#45 - A HERO SOLUTION?

ISSUE #45

By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third by experience, which is the bitterest. - Jon Stewart

Mavericks: all of us on the IkoCiti Platform

Maveriqs: those who produce Peoples' Impact and rebuild the barrio they live in

Barrionistas: positive people living in the Barrio supporting the Maveriqs

SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL AWARENESS

In the last posts, we explored various alternatives for our organizational structure. What became clear is that the structure must fit the leadership style which in turn must fit the Mavericks’ culture based on the PI principles. Not surprisingly, we concluded that our leaders should possess high social and emotional intelligence.

You start with leadership and then you spread it around. Social/emotional intelligence must be a critical factor throughout the platform. Even as a selection criterion for the WiserCrowds Ecosystem of affiliated innovators/entrepreneurs offering services to the Mavericks and the Barrio.

WISERCROWDS

The WiserCrowds Ecosystem is a crucial part of the platform. As a platform, we encourage interactions between different groups but we do not develop training modules, products, or services when there is a third-party equivalent. Our job is to find interesting services (products) and allow Mavericks & Barrionistas to choose freely.

How do we select potential third-party services?

All Mavericks can introduce a service they feel is worthwhile. We gamify these introductions a bit. If the introduction fails the selection criteria, the Maverick will be penalized by subtracting Wiser$$ from their wallet. If it makes the cut, then they receive an upfront reward and a small percentage of the turnover of the service.

The services listed on the WiserCrowds Exchange need to comply with the selection criteria but it is not a qualitative judgment. Qualitative judgments will materialize later on when the Mavericks start using the services. Through surveys, they rate the services as the basis for our ranking. In a way you could say that the qualitative judgment of the services is based on the collective intelligence of the platform; not controlled by the few but by the many.

GENERAL SELECTION CRITERIA

1. The service complies with the PI principles

2. It boosts social and emotional intelligence

3. It is not inextricably linked to the service provider

4. It is easily be captured into a digital module

5. It allows for a learn-by-doing experience

6. It defines clearly the knowledge requirements

7. It connects thematically with other modules

N.B. These criteria need to be defined more precisely.

We do not ask Mavericks to do an in-depth review of the services. They introduce the service by filling out a short survey.

On the other hand, innovators/entrepreneurs need to present their solutions in some form of a one-pager introduction that describes the HOW in broad lines. We know this all too well because IkoCiti has to do the same. It is not easy to do but nobody is going to read the 500.000+ words of content underlying our venture (blueprint/book). It is all about the one-pager highlighting the How.

HEROic LEADERSHIP

I read an article about HEROic Leadership from the author Melonie Boone. I am impressed by her driven personality. She is exactly the kind of person IkoCiti loves to collaborate with.

I’m convinced HEROic leadership holds immense promise for the future of the American workplace and is a well-kept secret in leadership development. [Meloni Boone, Ph.D.]

My knowledge about leadership development is below par (my bad) and that might be the reason that I am confused about her statement that Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism (HERO) are well-kept secrets in leadership development. Here I am thinking that these terms might not be as old as Methulasem but still pretty mainstream in the 21st Century.

Fred Luthans is considered a father of organizational behavior and pioneered the study of positive psychology in the workplace. He took the idea of positive leadership one step further with his colleagues and developed a leadership model encapsulating a positive leader’s main characteristics. Today this model is known as HERO. The acronym stands for Hope, Efficacy, Resilience, and Optimism and is the basis of what I call HEROic leadership. [Meloni Boone, Ph.D.]

At IkoCiti, we feel that the battle against GenPoverty should be placed within a positive psychological environment. There is no doubt about that. The quest is to find approaches that work for our Maveriqs. Our existential success is not in the hands of our leaders but in those of the Maveriqs.

• Hope, our ability to persevere toward goals, and when necessary, redirect our paths to succeed

• Efficacy, which means having the confidence to assume and put forth the necessary effort to succeed at challenging tasks

• Resilience illustrates how we can sustain, bounce back, or excel even when adversity rattles us.

• Optimism, which refers to our ability to expect our plans to succeed now and in the future [HEROic Leadership]

How do we raise confidence, resilience, perseverance, or optimism in our Maveriqs?

If our Mavericks/Barionistas become (are) confident, and optimistic with the ability to persevere in challenging circumstances, then we already have won half of the battle.

SECOND IMPRESSIONS

The author seems to pitch the book HEROic Leadership and her solutions by stressing her academic career and business experience. Impressive but I keep struggling for the specific answers I need. Of course, I should read the book for the answers but our selection process has to be built on second impressions.

• Does the book describe an actual method to increase HERO in people?

Or

• is it a method to increase the awareness of leaders to include HERO in their judgments of their employees?

This is a fundamental difference. We seek a method of the former - to increase HERO in our Maveriqs. Why? One of our key assumptions is that Maveriqs/Barrionistas struggle with the HERO attributes for a multitude of reasons.

Knowing the HOW and being able to demonstrate it equals a breakthrough I mean that would be like finding a cure for …. you name it. It would be BIG.

Well, the best thing to do is to contact Melonie and ask her HOW her approach can change the lives of our Maveriqs.

In the meantime, we keep building IkoCiti in public.

THE END