This blog makes reference to a presentation that was conducted on April 11, 2011 (my birthday) at Towson University. The guest speaker, one Dr. Robert Hamilton, is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) for the James F. Knott Realty Group, a commercial and residential real estate development company here in the Baltimore, MD area.
What really intrigued me by his presentation was not only the multitude of information that he provided regarding organizational behavior and leadership attributes, but specifically his excerpt on creating self-awareness. Dr. Hamilton broke down the basics of what his interpretation of self-awareness contained: 4 fundamental attributes that included Business Skills, Leadership Skills, Interpersonal Skills, and Intrapersonal Skills. Hamilton provided direct reasoning and ideas behind his ranking of importance of the 4 skill sets, along with real life examples (always a positive in a presentation).
What really struck me most was his reference to leaders and management figures in an awkward, but subtle fashion. Hamilton linked the two designations to an iceberg, ideally a large piece of ice that floats along in the Antarctica continent. As Hamilton explains, "typically, an iceberg only shows the top layers. A GREAT leader who really knows themselves reveals more of their iceberg to their colleagues and staff."
Taking a quick look at the picture, the viewer will notice that most leadership figures will present the highest points and valleys of their iceberg. The very rare leaders will have more of their iceberg floating above the water to expose their true leadership attributes. I'm not one who typically examines, rather describes, a physical reference made within a presentation but I felt this was fitting. Moreover, I am originally from Minnesota where after 4-5 months of a 'short' winter, the spring will emerge and the lakes will become floating mirages of what could be seen as "mini-icebergs" to those unfamiliar with the natural occurrences.
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