Reflections for 'How to start a movement' - Carine

I think I totally agree with the author. What is a leader without his followers? He would just be leading himself, and that is not a movement.  With followers, the impact is greater and more can be achieved. In addition, the first follower is always the most important because he is the one who tips the balance, who gives the message that it's alright to join the movement, and this encourages more people to join.

Firstly, leaders should be praised for their outstanding courage. It takes a certain amount of bravery to go against the rules, to challenge the norms of society and attempt or start something new, without anybody by your side.  It takes courage to stand by your ideals when the world tells you no.  There is always the risk of being ridiculed, laughed at or ostracised, but leaders should be admired because they persist on despite this.  Many of us shy away from anything that could make us the laughing stock of our peers but leaders don't.  Therefore, leaders have a great amount of personal strength that we can all learn something from.

The first follower is also worthy of praise.  When he sees the leader starting a movement, he joins in even though he knows he would be seen as a weird person for his actions.he might be ridiculed or laughed at, but he still joins the leader.  This really takes courage. Furthermore, this action alone lays the foundation for more people to join.  As the number of people increases, it slowly becomes the norm to join the movement and instead, those who don't are considered not 'part of the in-crowd'. All these is only possible because of this first follower's actions.

An example of a leader - Marthin Luther King Jr, leader of American Civil Rights Movement

However, all credit is given to the leader. What about the behind-the-scenes people, the followers? They deserve the credit too because without them, there would be no movement. This also goes to show that even though not everyone in a team, organisation or movement gets recognised, but they are equally important. 

I also learnt from this video that in order to achieve more, each and every person has a part to play. Teamwork and cooperation within a team can achieve anything.

Reflection on TED video

After watching the video, I learnt that it takes courage to be a leader, and that the very first person to follow the leader is the most important. To start an initiative as a leader, one needs followers. Without followers, he would not be able to do anything alone. Also, without followers, one is not a 'leader' at all. Here, he might look like he is just playing around. However, when someone starts following, it makes his efforts worth something, as there is someone with him, supporting him. The next few people would join in, as they would not be embarrassed, even if they do things out of the ordinary, as they are not alone. People would continue joining, and soon, joining it would be the norm, where not joining, instead, makes one the odd one out. 

From here, I learnt that, if one wants to become a leader, he has to have followers. Without followers, leaders have nobody to lead. In school, we are trained to become "future leaders", however, we must never forget our followers, the ones who made leading people to our ideal possible. Without them, nothing would ever work out. 

Saffren's reflection on the TED video (shirtless dancing guy)

First, I would like to applaud this guy's (let's call him Bob first) bravery. For Asia's customs, being shirtless outside already is a unsightly scene for us. For "kiasu" Sinaporeans, we have this amazing app/website - STOMP. At the first sight of a dancing shirtless guy, STOMPers would, of course, whip out there mobile devices or camera, STOMPing the scenario, thus humiliating Bob. But come to think of it, the person filming the video is almost like our Singaporean STOMPers. Bravery is the key to Bob's  shirtless dancing, HATERS BACK OFF!

Back to the real point, what we learn from Bob is the leadership. I'm very sure all leaders are very brave to take the risk facing humiliation at some point of time. Bob was dancing shirtless, which could either invite followers or cause humiliation. For leaders, they risk a starting of a project, inviting followers or cause humiliation. The leadership is very important by selling themselves where following one was worth it. Thus, a huge part of leadership is to invite followers, or the whole project may fail.

What was also mentioned in the video, was that the first follower is always the key person to success. With this first follower, the second follower will be convinced to join in the campaign, and subsequently, the third, fourth and so on. This is how one gain followers. Without this first follower for Bob, it is very unlikely that more and more people will join in, making a fool of himself. Without this first follower, he is just the idiotic dancing shirtless guy.

As the leader of group six, I do understand what is in for me as part of the job. Without my fellow group mates, we would not have gotten our desired marks for CID. Without their cooperation, we would have made it this far as today. In just one day, we would be in our place of destination - Taiwan! 

Reflection about "How to Start a Movement" video and equidistance activity

  In the video, Derek Sivers, the speaker, tells us the importance of the "first follower". I find what he said to be incredibly true. To lead, one must risk being embarrassed and mocked at for what he or she is doing. The first follower helps convince others that the leader's actions make sense in some way and thus have them join in. More people will join and eventually a movement will be formed. If not for the first follower, a lone leader is nobody but a someone with a opinion. As seen in the following picture, not everyone has their hands raised but some do. Those with theirs hands raised will influence those who haven't to do the same. Similarly, the first followers will influence others to also join in.

  However, all credit given will go to the leader and usually no one else. clearly shows how some people are not noticed for the important roles they play or played. This applies to many situations in life, not just being a leader. Let us not take things and people for granted.

  In the equidistance activity, we were told to split into two groups. We then had to choose two people from the other group and make sure we were in the middle of both of them. Should this game be played properly, it would never end, since the adjusting of one person would lead to the adjusting of another, a never ending cycle. What this game shows is that we all are inter- dependent. No one is an island and we have to change for others. In the society, we will all rely heavily on others and others will to rely on us. Therefore, we have to carry out our duties and responsibilities well in order to ensure the smooth flow of things.

Video source: http://www.ted.com/talks/derek_sivers_how_to_start_a_movement
Image source: http://soilmag.com/top-qualities-of-a-great-leader/