Chapter 8

  1. What are the three main ways to become the leader of a group?
  2. Name someone you know, yourself or someone else, who fits each one of those categories, and briefly explain.
  3. Look at the list on page 130. Which of those skills or traits do you have, or could you learn?
  4. Complete the activity on page 131, top.
  5. What did Chavez do to improve his rating as a leader?
  6. What did Alexander the Great do to improve his leadership?
  7. What are the four things that people want from their leaders?
  8. Which of those do YOU feel is MOST important? Explain.
  9. Why does a leader need to communicate effectively?
  10. What is a common complaint made by employers about new hires?
  11. Do you think they are justified in general? Would you fit that complaint mold?
  12. Read through the example of Margot… answer the question at the end of the passage (133)
  13. GROUP ACTIVITY (4 people) Page 134 gives guidelines for how to run a meeting. Adapt this to a specific, political, scenario. For instance, write up the procedure for a group that plans to run for school office as a team (instead of running alone for each office, you’ve decided to run as a team of President, VP, Treasurer and Secretary).For each part, where the book gives general instructions, such as “call the Meeting”, you will actually put down the details. So, instead of “Set a date” you would write: Meeting to be held at 4:00 P.M. in room 214. Continue through each stage.

Page 137-138 and PROJECT

14. Although it seems like being a leader would have higher importance, does the textbook make you feel that there is something wrong with being a team member (follower)? Explain.

15. Look over the list of team members’ roles and duties. When you have been a team member, which of those do you have the most trouble with?

16. Look over the list of problem team members. Do NOT name people who fit those categories, but DO state if you have had experience with each.

17. Complete the activity at the bottom of page 138.

PROJECT:
Note; each speaking opportunity must be delivered by a different member of your team.

  • Choose 1-3 people to work with. You will be running together as a cooperative mayoral body of an imaginary town named Breadedfishville. It is on a river that is rich with fish. The town has a population of 150,000. People hold all sorts of jobs, some are poor, some are rich, most are sort of in the middle. Most work in the breaded fish industry, either as fishermen, in the factory, PR, clerks etc. The town has a clinic, a school, a post office, two supermarkets, a park, two newspapers, a small theater, a bookstore, a volunteer fire department, a sanitation department, a park. Figure out what else a small town would need! Sit down with the cartographer from each group, and draw a map of the town.
  • Choose your group’s platform, the main emphasis which your campaign will take. Pick 2-3 central issues your cooperative government body will work toward.
  • Write up a speech that would be delivered at town hall, in which your group sets forth your reasons why you should be nominated. (short, 2-3 minutes). Decide who in the group will deliver this speech.
  • Design a campaign poster, incorporating a slogan that fits your group’s central issues.
  • Prepare questions for a debate between your group and a second group running for the same office (10-15 questions)
  • Prepare answers.
  • Be prepared to answer questions that another group has prepared.
  • Choose who will be the debater (not the same person who gave the nomination speech)
  • Prepare a TV ad for your team.
  • Prepare a radio ad for your team.
  • Your team has been elected! Write the acceptance speech (2-3 minutes). One of your team members will deliver this speech.
  • Time to get to work on those issues! With your team, discuss, in a nicely organized meeting, how to go about resolving one of the issues you came up with. Follow the guidelines for running a meeting!
  • Get the town involved—deliver a short TV spot in which you address your public, and get their involvement. Use all the tools of the trade to reel the townspeople in get them involved.
  • Deliver a motivational speech at the local high school, in the middle of the mall, and somewhere else. At these speeches, you may all speak, or alternate.
  • HAVE FUN!