely helpful thing: she breathed expressively just prior to especially important entrances.

This expressive breathing brought back memories of playing percussion in various ensembles during high school and college……

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