DPLS 772:  Leadership and the Art of Presence

3 credits Spring 2010

 

Tilford 115

Class Times:  Friday 6-10pm 1/15, 1/29, 2/5, 2/19, 3/5, 3/19, 3/26, 4/9.

6:00PM - 10:00 PM

Rev. Dr. Silvia Behrend

 

Office hours:  by appointment:  360 259 3971

Email: revdocsil@gmail.com

 

School and Department Theme Statement: 

The Doctoral Program in Leadership Studies and the School of Professional Studies at Gonzaga University seek to build "people for others," people able to define their own sense of identity, live within a moral framework, and articulate and advance social justice.

 

Course Overview:

Our mission is predicated on teaching to the whole person; mind, body and spirit.  This requires a dynamic pedagogy that unites the theoretical/conceptual with the experiential.   This class is specifically designed to explore the praxis of presence through creativity and reflection by grounding experience in theory. 

Transformational and servant leadership theories are clear about the need for the leader to undergo the personal process of self-awareness and transformation.  Their goal is not to transform others, which may be paternalistic or hierarchical, rather it is to use their own experience of transformation to lead with integrity and authenticity.  An end result might be that others experience transformation, but that would be a product of the leader providing possibilities for potential change - not mandating transformation.   It is the leader's authentic presence that offers others a glimpse into what may be possible for others.

Course Goals:

The goal of this course is to practice the art of awareness and presence in order to experience an authentic encounter between self and other. It is a process that requires self-knowledge and self-acceptance. This process is paradoxical: one must know the self (all of it), and learn to let go of the self to be fully present. We will engage this process I through direct experience and practice, with knowledge and knowing, with doing and being.

Creativity is one of the ways that the self can learn to become more present.  The act of creation requires the full attention of the self, at the same time that the self can disappear in the creative moment. 

This course addresses the issue of presence from three perspectives -

• 1. Creativity is a habit that is necessary to incorporate into our lives for success, regardless of occupation (Tharp).
• 2. Wisdom literature from the world's religions provide insight into the praxis of presence. (Hahn/ Mairs/Remen/Kornfield/Helmisnky)
• 3. Direct experience may create an environment for awareness and transformation to occur (Pottery)

Students will maintain a journal practice throughout the class.  These journals will not be shared with the class:  they will be sent to me by the due date noted in the assignment section.  All journaling is kept confidential.  Journaling means that you will sit and reflect on what you are reading, apply it to your own life and understanding and write no fewer than one full page and not more than three pages.  These journals can be done on your computer and sent to me via email or, if you prefer, you can hand in a written journal.  If you choose to write, please write legibly.  They will not be posted on Blackboard.  revdocsil@gmail.com is the email address of choice.

Class Structure:

Weeks 1-2   (January 15 and 29)

Class will meet on campus:  we will discuss and reflect on the themes of self/awareness and creativity. 

Weeks 3-5          (February 5, 19, March 5, 19) Off-Campus

Class will meet at The Clay Connection, where students will receive two hours of instruction and practice with wheel and hand throwing.  We will spend the last two hours at the studio in reflection and discussion.  Each student will be able create a finished piece.  The cost for this is $100.00 and includes everything you will need to complete your piece.  (Payable to the Clay Connection)

The Clay Connection

www.clayconnection.net

714 E Sprague Ave

Spokane, WA 99202-2124

(509) 747-6171

Get directions

Weeks 7-8 (March 26 and April 9)

Students will present a final project in class.

Final Project: Each student will create a presentation of no more than 20 minutes.  The presentation will integrate the student's personal philosophy of leadership with the theories of creativity and awareness in a creative and engaging way.  Do not rely solely on words.  Students may use art, film, food, movement, etc. We will discuss this more in depth in class. 

Required texts:

Helminski, Kabir. (1992).  Living Presence.  New York, Jeremy P. Tarcher.

Tharp, Twyla. (2003). The Creative Habit, Learn It and Use it for Life (New York, Simon and Shuster.

Recommended Texts:  Choose two from this list

Feldman, C & Kornfield J.  (1991).   Stories of the Spirit, Stories of the Heart:  Parables of the Spiritual Path from Around the World.  San Francisco:  Harper. 

Hanh. Thich Naht. (1990). Our Appointment with Life: Discourse on Living Happily in the Present Moment.  Berkley, Parallax Press.

Mairs, Nancy. (1993). Ordinary Time:  Cycles in Marriage, Faith and Renewal.

             Boston, Beacon Press.

Remen, Rachel Naomi. (1996). Kitchen Table Wisdom - Stories that Heal.

New York, Penguin Book.

Assignments:

January 15:  Helminski, Kabir. Living Presence.  This must be read prior to class.  Read and reflect on the definition of self/Self and what it means to you in your relationships at home, at work and in your studies.  Journal for a minimum of seven days and send to revdocsil@gmail.com by the 15^th. 

January 29:  Tharp, Twyla. The Creative Habit, Learn It and Use it for Life.

Tharp provides thirty exercises to get creativity going.  As you read the book,

choose the exercises that most speak to your life, do them and journal about the

experience.  Journal for a minimum of seven days and send to revdocsil@gmail.com by the 29^th. 

For the dates 2/5, 2/19, 3/5 and 3/19:  choose two of the four books recommended.   Use the stories and themes in the books that most speak to your ongoing experience with the art of presence and integrate that with the time spent in the pottery studio.  The books may be read in any order.  You will keep a journal on these reflections.  A week's journal is due on the dates below.

March 26 and April 9:  Final presentations due.  Based on the readings, your praxis in and out of the classroom, your journals and your own philosophy of leadership, create a twenty-minute presentation relying more on your creativity

than on the spoken word.  We will discuss this more in depth in class.

Date:	Assignment due:	Theme:
January 15	Journal on Helminski	Presence and Preparation
January 29	Journal on Tharp	Presence and Preparation
February 5	Journal on book of choice	Clay Connection  Begin Pottery
February 19	Journal on book of choice	Clay Connection Continue Pottery
March 5	Journal on book of choice	Clay Connection Continue Pottery
March 19	Journal on book of choice	Clay Connection Complete Pottery
March 26	Final Presentations	Integration of theories and praxis
April 9	Final Presentations	Integration of theories and praxis

The above is subject to change.

Contingency plan for school closure due to the flu.

In the hopefully unlikely event that the school will close due to the flu, there will be an alternate assignment posted on Blackboard.  It will most likely be watching a movie on the pertinent themes and writing about it, and/or discussing it on Blackboard. 

Grading and attendance:

Since it is impossible to grade subjective experiences, there will only be two grades given, an A or an Incomplete.   Because this is a highly participatory class, and especially as we will meet three times at the studio, attendance is crucial.  So unless you are ill, please plan your calendar accordingly. 

To receive an A students must:

• Send in all assignments on time. (If there are problems, please let me know and we can make arrangements)
• Attend every class (if there are extenuating circumstances, please let me know in advance)

Failure to hand in assignments and/or unexcused or excessive absences will result in an Incomplete.

If you have any special needs, please let me know in advance so that I can make the proper arrangements.

References

Behrend, Silvia. 2005. "The art of community, the community of art."    Doctor of Ministry. Meadville/Lombard Theological School.

Nachmanovitch, Stephen. 1990. Free play: The power of improvisation in life and the arts. Tarcher/Putman.

Palmer, Parker. 2004. A hidden wholeness: The journey toward an undivided life. San Francisco,

---. 2000. Let your Life speak: Listening to the voice of vocation. San Francisco: Jossey/Bass.