Dr. Cornel West 2

My thoughts about Dr. Cornel West are the same, as I believe he embodies everything that the course has illustrated about ethics and spirituality. It’s important to understand one key element about people, which is that no one is perfect. Everyone has their flaws and those flaws just show that we are human. I’m sure there’re things that Dr. Cornel west displays within his personality that goes against some of the principles discussed throughout the course in concerns to ethics and spirituality. What I’ve been able to further understand, is spirituality is a part of a person’s behavior, which is also a part of a person’s ethical values. These are concepts, feelings, and ideologies that are built into a person from personal experiences as well as culturally and religious teachings. Dr. Cornel West is a man that hasn’t changed his behavior since I’ve learned of his works and attitudes about societal issues. That speaks a lot to the kind of person he is and the kind of spirituality he uses to maintain who his values.                

Leadership

The three most important characteristics that a leader must have in the 21^st century is being able to coach individuals, show respect, and most importantly have patience. I believe that a leader must truly know how to coach/teach individuals in the 21^st century because of how diverse society has become. This will require potentially going over basic concepts with employees in ways that are understandable to them. Also, properly understanding what methods work with what employees. I feel respect is a key characteristic for a leader to have in the 21^st century because of how easily people can be offended. It’s important that leaders understand what is culturally, socially, religiously and personally needed or expected when showing respect. Finally, I believe that patience is the main aspect that a leader needs in the 21^st century because of the continuous changes occurring within society. Leaders need patients more than ever when dealing with employees because society has created a system more in favor of employees and less for the owners as well as leaders in concerns to behavioral actions. Firing/replacing employees isn’t as easy or acceptable as it once was, which means patience will be required.

   

Playing basketball has given me a great understanding to an important element of leadership, which is having the ability to coach. Understanding the role that coaching plays for leaders is right up my alley, as I’ve witnessed coaching, been on the receiving end of coaching and coached others myself. Coaching has a huge effect on a leader’s ability to lead because it consists of observing, advising, motivating and being strategic. These are all traits that leaders must have to properly lead their team/organization. To coach someone is to motivate that individual to perform in a way greater than what they’re currently showing or to maintain the great level of performance that they’re displaying. Coaching also entails strategy, which means that sometimes encouraging someone to commit to a certain role may be for the betterment of the team/organization. 

There’s been so many times in basketball where I had to step up and be a leader. A time I can remember is when a team I was playing on was up against an opposing team that was undefeated. There’s only so much a coach can do to rally the team because he/she isn’t on the court as a player. This was a time where the coach couldn’t say anything, it had to come from the players. I rallied my team together and told them that the individuals on the other team put their shorts on one leg at a time just like us and they can be beat if we truly believe we can beat them. The game was tight the whole way through. During the course of the game, I noticed a mismatch on the court with one of our players and one of theirs. I keyed in on it and began to expose the situation, which gave us the advantage. Our goal as a team was to keep the game close until the fourth, then steal it from them in the end. I told my team as we were up by two with five minutes left, that we were going to win this game. I went out on the court and scored the next two offensive possessions, putting our team up by six with three minutes remaining. The look in my teammates eyes, was one of determination as we proceeded to finish the game on top, effectively beating the other team. Within this moment of leadership, I displayed the ability to be strategic, motivate and most importantly lead by example through my actions on the floor.       

Spirituality At Work

For me, as I’ve stated throughout this course spirituality is a part of a person’s behavior, which can’t always be seen. I believe it’s a part the calmest part of a person’s behavior. In the world of basketball, the time where I see spirituality the most is right before a game. Almost every team I’ve ever been on, players are either individually meditating, praying, or zoning out to get focused for the game. I personally pray before every practice or game, after zoning out to prepare. In sports, it’s almost a ritual to huddle up with your team, to become one unit and share the desire and aspirations to win, to have a strong practice, or to appreciate the time spent playing basketball.

Some teams I’ve been on, pray as a unit in the huddles before games, which is silently agreed upon by the players even if they don’t believe in religion or the religion associated with the style of prayer being established. They do this because it’s a sign of respect for the overall team and even if they don’t believe in religion or the religion being established, they believe in the team. This is how the team infuses spirituality within the players, because it’s a part of being on the team, just like wearing the same jersey. Spirituality isn’t the focus of the team, it’s just a small element associated with the team, which is why it works. If spirituality isn’t overwhelmed on people, then they will be more inclined to tolerate it with no complaints.

Virtual Communication

During my professional career as a basketball player, one thing that has been a common theme is the use of virtual communication. I’ve used skype and WhatsApp for video conferences with coaches, GM’s (General Mangers) as well as agents from different countries when completing contractual agreements. Virtual communication helps multicultural, diversity and global relationship in many ways. One way is with the difference of language, as technology within virtual communication, allows for translations to occur. This helps for a faster line of communication to take place, while allowing both parties understand each other. Another aspect that virtual communication brings is the ability to have face to face conversations without having to physically be in the other person’s presence. This helps for human reactions, behaviorism and a sense of comfort to take place. Most people find it easier to talk with someone that they can see, so they can read physical emotions.

Virtual communication has been a key aspect to successfully allowing me to travel the world playing basketball on a professional level. Without virtual communication, I’m not sure of how easy my journey would’ve been because of the possible miss communications or uncertainties build up due to lack of solid communication. Unfortunately, technology has corrupted tradition ways of life in some sense, but it’s for the best in my opinion because it allows for us to reach out and respond to people all across the world for various reasons. Businesses can successfully be run in other countries without the owner ever stepping foot in the country where the business is located. Although, this has been accomplished before the boom of technology, now an owner can do it while being there virtually. This way, all employees can meet and greet them on a personal level. Virtual communication has been a positive for multicultural, diversity, global leadership, and motivation strategies around the world. I’m looking forward to the advancements of virtual communication in the future, as I believe it will only increase its success.

Integrate spirituality

I personally believe that my spirituality is a part of me, it’s a part of who I am as a person and is a result of the region that I adhere to. I don’t believe in forcing or integrating spirituality into anyone or any situation. I believe there’s a difference between leaders being spiritually sound and applying that within their leadership skills than forcing your spiritual beliefs on a situation or person. Everyone has their own concept of spirituality, which could lead to some confusion and miss understandings. To me a person must be one with themselves in order to be spiritual because the big part of spirituality is the word spirit. That’s the inner soul of a person, the outer worldly concept that makes up a person existence.

I feel that people must first, figure out if they even believe in this concept of spirituality and then second, understand what it means to be spiritual in their eyes. In this era, spirituality has taken on different meanings but are all centered around the same concept, which is life beyond earth and preparing your mind, body and soul for it. If I absolutely had to try and integrate spirituality in a workplace, I would create meditation, prayer, or relaxation departments. Soothing activities, like yoga and massages while soft music is playing, this will relax the mind and body, which are key aspects to spirituality. I would also allow my behavior and lifestyle to show what being spiritual is doing for me and hopefully employees would inquire. 

Non-Verbal Communication

Seeing how I’ve never had business encounters that were done in person, I don’t personally know if certain tactics work better than others. What I’ve always been taught is, that when it comes to making business deals in person, is to show confidence, show professionalism, and don’t look too eager. Two physical traits I believe a person should show during any negotiation confidence and respect. Simple gestures such as a hand shake are one of the physical gestures in my opinion that can make or break a negotiation. Having a firm but inviting instead of a soft or overly controlling one, means a lot when dealing with someone for the first time. Also, standing up straight or siting up straight and most importantly keeping eye contact. You can read a lot off individuals eyes and facial expressions. Sometimes some of these tactics aren’t needed when dealing with the same culture, but I don’t feel this is the same when dealing with other cultures.    

When other cultures are concerned, it’s smart to learn the traditional or customary ways to engage in a conversation but when trying to strike a deal, depending on how even or uneven the deal is, some customary traits may not be warranted as they may show signs of weakness. For instance, a deal done between two kings, one king shouldn’t bow down to the other, although it may be the traditional way to greet a king. For modern day times, there must be an equal amount of respect for one’s cultural traits during business engagements, if equal value is being brought to the table, in my opinion good business deals can be accomplished.       

Spirituality And Religiosity

I am of Christian faith and my religion is where I get my spirituality from. Religion has always been a huge part of my life as I’m a big believer in prayer as well as having faith in God, knowing that he can do all things, which means anything is possible. I was raised up in the church and even though I hadn’t realized it until later in life, a lot of the principles rubbed off on me, becoming a true part of what makes up my character, behavior and overall personality.

Every religion has its own policies, principles or ethical tone, in which the members of it has to live by or at least try too. These rules aren’t always concepts that everyone in the world would be ok with following, but some for the concepts no one should have a problem with. These concepts all center around treating people with respect and fairness. In my religion the 10 commandments which are our guidelines in which we live by, I believe thou shall not still or kill are a couple universal principles because everyone knows are wrongful acts and done anywhere in the world usually comes with heavy punishment.

I personally don’t think about modification when following the policies of my religion, which is where my spirituality comes from, as I believe the holy bible was written for me to understand and follow the principles within it. That may make me sound somewhat like a zealot, but I just think that people try to modify their religion so that it may better suit their earthly needs, which may go against the spiritual guidelines set for them to follow. Being beholding to a religion can sometimes be a difficult thing to do, as it may make you give up on things that you like or want but these are the commitments you make to show that you believe and have faith. 

Coworkers With disabilities

I’ve never worked with a person who had a disability, but I’ve been around people with disabilities and the one thing that they wanted most of all, was to be treated like everyone else. Now some people have disabilities that need more attention than others, but those individuals still want to be treated as normal as possible, just like everyone else. After reading the Ten Commandments on how to deal with people that have disabilities, I found it to be very robotic and not too authentic.

Since I never worked with a person that has a disability, I don’t know how effective the commandments are, but I see a large emphasis of the commandments being placed on not disrespecting the individual because of their disability. So, there’s a lot of what I believe to be unnecessary elements being added, that make a social as well as personable interaction with a person that has a disability, seem very robotic and not organic. I do believe there should be an understand of how to treat people with disabilities because some people need help in working situation, as people can be flustered, ignorant, or simply jerks. So, it’s always a good idea for organizations/companies to have some policies that should be followed. I just believe two people having a natural genuine working relationship, disability or not is the best way to handle the situation.

The Concept of Diversity

The concept of diversity to me is exactly what the word is defined as, which is different. I think society has a hard time with excepting that people are different, people think differently, act differently, dress differently, and just are overall different. As a society, we must get to an understanding that it’s okay to be different, that we don’t have to find similarities to coexist. If we can first recognize that it’s okay for us to be different, I personally think that will go a long way with people uniting, instead of forcing people to be the same, which I believe is causing division.

I think of myself as being different than others, in the shows I watch, cloths I wear, music I listen to, viewpoints of societal issues and so much more. This has helped my leadership abilities because I don’t care what people think and I stick to the facts, no matter how unfavorable it may make me look. What this has taught me, is that more people are followers than leaders in the world. I believe today’s society is more controlled than anything, that people maybe different because skin color, religion or age but in the mindset of most people are programmed to think the same. To me, the most important diversity dimension is internal, because it deals with all the elements that make up a person’s personality. This must deal with a person’s experiences within the environments that they’ve been in. Diversity starts within a person’s mind, which is why a person’s free thought is so important because it lets the world know exactly who you are not what society wants you to be or agree with. 

Minister Louis Farrakhan - Spirituality

The person that I came up with who displays spirituality, isn’t so much someone I’m inspired by but someone who I’ve always thought was very persuasive. The Minister Louis Farrakhan is someone well known throughout the world as an American Religious leader of the Nation of Islam, a black nationalist, activist and social leader. Louis Farrakhan has been the Leader of the Nation of Islam ever since it’s the original leader died in 1975 and is most recognized for his million-man march. A march in which he led one million men to Washington in protest for politicians that will see to better treatment for minorities in America.

Louis Farrakhan is deeply spiritual in almost everything that he does in the public eye and his spiritual behavior is very persuasive, which draws new follower-ship for his religion. I’m christen so I don’t adhere to some of his religious views, but the two religions do share a lot of similarities. Being very spiritual is one of them. One thing that Louis Farrakhan does well, is speak, as his words carry a high sense of intellect, passion as well as spirit. His words are very persuasive because they contain nothing but facts regarding issues outside of religion. This, mixed with his spiritual nature, is how he was able to conduct a million-man march filled with people of the Islamic faith as well as other religious faiths.

I’ve always been intrigued by Louis Farrakhan because of the way he uses is spirituality and combines it with his intellect. When speaking to people, this is the type of approach that I’ve always tried to master and still trying. To be calm while another person is irate, to lay out the facts of a situation without confusing them with subjective thinking, and to stay intellectually sound always is what try to do. It’s a struggle, what helps is my spirituality and trying to understand how others, like Louis Farrakhan accomplished this.