THE IMPORTANCE OF LEADERSHIP

    Lana remarked that although the training should have been more focused on technology, she thought the Kellogg Foundation had helped a lot of people in many ways. Of course, she recognized the importance of leadership training, and her comments about teams that did not work or failed to attend any training sessions reinforced the importance of choosing the right people before it began. Her written report about the project included a very interesting observation about the whole MIRA team process:

"Most people respond well to structured environments, but find it difficult to interact in non-structured environments. As a person who thrives on flexibility, I initially wanted people to find their own course and develop their own programs. I discovered the cluster responded to this flexibility as a sign of weakness or misdirection. People did not feel comfortable until a steering committee subcommittee was formed and leaders emerged to develop the exact parameters for program operation. This, in all likelihood, is a by-product of our school systems and what we learn as a child."