It's no secret that I am not at all enamoured with our LRA 'leadership' - see Lonehill: Who's Fooling WHO..? - and nothing has transpired since that article to change my view.
I find it frightening and extremely unhealthy that one cannot ask questions and/or get answers of the LRA Board - see Lonehill: 70 Days - NO Answers Yet From LRA
In my opinion, our LRA 'leadership' lacks authenticity for the reason advocated in this article: Authenticity Starts With Transparency - extract: 'Leadership is about influence. Influence is about buy-in. Buy-in comes through trust. Trust is born in transparency. Transparency is a reflection of authenticity... lack of transparency opens WIDE the door of misunderstanding... there is nothing that builds trust more, than letting people inside and being... TRANSPARENT.'
I noticed this recent announcement in the world media - Obama announces his national security team - 'Obama: I assembled this team because I am a strong believer in strong personalities and strong opinions. I think that's how the best decisions are made. '
Now THAT's Leadership!
Is Barack Obama going to make mistakes? Of course!
But, here's what I believe he recognises that our LRA 'leaders' don't - see Do you want to make better-quality decisions? - extracts: 'Many leaders, managers, supervisors, and employees have become conflict-averse. They shy away from conflict, feel uncomfortable about “going against the grain”, rocking the boat, or being perceived as a “trouble-maker,” not being a “team player.” If you’re not experiencing constructive conflict in your workplace, you’re most likely not making high-quality decisions; nor are you encouraging your colleagues to be committed to implementing the decisions you are making.'
A thought just struck me that it might be an interesting postulate to research that: 'weak leadership begets that which it fears most'.
Googled it and found these extracts:
1. 'Secrecy begets suspicion, suspicion begets fear and fear can beget conflict rather than cooperation.'
2. “Like begets like, honesty begets honesty; trust, trust, and so on.” James F. Bell - Here are the 12 most common reasons (not in any particular order) I hear over and over for why teams won’t take responsibility.
3. '..poor leadership begets more poor leadership because poor leaders often select managers who possess the same traits they themselves demonstrate.' - What It Takes to Be a Good Leader - Ken Blanchard
Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790
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4 comments:
Nel is at it again with the latest illogical ramblings about the present LRA leadership this time under the ubiquitous heading "Oh for an Obama on the LRA Board". This is what the vast majority of decent and community spirited residents of Lonehill have come to expect from Nel... more of the same useless diatribe. Nel well knows that he has every opportunity to participate meaningfully in the Lonehill Community and the LRA, he has a standing invitation to do so but has elected to exclude himself and pursue the direction he has and as such has only himself to blame for the position he now finds himself in. The fact remains that the residents of Lonehill expect and deserve the pursuit of zero tolerance when it comes to crime and the environment and community spirit. This is precisely what the LRA, which Nel played a huge role in creating, stands for!
Quoting from well respected Leadership writings does not entitle Nel to deride his fellow Lonehill Residents and if one were to take the trouble to look about them, and abandon the critical spirit approach, one would find tremendous goodwill, amazing leadership qualities and incredible resilience and innovation amongst our residents in Lonehill, which ought to be nurtured in an environment of co operation and community rather than disrespect and thinly veiled contempt.
Dealing directly with the issues raised by Nel:
1. Wouldnt it be to the benefit of all the residents of Lonehill if ALL the community put their support behind their representative organizations,made themselves available to stand secuirty duty and to assist with other necessary tasks to ensure the well being of its residents rather than acting the armchair critic?
2. The LRA has had various questions posed to it by Nel. He spends an inordinate amount of time and devotes copious quantities of blogspace to asking why he hasnt had a response to his liking. The answers thereon are being worked on but due to the dynamics of change concerning a massive new secuirty initiative (which is in no ones best interest to publish in detail on a public website before its implementation for obvious reasons just to satisfy Nels curiosity), and other logisitical and negotiation phases,will be presented shortly. Would you as a Lonehill resident have the LRA publically publish security information such as personnel details, deployment of personnel, methods of operation, equipment details etc?
2. There are regular public feedback sessions held by the LRA widely publicised and held usually at the Village Church, where any resident of Lonehill is more than welcome to attend, pose any quesions they like and view the security briefings, financial statements and management accounts and make suggestions and raise concerns. Hardly a circumstance of "secrecy" as Nel seems to portray!
3. Given the history of the Nels LRA leadership it is somewhat ironic that Nel then, amonst others, proceeds to outline a quote concerning poor leadership. Nel has, on his own admission, had difficulties with a succession of LRA boards and the present board is clearly no exception. The point that needs to be made however is that all this nonesense needs to stop, the community needs to get on with its prime focus, being the eradication and prevention of crime and the Lonehill environment ....now that would be the concern of a true leader!
4. I call upon readers of this blog to volunteer with me for the SAPS reservests, lets be properly authorised and equipped and trained to deal with armed criminals, lets work together with the SAPS and Metro, lets work with our surrounding areas and lets get on with the job and for goodness sake lets put the nonsensical ramblings of a malcontent behind us once and for all!
5. I have invited Nel to step down from a position of editorial control of this and other Lonehill blogsites because I believe that the residents of Lonehill deserve to have their say in an unbiased, uncontrolled and uncensored environment, free from the machinations of any one person. Why must the residents of Lonehill be subject to the editorial abuse of anyone? A classical case can bee viewed by the readers of this blog by looking at the snyed remarks ..."If the hat fits wear it ...." added by Nel, using his position as blog controller, that were authored by him and added immediately after my last letter under the heading "LRA Director Responds". Come on Lonehill we can all do better than this.
J Berdou
Fellow Lone Hill Resident
LRA Board Member
Am pleased to respond to j Berdou's points in the order made:
1. The community may well actively support their representative organisations if they were openly encouraged to participate in whatever way they can and if such organisations were open, transparent, and fully inclusive.
2. An open community should be able to ask and receive straight answers to simple questions.
2.2. Being public meeting documents, those who cannot attend such meetings should be able to have the presentations, documents, and answers to questions posed, posted online.
3. This writer consistently challenges mediocrity, poor service delivery, autocracy and arrogance (especially that of massive assumption). Some don't like the status quo being rocked and/or their comfort zones being exposed. For me, 'eradication and prevention of crime' is precisely what we want to SEE as ACTION happening in Lonehill... and not just lip service. Then we're on the same wavelength.
4. Great idea, for those that want to be SAP Reservists. Please enjoy your contribution to your community in whatever way you want to do it. However, there are probably many more who don't want anything to do with the concept of confrontation, guns, and violence, who may want to participate in other ways without fear of ostracism for not conforming to their 'leaders' whims. Otherwise known as the right to freedom of association and expression.
5. Blogger is an open blog site resource that anyone can establish at any time. The LRA and/or j Berdou can establish one in minutes and we will happily link their blogs to this blog. A blog will always have a blog administrator. This blog is totally open to anyone who wishes to comment and/or reply on matters pertaining to Lonehill from their personally-responsible points of view or opinions and, apart from moderating to restrict the indecent, is not subject to deliberate 'editorial control'. Also see www.lonehill.ning.com for a new Lonehill social networking forum concept. An informed community is one that communicates openly.
Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790
The following needs to be addressed to T Nel concerning his latest response:
1. The LRA, created by the residents of Lonehill in response to crime, is open to any resident of Lohehill at any time and all contributions are welcome in whatever form such contributions may take.
2.Obviously a community can ask any question it wishes and the responder has the same freedoms. Just because a response is not in the desired format or timeframe of the asker doesnt mean that the organization in question isnt transparent or credible.
3.Anyone wanting to view financial or other documentation presented at public feedback sessions but was unable to attend same is quite free to contact the LRA offices and request such information as many residnets have done. A viewing of the new LRA website soon to be on line and the Lonehill Residents Association magazine also carry details of potential interest to residents.
4. There is absolutely nothing wrong with challenging mediocrity or the status quo and there is no doubt a real time and place for such activities. But with being a member of a community comes a responsibility to use ones giftings and talents and functions to the betterment of such community, to encourage those serving and to help where one can. Sarcasm, derision, personal agenda, character assassination, ridicule, arrogance, and the like have no place in same and the participants would be better advised to rather find another community in which to plough their trades.And yes judgementalism in the form of who decides what is lipservice and what is not, forms a part of such anti social behaviour especially when same is applied to members of ones own community who have just as much at stake when it comes to personal security as the critic.
5.Concerning the SAPS Reservist matter, I find it interesting that Nel is of the opinion that many Lonehill residents are not willing to confront crime but would rather contribute in other ways.The fact is that for crime to be eradicated in our community, WE ALL must be prepared to confront it in all its forms and yes this will take courage and yes it will involve risk and yes it will mean operating outside our comfort zones. Thats why the initiative has been launched, because we the LRA are NOT content with mediocrity, avoidance and baseless criticism but rather stand and be counted. Thats when crime will truly be defeated, not by blogs, social clubs and armchair critics!
6. As for Blogger and Ning, these are sites controlled by Nel, who solely decieds on editorial content, controlls prominence of responses, always has to have the last say and then goes on to state that there is no editorail control. Well now Who is Fooling Who?
J Berdou
Fellow Lonehill Resident
LRA Board member
Am pleased to continue the discussion in response and to seek clarification. Will respond in reverse order to points made:
6. Blogs are designed for on-going discussions and by default no one has 'the last say'. And, I cannot state it any clearer in my previous point 5. response above. Extract: 'This blog is totally open to anyone who wishes to comment and/or reply on matters pertaining to Lonehill from their personally-responsible points of view or opinions and, apart from moderating to restrict the indecent, is not subject to deliberate 'editorial control'. This very discussion is proof positive of that.
5. Please clarify. Are you saying that unless we all become SAP Reservists and/or 'confront crime' with 'courage', accepting 'risk', and being open to physically 'operating out of our comfort zones' that we do not conform to this LRA's version of 'stand up and be counted'? Does our financial contribution to the LRA process count for nought in puchasing us the professional proactive protection we expect of our security service provider? And, there will be many social revolution historians/students that will point to examples of massive social change brought about by the type of information shared by 'blogs, social clubs and armchair critics'. I certainly don't underestimate the power of intellect in communication, discussion and debate.
4. Hmmm... the innuendo in the above point 4. is both too pointed (clearly aimed at self) and non-specific in nature (lacking in direct example) for me to provide any helpful comment... save perhaps to say that the LRA and its directors should be open to criticism from those who are its paying clients. I wonder if there is anywhere else in the world where a director of any organisation would react to their paying clients and/or publics in this manner.
3. Quoting your response I have requested copies of the financials/documents presented for a second time this morning... together with a courtesy note of questions outstanding for over 77 days... and counting!
2. What is considered a reasonable timeframe to await straight answers to simple questions? And, I think you should read http://www.chrisjenson.org/2008/08/authenticity-starts-with-transparency.html to recognise where misunderstandings arise when it comes to perceptions of credibility and transparency. In my book, people who do not provide straight answers to simple questions lack in both credibility and transparency.
1. Not quite the point that I made, still... let's put your point to the test - 'open to any resident of Lohehill at any time and all contributions are welcome in whatever form such contributions may take'... I have a service marketing model project which may well add anything from R100,000 p.m. to R500,000 p.m. to the LRA coffers for purchasing further security protection in our community that can take root over a 12 to 36 month period and lasting in perpetuity... I will be happy to share the model with the LRA by Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) and implement it under the LRA banner to target such revenues. The LRA can submit a list of any community security fund-raising projects that they plan launching in the coming 3 to 5 years and should any appear to be similar in nature I will not make such submission.
Regards
Trevor Nel - Lonehill Resident
011 - 705-2790
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