Having followers does not make you a leader.

Use of fear, threats, and loss are easy and quick ways to motivate employees. It also shines a spotlight on the lack of leadership skills for the one in charge. Fake leaders do not have the ability nor the desire to put in the work of leading, Instead, they turn to the quick and easy, justify it to themselves, and continue to build the facade around them.

Real leaders inspire, encourage, and allow for others to shine. Real leaders search for solutions, not accolades. Real leaders are as concerned about the means as they are the results knowing the latter very seldom justifies the former.

A real leader is a leader irregardless of whether or not they have followers. And, having followers does not make one a leader -- it simply puts one in charge.

houston@figment-consulting.com

The edge of failure

Don't be afraid to fail.

Many times it is at the edge of failure that imagination accelerates and breakthroughs occur.

houston@figment-consulting.com

Windowless Airplanes and Virtual Schools

Technicon France is re-imagining what it can be like to fly. Instead of thinking outside the box, they are throwing the proverbial box away. The result could be a fascinating journey the next time we take to the skies on a private jet. Who know, perhaps commercial airlines might be next.

The Future of Airplanes Could Be a Windowless Jet by Brittany Jones Cooper, Editor at Yahoo Travel.

How does this relate to virtual schools? Too many of them try to differentiate themselves by tweaking little things just like most commercial airlines do. Is there really a big difference between Delta and American? What about K12 and Connections Academy -- how different are they?

Technicon France is trying to change the flight experience as we know it. Imagine if United adopted a similar approach and utilized this technology -- in what ways would it alter the flying experience for passengers? Could it alter seat arrangements since there would be no windows? How would it benefit First Class passengers - could they utilize the technology for work while in flight? What could it do for Coach passengers - could the visuals provide a calming effect? The possibilities would definitely be expanded. More importantly, people would take notice of United.

In the world of virtual education where is the school that is re-imagining online learning in order to alter the paradigm instead of simply tweaking and hoping for better results? It can be risky out there close to the edge. Or, is it riskier to stay in the middle with everyone else?

Those in the middle seldom get noticed.

houston@figment-consulting.com