writing assignment

5. Enable Others to Act

Leaders Know that they can’t make extraordinary things happen all by themselves. It takes partners, so leaders invest in building spirited and cohesive teams, teams that feel like family.

Mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary group efforts. Leaders build the skills and abilities of their constituents to deliver on commitments.

They create a climate where people feel in control of their own lives. To Enable Others to Act, you foster collaboration by building trust and facilitating relationships, and you strengthen others by increasing self- determination and developing competence.

Complete this section after you have read Barry Posner and James Kouzes’ chapter on Enable Others to Act. The stories are meant to inform and inspire you.

Reflection 5: Enable Others to Act (50 points)

 Strengthen Others: Think of a time when, as a direct result of something a leader said or did, you felt personally powerful and capable. Write down the actions the leader took that contributed to your feeling powerful, strong, capable, and effective. (Paragraph - 15 points)

 Now think of a time when you felt powerless, weak, and insignificant as a result of something a leader said or did. What specifically did he or she do? (Paragraph - 15 points)

You are a member of class / work group project teams:

 Can you recall a time when you were part of a team that “just clicked”— a time when it seemed as if everyone was working together smoothly and effortlessly. Describe how people acted toward one another that contributed to making the team work or not. (Paragraph - 10 points)

 Have you ever made others feel powerful to the benefit of a project?” If not, how could you have empowered others in a project? (Paragraph - 10 points)