【報告】Global Leadership Training Program： Module.1【学習PF/Leadership】
Module.1 The Meaning of Leadership (5/23 Sat)
Hello everyone, on May 23rd, a total of eight sessions of Global leadership training program (GLTP) began.
In this post, we will introduce the participants’ impressions of the 1st class.
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Greetings! My name is Mina Konaka and I am delighted to be included as a participant in the Global Leaders Training Program (GLTP) 2020. I am a former 8th MEXT scholar recipient who studied abroad at International Space University (ISU) in the Netherlands (2018) and as an intern for an aerospace laboratory in Germany (2019) .
This year I commenced employment as a satellite engineer at the Japanese Space Agency (JAXA). The driving factor in my desire to participate in the GLTP was because I dream of pursuing a career as an astronaut in Japan. Astronauts are leaders with a broad range of responsibilities which span critical aspects such as multi-billion dollar mission successes, to the very safety and well-being of their international crew mates. The actions and abilities of astronauts are scrutinized on a global scale thus developing strong leadership skills is integral to an astronaut. As I ponder what being a leader is, it begs the question; is a leader someone who already has an inherent gift to lead people, or can one gain these leadership skills by some other means? My hope is that the GLTP may be the key to the latter.
Led by Zenn Urbi from Australia, our GLTP sessions are delivered in two hour course blocks which commenced on May 23rd 2020. Being that the GLTP is an international collaboration (something pertinent to astronauts 😉 it was amazing to see 77 people (including staff members and participants) from many countries including Egypt, Malaysia, Japan, Laos and many more come together to attend the Zoom meeting and take our first steps towards being better leaders. First, Zenn encouraged us to challenge our idea on what ‘leadership’ is and how to define it.
Our session was structured as such to first inspire us with media about good leadership and developing good relationships, before provoking us to think for ourselves by being divided into groups of 4-5 people encouraging us to openly exchange our ideas of leadership. This environment helped me develop my understanding of leadership and get new perspectives from others in my group. Chat rooms were opened where we discussed our personal exchange and experiences of leadership. Some key takeaways for me were:
Clear communication with others and willingness to lead people in a natural style, true to oneself is required, especially when one is living and interacting in a foreign culture.
Title or position doesn’t matter to be a leader. Great leaders can exist in a role or capacity and often emerge when and where they are needed most, including unlikely or unexpected places.
Good leaders find a balance between supporting themselves and their teams. Identifying and utilising the strengths and weaknesses in oneself is just as important as identifying those of the individuals in your team.
We concluded our first course with a paradoxical quote by Zenn “Leadership is not about you" and “Leadership is only about you". This really sets the scene for what I’m sure will be an engaging second module: “Get to Know Yourself" . Stay tuned!
About ”GLTP”
Global leadership training program (GLTP) aims to create and enhance a community of highly effective young leaders to empower and drive positive change in the world. GLTP will provide youth leaders first-hand experiences of global leadership, acquiring research-based leadership knowledge and theories, and the application of leadership skills in the real-world. The GLTP helps you prepare become the global leader of our tomorrow.
■Objects of each class
Module.1：The Meaning of Leadership
Module.2：Get to Know Yourself
Module.3：Get “The Right Stuff"
Module.4：Create Winning Ideas
Module.5：Get the Power to Rouse
Module.6：Getting Things Done
Module.7：Develop Your People
Module.8：Get the Extra Edge
Finally
The Tobitate Learning Platform will continue to implement plans as they become available.
We’ll be posting the latest information on our Facebook page, so please sign up!
Tobitate Learning Platform Page
https://www.facebook.com/groups/510055186514548/
What is the Tobitate Learning Platform (PF)…
This program aims to promote the continued growth of Tobitate students after their study abroad experience, create contacts and collaborations with companies that support them, and revitalize the Tobitate student community at the same time.
Reports from each class will be uploaded to the Tomarigi website every week.
See you soon!
( Edited by Akari Inada )