A521.1.4.RB - Stories in Your Organization

Describe a common story in your organization and discuss its implications on the organization. Does this story promote the goals and ideals of the organization? Does it help describe "who we are and what we stand for?" What is the story's impact on the culture of the organization?

I work for Boeing Commercial Airplanes and we have many, many stories in our organization. While reading Denning's chapters on storytelling in an organization, I thought of a couple that might work for this reflection exercise. I kept in mind who told the story and who the audience was and how it has impacted our business unit.

The first story I thought of is actually a collection of three stories that are part of our "Ethics Commitment" series. The video is usually viewed by a team and their manager, a group of 10-15 people in a classroom environment. The video has stopping places for discussion points and everyone gets a "My Learning" credit at the end. These videos are shown once a year and last about an hour. The video is composed of three stories, each one a tale of someone who didn't follow the ethics training and was either dismissed or counselled. One such story is about a young man who worked in the Everett facility and was so excited about working there that he constantly took pictures of his workspace, the airplanes, and the inside of the facility. Boeing has a very strict photography policy for pretty understandable reasons, our facilities are full of proprietary information that if leaked, could give our biggest competition a leg up. So this young fella was taking all of these pictures and posting them on his Facebook page. One of his co-workers saw these pictures on the social media site and went to her manager for advice. The manager thanked her for letting him know and the enthusiastic young employee was counselled on the photography policy and let off with a warning. Another story is of an employee who was working in one of our Boeing Defense facilities and was spending an extreme amount of time on the internet...not working. His co-workers had to take up the slack and were very resentful. The co-workers talked about their frustrations in the cafeteria and decided to speak up to their manager. The manager went to Human Resources to find out what the options were for dealing with this situation and after pulling the search record from the employee's laptop, decided that he should no longer work there. This employee was terminated because he was using company time and resources for personal use and we all were thus warned.

Both of these stories do speak to who Boeing is as a company and what we stand for. Boeing wants us to be proud of where we work, and looks for teachable opportunities first then if necessary, termination of the employee. Boeing wants to be fair to all employees, union and non-represented but as shown in the Defense facility, time is money and we all need to put in our best effort every day to be successful as a whole organization. These videos come across as a bit corny, and are acted out by employees. But while we as a team are all kind of snickering at the cornball acting and dialog, we do all engage in the discussions that the storytelling encourages. This is happening all across Boeing so I think the impact on the organization is huge.

We do also have quality videos that go out and messages that come out about the same time as the quarterly earnings are announced. The quality videos are set up much the same way as the ethics videos with three or four stories of actual events and how they impacted the business and what can be done to avoid these quality issues. The discussions about earnings are usually sent out as an e-mail from our Vice-President or CEO and while they talk about the billions of dollars we made, they also talk about where that money goes and how it is distributed. The talk always turns to our competition and how we have to spend a certain way to protect our future. This is usually met with groans of disbelief in corporate transparencies. (Like most large companies I'm guessing!) In all of those examples, getting the message out to over 100,000 employees stationed all over the world, is a heady task at best and I personally applaud them for even trying!

A500.9.4.RB - Course Reflections

This was my first graduate level class and I didn't know what to expect from it. I was a bit intimidated by some of the tools that we had to learn, specifically The Brain and I'm not sure exactly how to use the ePortfolio but I do see how each of those tools could be very helpful. The canvas format for the class was refreshingly simple to use and I really enjoyed the accompanying videos of TED lectures and the conspiracy theory web series. They were not only entertaining, but educational and memorable. The topics covered in this course went way beyond what I had imagined for critical thinking and research but it was awesome to dig that deep. This class was a great one to take first because of the introduction to so many great tools.

I should have been better with my time management. It is something I have struggled with...for always. Next semester, I'm going to set calendar reminders and tasks and stay on top of the assignments. I'm simply too old to pull an all-nighter when I procrastinate. Too. Old. Ha! I also missed out on some of the discussion board conversations because I posted later than recommended. I enjoy those boards because I end up learning something new or a new perspective on the week's topic. So, to improve my learning experience, I will be more disciplined.

Embry-Riddle and Prof. Watkins really did a stellar job with providing support this semester. I was in touch with my advisor and she go back to me super fast with responses and Prof. Watkins is compassionate and fair with her feedback - which was also given in a timely manner. That is very appreciated.

I start my next semester next weekend and will have a tough go of it until the end of the year but I will be able to confidently go into it with a plan and will have two semesters under my belt going into 2016. This is just the beginning!

A500.7.3.RB - Quantitative Research Reflection

Quantitative research is different from qualitative because it deals more with hard facts and the results of scholarly studies that test theories and make predictions based on statistics. While looking for a quantitative research article, I noticed that the articles were comprised of experiments and surveys, numbers and objectives and controlled responses. It reminded me about the differences between sociology and psychology courses. I had enrolled in a psychology course when working on my Associates degree in 2002. It was a 7pm - 9pm class two nights a week. Since I'm not nor never have been a typical college student...going back to school when I was 27, I was also working a full time job. That 7pm - 9pm slot was a risk to my ability to be at my 7am math class. (I was a glutton for punishment then too.) I went to this first class in psychology and the instructor was going over what material we would be covering. It started to dawn on me that psychology was a lot of numbers and scientific theories and studies that seemed very black and white. It was very controlled and I could see that there would be a lot more to this than I had imagined. I'm more of a creative person, right-brained I think it's called, at least most of the time. So, I didn't think that psychology was the class for me. It was the first class I ever withdrew from. A couple semesters later, I enrolled in a sociology class which was more relatable. There were observations, social studies on different cultures and it was fascinating to me to understand how we behave and function in the world we are born into, whatever that world is. I took an anthropology course around that time too and both of those classes touched my right-brained-ness in the stories that came out of it, and the subjectivity of those two sciences.

Quantitative research, at least what I found, was informative and was more about objective and conceptual tools and systems.

A500.8.3.RB - Good Presentation Design

You are working at your desk when suddenly a reminder pops up...15 minutes until the workshop report-out. Oh great. Another hour of your day wasted on some "death by PowerPoint" mumbled presentation that will only challenge your ability to stay awake. Awesome. You finish up your e-mail and head over to the largest conference room (oh great) and pray to the gods of meetings that they be merciful and kind. You look around the room and find a place where you can still Facebook on your iPhone but still kind of look like you're paying attention. The first speaker gets up and does not disappoint. He clicks through the PowerPoint in slow motion reading every bulleted point on the slide as if no one in the room is capable of comprehending his information any other way. There is no color, just an endless stream of black and white. Finally, after what seems like 50 slides and your "liking" several snarky memes on Facebook, the pain is over. That was crazy...the speaker droned on and on, no excitement, no personality, and absolutely forgettable. You hope that nothing important was said, although it would be hard to tell since it didn't seem like any point was more or less important that the others. Next up is another workshop participant who immediately grabs your attention. This presenter has put up a lively and interesting presentation that is colorful, professional, meaningful and brilliant. The bulleted points are just talking points and they are elaborated upon intelligently. There are different medias used and the examples are relatable and relevant. You forget all about the YouTube video of cats drinking out of the faucet you have queued up and really listen to what the speaker is saying. The important information is emphasized and there is even a quick question and answer segment because the presentation was timed to include that for the listeners. It was magical and you wish it had never ended! You look down at your clipboard and notice that you actually took notes! You actually learned something from the second presentation and you might even be able to help implement the idea because some of the help needed items are in your wheelhouse. The report-out is concluded and everyone heads back to their desks and there is a really cool collective vibe in the office because people are excited to get to work on this project.

And that is why good presentation design is important. A bad design is forgetful and loses people's interest. Whatever the presenter wanted to convey is lost and people just want it to be over. A good presentation design can grab the attention of the room and convey what the speaker wants the audience to know about their project. Putting the time and energy into thinking about the audience and what the presenter needs from them and then designing a presentation that appeals to the audience is pure art. It also creates an environment of synergy and excitement in the audience and when it's all over, the folks in the room leave with a positive attitude. Good presentation design is the well-oiled machine of success.

A500.6.3.RB - Qualitative Research

A500.6.3.RB - Qualitative Research
Now that you have read a bit about Qualitative Research, summarize the main elements of this research method in a Blogger entry. Make sure that you reflect on the prompt as it relates to your experiences and/or aspirations.

Qualitative research is defined as:

1. market research into the attitudes, concerns, and behavior of an organization's members in relation to the organization
2. research that gives detailed descriptions and explanations of the phenomenon studied rather than providing and analyzing statistics (Bing search, 2015)

The main elements of this type of research are "understanding and interpreting social interactions and behavior, specially chosen small groups over randomly selected large groups, words over numbers, using the subjective over the objective, observations and interviews instead of facts and surveys, open-ended questions over controlled responses and a narrative report versus statistical results. (Hunt Library, 2015)

In my experience working with qualitative research this week I have found this type of research to be more personal and relatable. Qualitative research and analysis is what I work with more often at work and it is refreshing to work with a more subjective type of research. It's possible to dismiss qualitative research in favor of the facts and data of the quantitative research but just because qualitative research works more with the sociology of the topic doesn't mean that it isn't valid. The best part of doing research, to me, is talking to people about their thoughts on lessons learned and ideas about the topic.

When my team goes to the shop in reaction to a problem or an anomaly that needs understanding, we start by asking questions. We interview the people impacted and get their side of the story. This is very subjective but by listening to the people impacted, you get a sense for what the real problem is and when we get to the part where we are analyzing the data collected, we can use the information garnered from the interviews to know how to best solve the problem for the people impacted. For example, we have an inventory system that is fairly reliable. Every so often, we have a mis-pick and something wrong goes to the downstream customer. If we were providing little widgets, this wouldn't be a problem. We supply gigantic kits for the wings of massive airplanes and when we send something wrong to a downstream customer, it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to rectify. This is a problem that needs attention. I am fortunate enough to be part of the team that is trying to automate the checklists and bring visibility to these post-production inventory stores. We were working on the software and gadgets we were going to use to solve this problem and all was going well. One day, we went to the shop to watch the part picking process when one of us asked one of the loaders about what he was doing. From this, we learned that we had started further into the problem than we should have. We started bringing at least one representative into the planning meetings for their practical experience and we have redirected our plan and found a really cool solution. By using qualitative research, we not only came up with a more meaningful solution, but we created ownership in the process with the shop personnel which will make implementation a lot smoother. 

My aspirations as a leader are to not forget the qualitative aspects of my job and provide meaningful solutions to conflicts. As an industrial engineer, I need to remember who the end user will be and make sure to interview them and listen to what they need. Facts and data are important to be sure...but getting the human element to the story will add depth, ownership and true direction to the process.

References:

https://www.bing.com/search?q=qualitative+research+definition&qs=AS&pq=qualitative+research&sk=AS6&sc=8-20&sp=8&cvid=
8e14fa36ff85479dbdb24b0909709318&FORM=QBRE&ghc=1

Hunt Library, 2015. http://guides.erau.edu/qualitative-quantitative

A500.5.3.RB - Critical Thinking about Critical Thinking

Take some time to reflect on the current state of your critical thinking competencies. Consider your thinking processes when you started the course. Have they changed at all? Have you been able to internalize any of the techniques and concepts you have learned? What will it take to make lasting, positive changes in the way you think?

When I started this course, I was fairly confident in my abilities as a critical thinker. I used to pride myself in being able to not jump at the first thing I heard or read but instead to step back and ask questions about what I was hearing or reading. It was a "trust no one" situation that sometimes made me seem combative and pessimistic but in my mind, at least I wasn't a "yes-man" at work. It wasn't a "pick your battles" situation either and I didn't realize that a person doesn't have to be all or none with critical thinking. This might be going to deep but upon reflection, it appears that sometimes, in deference to the "greater good" or the "bigger picture" one doesn't always have to be so critical. Knowing when to fold, for the greater good, is just as important as understanding why you folded. That in itself is critical thinking. I think.

My thinking processes are all over the map since I started this course. I thought I had a better grip on my intellectual intelligence and critical thinking skills. I am challenged but feel incompetent at times. I realized that I sort of go into most things (non-math related) feeling capable, not cocky just capable, but am often proven wrong. This isn't necessarily always a bad thing though. I am optimistic and ready to do the work but am not always ready for the amount of work needed to make up for what I thought I knew but indeed did not. So this is a learning curve and while I feel like my thinking processes are all over the map, I am optimistic that they will all lead somewhere and the journey will be cathartic.

I haven't really been able to internalize the techniques that we have learned as much as I would have liked because I've been on medical leave away from work for six weeks so my human interaction has been limited to my husband and a doctor or two. I am returning in three days and am (once again) optimistic that the techniques will prove helpful as I rejoin my team and help them navigate the craziness of our new director. It will be a true test because this director is absolutely insincere and doesn't listen to recommendations which is really demoralizing. He is headstrong, arrogant and difficult to work with most of the time. This being the case, he has requests of my team and we can counter those requests with inquiry but ultimately, we have to comply. The best way to do this, as I'm learning, is through the virtues of critical thinking like intellectual autonomy, intellectual humility, and confidence in reason. I'm sure that I will fail at times but I will get back up.

In order to make lasting changes in the way I think I will have to work very hard at not getting emotionally attached to my projects. This is going to be very difficult for me because, like anyone, I put my whole self into projects and things that are expected of me so when the work is ignored or rejected without explanation, it hurts. It shouldn't...but of course it does. I will need to work with my team and as a (little more) senior member, set a positive example for the newer folks and interns to follow. By expecting that of myself and working hard at trying to live the critical thinking virtues and traits...I might succeed in making a lasting change to the way I think.

A500.4.3.RB - Ballet Slippers or Adorable?

A500.4.3.RB - Ballet Slippers or Adorable? View the TED video (Links to an external site.) by Sheena Iyengar on the art of choosing. Dr. Iyengar assumes that Americans believe the following when it comes to making choices:

1. Make your own choices,
2. More options leads to better choices, and
3. Never say no to choice.

Reflect on these assumptions in your Leadership blog. Do you agree with Dr. Iyengar? What is the implication of her comments on leadership? Make sure to stay tuned through the end to see Dr. Iyengar's Action Research on pink nail polish.

Oh how I loved this video! Iyengar was brilliant to listen to and realizing that she is blind made her subject all the more provocative. I think that her three assumptions are mostly correct. However, do I think they are mostly correct because I genuinely agree or is it because that is what I have been told is the great thing about choice and therefore, those assumptions must be true? I watched every single episode of Mad Men (The AMC show about the advertising world in the late 1950's through 1970 in New York City.) and was shocked to see how even some of the most poignant ads we see on TV are all just a manipulative way to sell something. So, did Madison Ave ad execs tell me that those three assumptions are true or do I honestly believe that more options lead to better choices? Sheena Iyengar's points on the nail polish colors was absolutely wonderful. I love that when she took the labels off the bottles people thought that she was playing a joke on them and that the two colors were the same. The sales people used words like 'glamorous' and 'elegant' to sell her shades of nail  polish that were virtually the same thing. (And what does 'glamorous' or 'elegant' mean to someone who is blind? How do they qualify those descriptions?) I wonder how we would fair if we tested ourselves in this manner? What if we honestly and critically looked at the choices we made and asked ourselves why we made the choices that we did? Who is being fooled indeed!

Iyengar's story about the babies having the birth defect and the difference in culture where in America, the parents made the choice to remove the life support and in France, the doctors made the decision was absolutely mind blowing. The American parents couldn't even imagine the doctors making the choice for their baby but yet some of them felt as if they were made to be part of an execution. That is the truest example of what a double-edged sword choices can be. We, as Americans, are so aware of our civil rights and our right to choose that even when faced with making a choice that is heart wrenching, we'd rather have to suffer through that than have someone else make it for us. I think that the doctors in France were actually more compassionate to the parents by limiting the choice and taking that guilt upon themselves. I don't have children though so my perspective is purely hypothetical. This need to make these choices ourselves must come from a place of insecurity though. We need to have control at all times and someone else making a choice for us is taking that control from us and that is scary. God forbid any red-blooded American let someone else make choices for them...but don't we do that every day? We let advertisers and our peers make decisions for us all the time. We wear certain clothes and eat certain foods for a reason, yes? We just think that we make the decisions ourselves when in fact, we are choosing from a selection that has been made for us.

(Think "The Devil Wears Prada" -

 Miranda Priestly: 'Oh. Okay. I see. You think this has nothing to do with you. You go to your closet and you select... I don't know... that lumpy blue sweater, for instance because you're trying to tell the world that you take yourself too seriously to care about what you put on your back. ...[T]hat blue represents millions of dollars and countless jobs and it's sort of comical how you think that you've made a choice that exempts you from the fashion industry when, in fact, you're wearing the sweater that was selected for you by the people in this room from a pile of stuff."

Quoted from http://www.imdb.com/character/ch0009660/quotes )

When I think about choice, another thing that comes to mind is that dreaded soda machine that is in some fast food restaurants. I think it is full of Coke products but there are literally thousands of options on this touch-screen machine. I don't know how people aren't spending hours standing in front of this thing trying to figure out what they want. This machine gave me anxiety! I have navigated through the anxiety by just bypassing all of the choices and going straight for the Mello-Yello because to me, it is the most benign choice. Not only is it Mello...but it is Yello...and that is good to me. Too many choices, like this soda machine, are just too much. It feels almost decadent and indecent to live in a society where we spend time choosing from 4,700 soda options when across the world, a child is making pennies a day to make the shoes we wear and take for granted, or a single mother is trying to feed her children on scraps of leftover rice while going without food herself.

That being said...some choices are good. Never saying no to choice is tough sometimes though. There is a lot of unnecessary stress and pressure on Americans to make these truly pointless choices. But, I don't think I want to be told what to eat, when to sleep or what to do with my children. However, there should be a medium ground where common sense and control rule with a modicum of dignity. What Iyengar didn't discuss at length was the repercussions of our choices. (I know that probably wasn't part of the scope of her discussion though.) With less choices, or no choices, we relinquish responsibility for the choices we made or are made for us. Americans have virtually limitless choices in pretty much every aspect of our lives, but not everyone is aware of the accountability in our choices, for better or worse. When we purchase goods that perpetuate child labor, we need to take responsibility for that. When we buy local produce at a farmer's market, we are contributing back to the community. The awareness that comes from understanding that our choices have consequences help us become a more compassionate, educated and critical thinking society.

Back to the original question though, do I agree with the three assumptions Sheena Iyengar started with? I'm conflicted with conscience and awareness but do admit that having choices is better than not having choices! So after reflecting on choices, I'll admit to agreeing that those assumptions are correct in general but on an individual basis do vary.

A500.3.4.RB-Explore the Hunt Library

As you explore the Hunt Library (Links to an external site.), reflect on how you might use the Library as a resource for your studies. What makes a resource "scholarly" in nature?

How is the scholarly information you found in the library different from the typical information you find when you Google a leadership concept?


Upon exploring the Hunt Library site, I found the information and resources available to be vast. I was looking for an article on leadership and was able to do a fairly specific search of their archives. I also noticed that there is live chatting available for library questions. (The time of big drawers full of card catalogs is pretty much over!) This library gives me access to virtual documents and the ability to reserve a book from over 3000 miles away, to name just a couple of the resources available. I could use this library as a resource for many things during my studies such as getting help when trying to find a specific video resource for a paper, or looking at the many collections available to learn more about leadership styles or time management.


In my opinion, what makes a resource "scholarly" in nature is the content of the archives available to search. Scholarly resources can be proven and have validity. It may be a fallacy to believe that just because it comes from a college, the information is scholarly but if the college has well referenced and critically researched it's library content, it will show. If I were to search a college library's website and most of the articles came from Wikipedia, that content would be suspect. 


The scholarly information found in the library was much different and much more relative than had I just Googled "leadership". I would have had to search through many irrelevant articles and websites using up precious time. By using the Hunt Library, I was able to search their archives and get pretty specific as to what I needed. There is a lot of extraneous content to shovel through when you just Google something.

A500.2.3RB - Tell Your Story

A500.2.3RB-Tell Your Story: Answer the questions posed in question number 1 from the Tell Your Story area on page 162 of Learning to Think Things Through.
What are some standards that are most important in your life?
 
In this question, you can focus on either critical-thinking or non-critical-thinking standards (such as the ones on pages 153 or 154). For example, you might hold yourself to a standard of honesty, of ability in sports, of being a good sister or brother.

• How did you acquire those standards?
• How have they changed over the years?  

1. What are some standards that are most important in your life?


In my life, I try to be a decent person, to set a good example and not be mean or apathetic toward other people. In trying to be and do these things, some of the standards that are most important in my life are being consistent and reliable, spontaneous, ethical, loving and spiritual.


The critical-thinking standards 'reliable and consistent' appeal to my desire to set a good example to people I encounter in my life. I strive to be consistent in my integrity and in the level of work that I do. I want to consistently work hard, try to do the right thing, and ask the right questions. I want to be reliable in my words and actions. I want to be relied upon to do the right thing and be a decent person. I also want to be consistently compassionate and reliably kind. I acquired these standards by watching my parents and seeing what I admired in their work ethics and how they approached life. They both work very hard, my Mom finally able to retire after almost 35 years of teaching English and ESL. She became a National Board certified teacher in her 28th year of teaching. How many people continue striving for excellence even that far into their careers? It is a lot of work to become National Board certified, at least a year of preparation and putting together a presentation for review. I was there the day she got the news that her presentation had been accepted and that she was now certified to teach anywhere in the USA. She was ecstatic! She showed me that hard work and working for continuous improvement does pay off. My Dad is an airplane mechanic and has been working in this career for over 25 years. He is the guy that some people have trouble working with because he knows the books, he knows what works and doesn't work and he understands why quality checks and following the rules is important in his job. He sometimes works with people who want to take a shortcut and he isn't going to do that unless it is permissible and is the right thing to do. The work he does keeps people safe. He will not ever compromise when it could mean endangering anyone. It isn't fun always taking the long way and following the rules. I think of him when I'm at work and I really feel like taking short-cuts or doing less than awesome work. I always sigh deeply and with chagrin, do the right thing. It takes longer and it takes more effort, but in the long run, I can stand by my work and know I did the very best. I never regret that.


The non-critical thinking standards: spontaneous, ethical, loving and spiritual are how I want to live my life and as we know, are not essential to critical thinking. I can still be consistent while having fun or being spontaneous...which sounds contradictory but I believe it is possible. (Like being consistently inconsistent.) Trying to live my life ethically is important to me because ultimately, I'm the one who has to answer for my mistakes and actions. We are all where we are because of choices we've made, no matter the situation. I think that by living as ethically as I can, it is easier to accept where I am as the place I'm meant to be. Being a loving and spiritual person is also important to me. I saw how my grandparents lived and want to make sure that I'm following that example. They farmed in southeast South Dakota from post-war 1950's until about 2000. They worked very hard but didn't have a lot of money while raising their three children. They taught values of hard work and being honest to my Mom and two uncles. They all still follow the model of strong family ties and loving each other unconditionally...even if that means tough love. We were raised to know that material things weren't a guarantee but that love and spirituality were. No matter where I am in life, I hold onto these things and feel closer to my grandparents even though they are no longer alive. I guess the same could be said of the critical-thinking standards too...my grandparents set the bar there too.


These standards have changed over the years because I'm human and subsequently fallible and therefore must evaluate, do better, and move forward again. I think that's how it is supposed to be though, life is dynamic and if we don't grow and change with it, we really miss out. I'm not the same person I was when I was 21. When I was 21, my standards had to do with surviving the bar scene and paying rent on my crappy apartment. I was dealing with a crazy roommate and wanted more than anything for people to like me. Now I'm 41 and I'm a different person. I went through being a military wife, deployments, miscarriages, divorce, finding love again, remarriage, and trying to survive the self-doubt and pain that can linger long after those things that break our hearts and spirit. Understanding that the ability to consistently and reliably adapt will help us is an essential truth of living.

A500.1.6.RB_UnverrichJody

In your journal entry, reflect upon how intellectual perseverance will be important as you progress in your studies. Consider how intellectual perseverance relates to your concept of a good leader.


Intellectual perseverance is being aware of the need to pursue any confusions or questions regardless of obstructions (physical and/or mental) or opposition from others (physical and/or mental). Intellectual perseverance is the thing that nags at the back of your mind and tells you to explore every option, ask that question...again if necessary, double check your facts and work harder to make sure you understand and have explored every option so that whatever you are producing, it is the very best of your efforts, no matter what.


Intellectual perseverance is going to be the carrot to my donkey throughout this entire graduate program. My study habits are a bit rusty and have never been enviable but my desire to make sure that I provide the best work I can possibly do...and then some...is as much a part of me as my skin. My parents expected my best and that has stuck with me throughout my entire life. It can be frustrating because when you pursue every avenue, sometimes you come to one way alleys with a dead end.  My challenge will be to keep my eye on the prize and strive to deliver the best work possible, knowing that the only one I will really hurt if I don't is me and I have to believe that I am worth the effort.


My concept of a good leader does include the qualities of intellectual perseverance. In fact, I think that intellectual perseverance, intellectual integrity, and intellectual humility are the top three attributes in a good leader. A good leader should always work to do the very best for their team in whatever capacity required. Whether the leader is in a management position or not; making sure that you, as a leader, set a positive, meaningful, productive and compassionate example in everything you do is essential. The relentless pursuit of excellence is a real and reachable thing if a leader knows how to get the heavy lifting done effectively and collaboratively. As a leader, it IS your problem if someone has an issue or needs a roadblock removed. Even if that person isn't on your team or a direct report, if they came to you or you know you can help. You do.  
I also think that intellectual perseverance is that sense of responsibility that reminds you that regardless of the task, the final product will be a reflection of you and what you are capable of. If the task is to make a sign for the bathrooms that lets people know that a toilet is out of order, intellectual perseverance is making that sign and making it the best sign you know how to. Intellectual perseverance doesn't allow you to feel like any task is beneath you and as a leader, you know that there is only room for your best effort. Perhaps intellectual perseverance doesn't just end with the completion of a task or the solving of a problem but is continuous in your role as a leader and a coach. As a leader, reaching out to be a mentor or just to help a co-worker should mean that you are willing and able to give them honest and productive feedback and that as a mentor and leader, your role isn't one sided. Look for ways to learn from the mentee. The relationships you foster with people is not only representative of your personality but of your work ethic and dedication to perfection and commitment to your team.