What are organizations looking for? MYTHS ABOUT LEADERSHIP. Leadership - A Review of the Basics - Separating Yourself from the Pack

Transcription

1 Leadership - A Review of the Basics - What are organizations looking for? Technical Competence Honor and Integrity Honors Engineering Seminar April 2007 Leadership Potential 1 2 Separating Yourself from the Pack In a competitive job environment, how can you distinguish yourself? Demonstrated leadership ability is a separator. separator. MYTHS ABOUT LEADERSHIP Leaders are born not made Good leadership is just common sense The only school that teaches leadership is the School of Hard Knocks.? 3 4 Early on someone told me The one quality that can be developed by studious reflection and practice is the leadership of men. Leadership is about getting things done through people. President Dwight D. Eisenhower 5 6 1

2 Later I came to understand that Leadership is the art of influencing people to work enthusiastically and effectively toward goals identified as being for the common good. Work Enthusiastically People can do everything they are required to by the rules, and your organization will, at best, be mediocre. People must work with enthusiasm. They must have their heart in it. You cannot buy enthusiasm, you cannot buy loyalty, you cannot buy devotion of hearts, minds and souls. These must be earned. 7 8 Goals Identified as Being for the Common Good This means the leader has: Thought through the organization s goals. Talked with others about these goals. Achieved buy-in. This requires a lot more effort than just telling others what to do. How does a leader build influence? By meeting peoples legitimate needs Through service and sacrifice By developing trust 9 10 Leaders identify and meet their followers legitimate needs A want is simply a wish or desire without any regard for the physical or psychological consequences. A need is a legitimate physical or psychological requirement for the wellbeing of a human being. Maslow s Hierarchy of Human Needs Self- Actualization Self- esteem Belonging Safety and Security Food, water, shelter

3 SERVICE AND SACRIFICE Leadership requires a great deal of effort. Leaders must decide whether they are willing to extend themselves for those they lead. What People Expect from Their Leaders Honesty To feel appreciated and respected Competence Forward-looking Leaders will be called upon to sacrifice. Inspiring Their time To feel they are accomplishing something worthwhile Physical & mental energy To understand the contribution they are making Ego Bad mood days 13 To feel they are in on things Patience 14 What People Expect from Their Leaders (cont.) TRUST Encouragement TRUST Is the glue that holds relationships together Hope To believe their leader understands their personal situation and challenges To be forgiven when they make mistakes Standards and boundaries Is not the result of an organizational imperative or program Comes from being trustworthy Acting inconsistent with our words creates mistrust They are all volunteers! A Key Role of Leadership You can buy a person s time. You can even buy their physical place, but you cannot buy enthusiasm, you cannot buy loyalty, you cannot buy devotion of hearts, minds or souls. You must earn these. - Charles Francis Leaders create and sustain the environment in which followers spend most of their waking hours

4 The Keys to Establishing a Solid Environment VALUES PURPOSE VISION About Organizational Values The question is not whether an organization is value-based Every organization is value-based. The question is: What are the real values and are these values the ones that will ensure the organization prospers in the long run? Aligning Values and Behavior From slogans and wall charts to the heart Providing example The leader must become the living symbol of their organization s values. The Importance of Organizational Values Without a set of operating values that are clearly defined and enforced (people are expected to behave according to them) you re at the mercy of people s good intentions.» (Blanchard) Effective Leaders Focus on Purpose Key question: Why does our organization exist? What business are we in? Effective Leaders Provide Vision a picture of the future that the leader paints for those who follow. a picture of how things would be if everything were running as planned. (Blanchard) Is everything we are doing contributing to mission accomplishing our purpose? Staying Focused 23 Providing people an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves and to make a contribution. 24 4

5 Effective Leaders Focus on Contribution What can I do that, if done really well, will make a difference in the organization? Developing your capacity for leadership FIRST Understand Yourself Understand your natural leadership style. What good shall I do this day? Ben Franklin What good have I done this day? Know your abilities, interests, values and interpersonal style. Know your self-control threshold. 26 SECOND Study Leadership Leadership is a profession, like being a doctor, a lawyer, or an educator. Expertise comes with consistent reading and observation. Read about Leadership The Servant: A Simple Story about the True Essence of Leadership By: James C. Hunter Leadership and the One Minute Manager: Increasing Effectiveness Through Situational Self Leadership By: Ken Blanchard Read about Leadership The One Minute Manager Builds High Performing Teams By: Ken Blanchard Read about Leadership The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable By: Patrick Lencioni Self Leadership and The One Minute Manager By: Ken Blanchard

6 Observe Leadership In the movies Remember the Titans Apollo Angry Men Glory Crimson Tide Gettysburg In an organization Student Community Church THIRD: Practice Leadership Lead a class or organization project Seek Feedback Reflect on your experiences Reflect on each experience What s s happening? Leadership - A Review of the Basics - What s s not happening? What do I want to be happening? How can I make this happen? Honors Engineering Seminar April