Improving leadership through the power of words and music

Background. Poor leadership is highly prevalent and associated with destructive processes in the workplace, including stress related ill health. Yet, the applied methods to improve leadership practices are rarely grounded in scientific research. The aim of this thesis is to test the effects of an art-based, yearlong leadership programme (Shibboleth) in comparison with a conventional programme. The Shibboleth concept was built upon a performance art, a collage of fragments of literary text and music, followed by writing sessions and group reflection. Hypotheses. I Effect on leaders: Demanding art experiences were expected to force self-critical examination and break ingrained patterns of thinking and feeling, providing sharper self-awareness and awareness of moral responsibility, and mobilize courage to take stand and act in highly complex, unaccustomed and painful circumstances; II Effect on employees: The changes in the leaders’ responsibility were, in turn, expected to activate positive changes in the co-workers, reflected not only in their psychological health, but also in biological processes/endocrine status. Method and Results. In study I transferred effects of the leaders’ participation in the intervention program on their co-workers’ psychosocial and biological stress were investigated. The findings demonstrate improved mental health, enhanced self-esteem and courage to openly deal with unfair treatment as well as a higher concentration of the regenerative hormone DHEA-S in the attending leaders’ co-workers, as well as in the leaders themselves, compared to the conventional group. In study II effects on the leaders’ intrapersonal and interpersonal aspects associated with poor leadership were explored. The findings demonstrate improved pro-social motivation (Agreeableness) and psychological resilience (Sense of Coherence) in the Shibboleth leaders, who were also considered by their co-workers to be more responsible (behaving less laissez-faire) and display higher capacity to cope with stress, compared to the conventional group. In study III we examined whether the changes in leaders’ behaviour were confirmed by corresponding changes in the level of self-awareness. Comparisons between leader’s self-evaluation and the evaluative feed- back of the co-workers demonstrate that the Shibboleth leaders abandoned the self-inflating position in favour of increased self-awareness and humility, which in turn was followed by improved behaviour. The opposite result was noted in the conventional group. In study IV the psychological processes taking place in the individual leader during the Shibboleth intervention were studied based upon written reflections during sessions, “course” evaluations and interviews using a qualitative method. The findings show that the participants experienced Shibboleth as a transformative power. The Shibboleth’s content and artistic technique was perceived as especially challenging and affecting in a way they had not experienced before. The leaders described their journey from the desire of affirmation of the self and one’s own interest towards a more open position trying to understand a world other than one’s own by adopting an aesthemetic approach (a combination of aesthetic, emotional and ethic elements). They experienced a new consciousness they never felt before to assume responsibility for others, for themselves and for their leadership, which also raised their sense of self–esteem and feeling of reverence and gratitude for life. Long after the intervention ended, the etched memory images of Shibboleth worked as moral guidance in different situations. The findings are discussed in relation to the notion of aesthemetic, which is introduced for conceptualisation of the impact core that constitutes the Shibboleth concept. Conclusion. A transformative effect of a new, art-based leadership concept on the leaders and transferred beneficial effect on their co-workers was demonstrated. The findings indicate that the Shibboleth concept, by counteracting the destructivity of poor leadership, may prevent stress related ill health. The findings seem to be sustained and more pronounced at the long-term follow-up. The positive results for psychological, behavioural and biological outcomes are consistent and strengthen the findings. This is the first research to show that changes in behaviours in leaders through aesthetic experiences can have transferred effects on psychological and neurobiological resilience processes in followers leading to health-promoting effects. In addition to the empirical findings, this thesis presents a general theoretical approach through the notion of aesthemetics, which may help to clarify the underlying conditions for successful training programmes in general

Biomass Production of Selected Energy Plants: Economic Analysis and Logistic Strategies

The objective of this article is the conducting of an analysis of the production of selected energy plants that are already a basic source of agrobiomass in Poland. The analysis looks at environmental aspects and production conditions for biomass designated for energy for the Virginia mallow (Sida hermaphrodita), common osier (Salix viminalis), silver-grass (Miscanthus x giganteus), and switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). What is presented is an economic analysis of the production of selected energy plants, taking into account the costs of establishing plantations and their cost effectiveness. Moreover, logistic strategies for the delivery of biomass intended to secure continuous production of renewable energy as a part of sustainable development is signaled.Celem nieniejszego artykułu było przeprowadzenie analizy produkcji wybranych roślin energetycznych, które w Polsce są już podstawowym źródłem agrobiomasy. W treści analiza zawierała aspekty środowiskowe i uwarunkowania produkcji biomasy na cele energetyczne dla ślazowca pensylwańskiego (Sida hermaphrodita), wierzby wiciowej z rodzaju Salix,i miskanta olbrzymiego (Miscanthus x giganteus) i prosa rózgowatego (Panicum virgatum). Przedstawiono analizę ekonomiczną produkcji wybranych roślin energetycznych z uwzględnieniem kosztów plantacji i ich opłacalności oraz zasygnalizowano strategie logistyczne dla dostaw biomasy w celu zabezpieczenia stałej produkcji energii odnawialnej w zrównoważonym rozwoju

Przekształcenia w powszechnym wymiarze sprawiedliwości w Polsce w latach 1944-1956

W niniejszym tekście pragnę przedstawić te zagadnienia w oparciu o nowe materiały źródłowe, które pogłębiają naszą wiedzę na ten temat, jak również prowadzą do poznania losów zawodowych przedstawicieli wymiaru sprawiedliwości. Celem szkicu jest ukazanie tylko tych regulacji prawnych, które dotyczyły sprawności procedury sądowej, jej kierunku i mechanizmu działania i miały zasadnicze znaczenie dla realizacji zadań, jakie nowa władza postawiła przed wymiarem sprawiedliwości w Polsce w latach 1944-1956

So You Think You Can Model? A Guide to Building and Evaluating Archaeological Simulation Models of Dispersals

With the current surge of simulation studies in archaeology there is a growing concern for the lack of engagement and feedback between modellers and domain specialists. To facilitate this dialogue I present a compact guide to the simulation modelling process applied to a common research topic and the focus of this special issue of Human Biology—human dispersals. The process of developing a simulation is divided into nine steps grouped in three phases. The conceptual phase consists of identifying research questions (step 1) and finding the most suitable method (step 2), designing the general framework and the resolution of the simulation (step 3) and then by filling in that framework with the modelled entities and the rules of interactions (step 4). This is followed by the technical phase of coding and testing (step 5), parameterising the simulation (step 6) and running it (step 7). In the final phase the results of the simulation are analysed and re-contextualised (step 8) and the findings of the model are disseminated in publications and code repositories (step 9). Each step will be defined and characterised and then illustrated with examples of published human dispersals simulation studies. While not aiming to be a comprehensive textbookstyle guide to simulation, this overview of the process of modelling human dispersals should arm any non-modeller with enough understanding to evaluate the quality, strengths and weaknesses of any particular archaeological simulation and provide a starting point for further exploration of this common scientific tool

Dopasowanie kwalifikacji i kompetencji absolwentów szkół wyższych do oczekiwań pracodawców na Mazowszu

In the article the Author is searching the answer to the question whether the general criticism of Polish colleges and their graduates is right. Basing on a research of the opinions of employers of Masovia and on economic forecasts for the labor market, she is trying to assess the degree of fitting of graduates of Masovian colleges to the current and future labor market regarding the quantitative, structural and quality aspects, and to assess the situation of graduates of higher education institutions on the Masovian labor market using the SWOT analysis.W artykule Autorka szuka odpowiedzi na pytanie, czy powszechna krytyka polskich uczelni i ich absolwentow jest słuszna. Opierając się na badaniach opinii pracodawcow Mazowsza i prognozach ekonomicznych dla rynku pracy, stara się ocenić stopień dopasowania absolwentow uczelni mazowieckich do obecnego i przyszłego rynku pracy pod względem ilościowym, strukturalnym i jakościowym oraz zdiagnozować sytuację absolwentow szkoł wyższych na mazowieckim rynku pracy za pomocą analizy SWOT

Application of Phytoremediation in Restoring Sustainable Development to the Environment: Economic and Soil Conditions

The quality of soils as found in the Voivodeship of Łódź was analyzed from the point of view of potential application of the phytoremediation method, taking into account subdivision by heavy metals found in the soils as well as their origins and properties. Grades of soil purity are presented and border values of heavy metal content were identified.Celem niniejszego artykułu jest przedstawienie priorytetowych zagadnień i powiązań, dotyczących ekonomicznych i glebowych uwarunkowań zastosowania technologii fitoremediacji w przywracaniu zrównoważonego rozwoju środowiska. Analizie poddano zasadność stosowania fitoremediacji w przywracaniu zrównoważonego środowiska jako metody alternatywnej do kosztownej rekultywacji terenów w celu usuwania zanieczyszczeń, które jest niewykonalne do przeprowadzenia na dużych areałach. Wykazano opłacalność stosowania fitoremediacji w odzyskiwaniu pierwiastków śladowych z gleby w procesie phytominingu. Przeanalizowano jakość gleb występujących w województwie łódzkim w aspekcie potencjalnego zastosowania metody fitoremediacji z uwzględnieniem podziału metali ciężkich zawartych w glebach uwzględniający ich pochodzenie oraz właściwości. Przedstawiono klasy czystości gleb i wyznaczone w nich graniczne zawartości metali ciężkich