Our assignment in our public administration class was to post a blog on task coordination. As a class we came to realize that buildings such as sky scrapers and pyramids, or organizations such as the Girls Inc and the YMCA, did not just develop over night. Well, maybe the thought could have for one individual, but the point that I am trying to make is that one individual thought of an idea, and was able to bring a group of individuals together to accomplish the goal that the particular individual originally thought of, which we concluded was task coordination. Now, how is it that one individual is able to bring numerous of individuals together and create basically "our world" as we know it today?
In my opinion, you have to posses certain characteristics in order to bring people together. Characteristics such as intuition, strength, and adaptability. Basically speaking, you have to be a leader.It is important that leaders model the behavior they expect from others. To do this, a person must first be clear about his or her guiding principles and values. Each person must find his or her own voice based on underlying values. Only in this way can a person be “authentic,” “walk the talk,” and consequently earn the right and the respect to lead others.
When I was younger, I was under the assumption that "if you were not a leader, then you were a follower." Of course when I was younger, being a "follower" was the one where people would belittle you and no one liked you because of the title you were given. As I got older, I started realizing that the whole leader and follower scenario was more of a win situation for both parties. I say that because leadership is a process, not just a focus on a single person. Followers influence one another through trusting relationships and open and honest communication. Both leaders and followers have shared purposes, which is a common vision that brings them together.
Overall, now when I think of task coordination, and how can one individual bring others together to accomplish a goal, I do not think of it in that perspective anymore. I now think of task coordination as individuals coming together who share both the same visions, and have the same insight as that one particular individual (the leader) which then allows them to create the buildings that we see today and powerful organizations throughout the world.
Melanie, I like your reference to haracteristics such as intuition, strength, and adaptability. I don't think the quality of intuition is often fully understood or appreciated. We are so often taught to be exclusively rational. Human brains/minds have many valuable capacities, including intution, which is not well understood. I think adaptability is also important. What does adaptability mean to you, please, in the context of government agencies and nonprofit organizations?
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