Research points the finger at PowerPoint (Article)

If you have ever wondered why your eyes start glazing over as you read those dot points on the screen, as the same words are being spoken, take heart in knowing there is a scientific explanation. It is more difficult to process information if it is coming at you in the written and spoken form at the same time.

The Australian researchers who made the findings may have pronounced the death of the PowerPoint presentation. They have also challenged popular teaching methods, suggesting that teachers should focus more on giving students the answers, instead of asking them to solve problems on their own.

Read the full article http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2007/04/03/1175366240499.html

Pope Benedict XVI on Leadership - World Youth Day

Pope Benedict XVI on Leadership - World Youth Day

At the World Youth Day in front of 400,000 people, Pope Benedict XVI issued a leadership challenge:

“Dear young people, let me now ask you a question. What will you leave to the next generation? Are you building your lives on firm foundations, building something that will endure? Are you living your lives in a way that opens up space for the Spirit …? How are you using the gifts you have been given ….? What legacy will you leave to young people yet to come? What difference will you make?”
Read the full text: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/homilies/2008/documents/hf_ben-xvi_hom_20080720_xxiii-wyd_en.html

Lessons in Leadership Development

Lessons in Leadership Development

There are three principles that we have learned from our experience in developing and implementing frontline leadership programs. These principles apply to anyone planning leadership development in any type of organisation

The principles are implemented via a combination of universal facilitation tools and experiential learning techniques. Our experience is that this combination works just as well with corporate leaders as with high school students and indigenous populations and have the potential to transform leadership development in organisations, schools and communities.

These three insights:

i) Leadership is for everyone – not just designated leaders

ii) Leadership is experiential - training doesn’t work

iii) Values are paramount - theories are mostly a waste of time

http://www.tincanlearning.com/tincan_u_lead.htm

The Neuroscience of Leadership (Article)

The Neuroscience of Leadership (Article)

Highly recommended “The Neuroscience of Leadership” free article by David Rock and Jeffrey Schwarz http://www.strategy-business.com/press/freearticle/06207

Quiet Leadership by David Rock (Book)

Quiet Leadership by David Rock (Book)

Help people think better – Don’t tell them what to do.

Quiet leaders are masters at bringing out the best performance in others. They improve the thinking of people around them--literally improving the way their brains process information--without telling anyone what to do. Given how many people in today's companies are being paid to think and analyze, improving others' thinking is one of the fastest ways to improve performance. Quiet Leadership offers a practical, six-step guide to making permanent workplace performance change, to unleashing higher productivity, new levels of morale, and greater job satisfaction. Above all, Quiet Leadership will give you the clarity and strength that comes from mastering and using powerful insights into what makes us perform and succeed at the highest level. http://www.quietleadership.com/