Comments on: A Leaderless Revolution?

By: A Leaderless Revolution? :The New York 912 Project

A Leaderless Revolution? :The New York 912 Project — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 03:42:33 +0000

[...] Full Article Here [...]

By: mburns

mburns — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 05:01:25 +0000

Looking forward to it.

By: Ned Ryun

Ned Ryun — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:45:28 +0000

No, I’m not suggesting greater knowledge of the principles is the strategy at all. But it is part of it. Messaging, branding, defining before defined, best points of intervention, etc. are part of the bigger strategy, and I think you’re going to like some of the stuff I’ll be helping to roll out soon.

By: mburns

mburns — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:41:20 +0000

Ned, I would partially agree and disagree. First, the flaw here, as alluded to earlier, is that a sound theory is synonymous with sound strategy. It’s like saying if we just be good girls and boys, everything will work out just fine. The world doesn’t work that way, at least not from my perspective, and that is why the republicans got clobbered in 2006 and 2008, in addition to failing to deliver what they promised.

Being able to communicate in a rational way the great principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, etc., should be par for the course for any good candidate, but, is NOT a strategy. At least not one that will resonate with voters today. If it were 1776, yes. But in 2010 and beyond, what we’re talking about solving is a complex marketing and PR challenge that requires a much broader understanding and skill. And that’s where I take issue with both the tea party movement and the status quo of the GOP.

The issue of why we fight is part of a PR milestone, which could be solved through a public awareness campaign that the GOP should undertake to help educate voters, so that when good candidates do run for public office, they get it, and the work that candidates do is much easier to accomplish with an educated electorate.

Agree on points re- serving and leadership.

By: William L. Taylor

William L. Taylor — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:27:34 +0000

Very one has an opinion, which I respect. However, leadership and its application is an art. Leadership is required for the conduct of strategic and operation planning-both profit and non-profit. It is NOT done by processes like Group Nominal, or a blog on the subject on the Internet. In the real world of business, government, military, charitable, and educational organizations, such planning begins at the top and requires considerable effort. The planning process then flows to the bottom in a cascading manner via operational goals with associated measurable results at each level of the organization. (This is not Management by Objectives by the way!) Strategic and operational goals are the most critical few that will mean success for the organization. Results management provides feedback loops back up the organization for the purpose of decision-making. This monitoring and reporting of goals might also result in goal adjustment, or recourse application.

For what it’s worth, I had 31 years as planner at every level of the military, including in war, and in NATO. Following my military retirement, I served for 10 years as an organizational development and quality (ISO) consultant to a major branch of a Federal organization. While on active duty I was a Designate US Military Strategist. I have also served a consultant on planning to a graduate department of a major educational institution. I hold two advanced degrees in Psychology and Industrial Management (with honors in both I am also a graduate of the one year Army Command and General Staff College. I have published a wide variety of articles, primarily in psychology,

With due respect, I do believe that I really know of what I “speak.”

By: Don Mashak

Don Mashak — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:26:18 +0000

May I suggest as the first lesson in leadership, that anyone that has not learned to play chess to at least a mid level of ability, learn to do so now. We need to be able to plan strategy more than one move ahead.

Don Mashak
The Cynical Patriot

By: Ned Ryun

Ned Ryun — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:20:06 +0000

I wish I could engage more in this conversation, but have been bombed with work. First, by intellectualism, I mean the ability to communicate, in a rational, reasonable way, the great principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, public virtue; the ideals the Founders believed in and that have been shown to work. But for the tea party movement, and the 9.12 movement, to become even better, I would hope many would become even more knowledgeable about why we fight, what we’re facing, etc. So we need to know our Founding documents. We need to know how the free market works, and the benefits of it. We need to know the proper role of government, and the sphere and scope it should have. So with some more reading and studying, we can become even better communicators of these principles. I’m not advocating Ph.Ds here, folks. Second, I’m all about serving; one of the points that I hope to make with local leaders is that they do not lead an organization. They serve it, and should be working on how to make their members even better. That’s what I’m hoping to do in the role I have with AM. Sometimes I succeed, sometimes I fail. And last point: someone told me a leader who no one follows is just a person out for a nice walk. A leader has to be able to engage people and transmit to them a compelling vision that they feel they are part of, even vital to; if it’s all about a leader, no one will engage, and if people do, there won’t be enough to actually make a difference. So just some passing thoughts on what looks like a nice exchange going on.

By: Don Mashak

Don Mashak — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:47:57 +0000

Let us not debate the need for leadership or its form. There is a way to lead and have people follow and a way to lead through force, coercion and peer pressure. I prefer the former to the latter. If a leader gets his mandate from his followers, the followers will not feel led or forced, they will feel empowered by guidance.

Don Mashak
The Cynical Patriot

By: mburns

mburns — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 20:27:21 +0000

@Don, the movement certainly does not have to be top-down as a requirement, but you have to admit that there’s only so much organizing and rallying you can do before people start asking questions about how to take it to the next level. And, I would also add, that for those within the movement who claim we do not need leaders are the same people who are quietly trying to capture that position, so I’ll be the first to call bullshit on those small-minded efforts to dispel the belief that leaders are needed. And, let’s face it, when you don’t have effective leadership, the media won’t turn to you when the time comes to weigh in on critical topics. They’ll pick someone else who is perceived to know more. That central issue indicates that the tea party movement is not the bonafide leader or even Challenger to the status quo, they are, in fact, the Underdog. The difference, as you may ask, is that Challengers are missed when they leave the scene, Underdogs are not.

To go one step further, as a seasoned brand marketing pro, I have some real problems with the field of political consultants, given that we have so many in a sea of know-it-alls producing mediocre results.

I cannot tell you the number of political campaigns and causes I’ve seen head down the Bunny trail, led by arrogant, self-gratifying clowns who pursue ego-driven and idealistic goals while being completely unaware of the political landscape, or chasing ideas that are completely off-strategy and end as a flash in the pan–killing off energy and motivation from eager supporters who thought they were supporting a viable campaign.

In addition to the problems on the ground with the tea party movement, we also have some very big problems within the status quo. Namely, consultants taking money from people who should never be running for pubic office to begin with, and those who equate theory and strategy as one in the same.

On your mention re- group nominal process, I lead new, a peer-focused initiative called OnStrategy Forum, that includes a new Self-directed Workgroup focus, http://onstrategy.ning.com/
Anyone who is serious about learning more about the ins and outs of effective strategy should join.

By: Don Mashak - The Cynical Patriot

Don Mashak - The Cynical Patriot — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 19:54:48 +0000

I do not feel that leadership has to be top down. You need to identify the memberships passions and have them work on issues they are passionate about. For now, I direct to Group Nominal Process, http://web1.msue.msu.edu/msue/imp/modii/iii00005.html Using this strategy, I took a fraternity full of slovenly drunk skirt chasers with no redeeming social qualities and made them the number 1 fraternity on the U of MN campus in 5 years. Perhaps in the near future I will write an article on 5-10 simple, simple things you can do to provide a group with directions and obtain goals. But right now I have to work to pay my mortgage

Don Mashak
The cynical patriot