Airport Security and Leadership

Travel today has become much more difficult than in past years. Travelers must allow for more time to enter the airport and to go through airport screening. Airports today are faced with the daunting task of operating a business while always keeping screeners alert of any suspicious activity. The September 11th tragedy will forever be etched into the minds of many of us. As a result, airport security is faced daily with the difficult task in trying to detect individuals armed with deadly devices in hopes to ward off terrorists from repeating September 11th events. It is becoming increasingly difficult with technological advances being made every day. This is making their jobs nearly impossible at times. Recently this was put to the test at the Tampa International Airport when a screener failed the check when a covert tester strapped a fake bomb to his back. The tester claimed his metal knee caused the metal detector to go off and the screener did not pursue it. The reason they stated was that screeners may be vulnerable towards travelers with handicaps and sometimes not willing to perform unobtrusive searches. The screeners are typically shocked that they have failed the test. The good news is that the TSA pulls such screeners off the line and they are put through training before allowed back on the lines. The emphasis is not on individual failures, but on the system as a whole. Therefore, I gladly plan for more time to travel. I grab a good book, while keeping thoughts in the back of my mind, knowing it is better than the alternative.

Social Networking-A Tool in Leadership

What are my thoughts on social networking as a leadership tool? It is quite different than what I first thought a few weeks ago. I must admit I was a bit skeptical prior to this class. The class I am taking currently has exposed me to a site, LinkedIn that can be quite useful for anyone looking to jumpstart their career or connect with others with similar interests. You can post or search for a job, connect with old friends (some you may wish to forget), find services, and more. It seems like a good idea to involve yourself in social networks, especially if you are looking to change careers or find a job. Connections also can tell you whether an employer is fair or not. This sometimes is hard to find out, particularly if you are new in town. Kiva is a great site to visit if you are able to help fund a loan for a working, needy person. This organization connects individuals with the means to sponsor the poor. If you are interested in getting involved and help others, visit this site. It sure is a humbling experience to read how others are struggling and for very little money can make a difference in their lives.

Virtual Classroom ( What Fun!)

This was a great experience, one of the best classes I have sat through. We had some minor technical problems with the video, however we still were able to interact with our instructor, Jeff and his guest presenters. The power point could have worked better, it was a little hard to read, other than that the class was informative and a riot. Who says you can't have a little fun while learning? It helps having an instructor with a good sense of humor. The guest presenters also had fun and made the experience interesting. I look forward to my next virtual class.

Doodle aka Roxie

This is my daughter's cat and she really

isn't as evil as she appears. However, Licorice our first feline doesn't quite feel the same way about her presence. Lets just say they keep their distance from each other.

Leadership in an E-World

Leadership in today's world is in a much better position than ever in terms of communication. In order to keep up with the fast paced environment and to remain competitive within the marketplace, leaders need to be able to communicate at any given time and anywhere within the world. This is possible today due to the increase in electronic devices and improved technology to carry out many tasks. In doing so, leaders must be comfortable with using electronic devices in the day to day work environment. They need to be able to stay abreast of technological advances. More people today are working in romote locations that require the use of electronic communication to accomplish their work. Along with having the ability to reach out to people, there is an increase in collaboration between businesses. This seems to be on the rise and is supported by improved technology. Finally, to stay competitve within the marketplace, leaders must have the means to quickly communicate a shift in vision or strategy to his or her people. In doing so, this will help keep the business profitable and the people more productive which is needed to sustain their place within the market.