Houston New Media

24-Dec-08 11:00 AM

To be a leader is to understand that you must transcend being good at just functional and analytical (or problem solving) tasks.

You must be able to build relationships that enable you to create a fabric of personal contacts that will provide you support, feedback, insight, resources, and information. That’s called networking!

Leaders are great networkers and can work effectively with a diverse array of people. We all must become leaders. To that end we must simultaneously learn three types of networking:

1. Operational Networking -The group of people we can depend on to make things happen. It’’s the quality of relationships — the rapport and mutual trust — that gives an operational network its power.
2. Personal Networking – Links with people with whom we have something common. This is done through professional associations, alumni groups, clubs and personal interests communities. These contacts provide important referrals, information and often-developmental support such as coaching and mentoring.
3. Strategic Networking – The key to a good strategic network is leverage: the ability to marshal information, support and resources from one sector of a network to achieve results in another. Strategic networkers don”t just influence their relational environment; they shape it in their own image by moving and hiring subordinates, changing suppliers and source financing, lobbying to place allies in peer positions, and even restructuring their boards to create networks favorable to their business goals.

Bottom Line: Leaders understand the alternative to effective networking is to fail. You simply will not reach a leadership position or you will not succeed at leadership without effective networking skills.

*Harvard Business Review, January 2007, “How Leaders Create Networks”, Hermina Ibarra and Mark Hunter.

When groups accomplish things it is a result of these three factors having been in place:

Purpose, Direction and Motivation. These are the basic tenets of Leadership.

It is taught by the boy scouts, taught by the military. It is the difference between Obama and Hilary.
In intellectual warfare, groups and even whole armies are sabotaged by merely introducing uncertainty around the group’s purpose, direction, or motivation. It is that simple, and that powerful.

Purpose, Direction and Motivation happen on the personal level as well as on the group level, and at any level of task within a project.

Whenever a group does not mesh and things do not happen as planned you can bet it is because one of these factors is missing. This is why many projects are started and yet abandoned.

At the same rate, to ensure any team or organization’s success it is as simple as making sure the team has purpose, direction and motivation and that its members have a common goal, work interdependently and act accordingly.

Even in teams or organizations with weak leads, if the team understands these things it can still succeed because the goal is greater than the individual, and the passions which motivate the team are stronger than the weakest or even most stubborn of leaders.

For example, if a team is low on direction but high on purpose and motivation, it can find a direction and succeed. If the team is low on motivation but high on purpose and direction, it can find motivation and have success. Although this does not come without its challenges,  understanding the basics of leadership and teamwork is a tremendous benefit to anyone who finds them self in any type of leadership role.

The HYPA Fire + Ice Gala

Saturday, January 24, 2009

Houston Young People for the Arts plays it cool with a HOT event…

Contact: Lauren Lovell, PR Representative

713-828-6123, lauren.b.lovell@gmail.com

Heather Pray, Event Coordinator

713-658-8938, heather@downtownhouston.org

HOUSTON, TX… Houston Young People for the Arts (HYPA) announces their largest fundraiser of the year, the 3rd annual HYPA Gala: Fire & Ice on Saturday, January 24, 2009 from 8 p.m. to 12 midnight at one of the hottest new venues in downtown, Houston Pavilions. The Fire and Ice Gala will take place on the third level in and around the sky ring and feature performances by musical guest Glasnost, fire dancers from Luminosity, ice sculptures and more! True to form, the HYPA Fire + Ice Gala is quickly becoming one of the most anticipated parties of the year. It’s a HOT ticket…excuse the pun.

The entertainment choices, from local fire dancers to ice sculptures, speak to the passion and purpose of HYPA and spotlight the artistry present here in Houston. Musical highlights of the evening include DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives and the local indie electronic band Glasnost, known for their unique sound and multi-layer live performances. Featuring both electronic and live instrumentation, buoyant dance beats, layered vocals and the influence of bands such New Order, Glasnost proves a great example of the local talent offered by Houston.  

“We’re fortunate to live in such a culturally rich city and the synergy between the arts scene and the business community is amazing. I am happy to be part of an organization where we can showcase and support all that is happening in the Houston arts scene and ensure that it continues for many years to come, “says HYPA co-founder Heather Pray. Dedicated to their mission of connecting young professionals to the wealth of local art and artists in Houston, HYPA presents their largest fundraiser of the year with the sponsorship of Houston Pavilions, Houston magazine, McCormick & Schmick’s – Houston Pavilions, Stockholm Krystal Vodka, LD Systems, Reprogram Music, Courtesy Valet, Avanti Transportation, Fit Athletic Club, Bikram Yoga Houston, GABE, Robeks Juice, Ice Designs, St. Arnold Brewing Company, Continental Airlines and Advantage BMW. “It’s an honor to be working with HYPA on one of the freshest events of the year, a great start for 2009,” Says Kim Castillo of Reprogram Music. Karen Mulville, General Manager of Houston Pavilions says “As a new venue, we’ve been very well received by Houston. We’re glad to be able to give back by supporting organizations like HYPA.”

Tickets for Houston Downtown Alliance and Houston Young People for the Arts members are $50, $75 for non-members. Each year HYPA also offers an additional ticket package to encourage new participants; for $100 young professionals receive a ticket to the gala and a one year membership to Houston Young People for the Arts. Visit http://www.downtownhouston.org/ or call 713.658.8938 to purchase your tickets.

Houston Young People for the Arts (HYPA) is a committee of Houston Downtown Improvement, a 501(c)(3) organization of Houston Downtown Alliance that promotes living, working and playing in Downtown Houston through established programs including the Houston Theater District, Live Downtown Initiative, Emerging Leaders and Houston Young People for the Arts. Houston Young People for the Arts aims to promote the visual and performance arts; to advance awareness of current events in the Houston art scene, particularly among young people; and to collaborate with governmental and not-for-profit organizations to achieve these goals.

For more information visit http://www.downtownhouston.org or HYPA’s blog at http://www.houstonarts.org.

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16-Dec-08 4:00 PM

Special offer for Friends & Family of our Houston Rockets Season Ticket Holders and Group Leaders! 

Save up to 50% on select sections!

Call: Stephen Jones @ 713-758-7293

11-Dec-08 12:00 PM