Welcome to the class blog for MGT 205!

We are beginning week two of the course and I'd like to to introduce you to the class blog. This blog has been created for three reasons.

• To give you another avenue to interact with one another and to build a community by posting your thoughts, pictures, links to your own blogs, etc.
• To introduce those that have not used blogs to the communication tool
• To give you an opportunity to earn extra credit points (Who could not benefit from a few extra credit points?)

To earn extra credit, post at least one thoughtful response to an article each week (weeks 2 through 5) to earn ten extra credit points. If you do not post at least one thoughtful response during weeks 2 through 5, you will earn 2 points per week that you post (weeks 2 through 5).

Class, start your blogs!
Michelle Vore

Asserting Yourself

Lisa Contini describes styles of communication and various ways to positively assert yourself when communicating in her book, Assert yourself.

"How often do you walk away from a situation thinking, [If only I had said...]? Was it because you clammed up or because you blew up? In either case, a prevalent afterthought is, [I need to manage my mouth better.] The truth is, though...your mouth usually isn't the problem-it's your thoughts that can get in the way."

Contini suggests that we should be prepared to be assertive by:

• Being mentally prepared
• Being in a supportive environment
• Using good timing

In your opinion, how can we become better mentally prepared, create a supportive environment, and use good timing to be assertive, yet professional, in situations that call for assertiveness.

Choosing Your Attitude

Lundin, Paul, and Christensen describe in their book, FISH!, how a manager leads and improves the attitude of her team by boosting morale.

There are several points in the book about leading employees to improve team results, but one in particular stands out to me and that is "choose your attitude."

"There is always a choice about the way you do your work, even if there is not a choice about the work itself."

Please share your thoughts about this statement.

Definition of Leadership

Stephen Covey defines leadership in The 8th Habit as "communicating to people their worth and potential so clearly that they come to see it in themselves." What is your definition of leadership?

Can Blogs Help Students?

Read the article, "Can blogs help students?" and share your thoughts about this. Do you feel using this technology in the online classroom would be helpful? If blogging would be helpful, in what ways would it assist you with learning? If blogging would not be helpful, please explain.