Superior Leadership: What Makes the Difference?
Kay HempsallThe University of New England
and NSW Branch ATEM
Can it be learned?
Leadership is a set of skills and traits that can be learned and worked on
Often there is a general perception that good leaders are scare. Why?
Respond only to specific situations
Unwanted until they are needed
Mistaken for managers
People
Spontaneity, serendipity
Release, empowerment
Effectiveness
Programmer
Investment
Principles
Transformation
Principle-centred power
Discernment
Doing the right things
Direction
Top line
Purposes
Principles
Is the ladder against the right wall?
Leadership Management
Things
Structure
Control
Efficiency
Program
Expense
Techniques
Transaction
Utility
Measurement
Doing things right
Speed
Bottom line
Methods
Practices
Climbing the ladder fast
Stephen Covey, 2004, The 8th Habit: From Effectiveness to Greatness
Challenges Facing the Sector
Increasing compliance requirementsWorkplace choicesOHSRisk Management Quality AssurancePerformance Management
Budgetary constraintsWorkload issues…Impact on your ability to lead and manage?
Exercise: Qualities of Leadership
Think of a leader (past or present) who demonstrates some aspect or quality of leadership that is important to you
Share your ideas with at least one other person
Qualities of a Leader
What are some of the differences that make the difference?
Leadership Quotations
What we have done for ourselves alone dies with us. What we have done for others and the world remains and is immortal. Albert Pine
It is not who is right, but what is right, that is of importance. Thomas Huxley
Toleration is the greatest gift of the mind. Helen Keller
Half of the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important...they do not mean to do harm...they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves. T.S. Eliot
Leadership Quotations
The superior man is modest in his speech but exceeds in his actions. Confucius
There are no mistakes so great as that of being always right. Samuel Butler
Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them. Every day begin the task anew. Saint Francis de Sales
The four-way test of the things we think, say or do: ...Is it the truth? ...Is it fair to all concerned? ...Will it build good will and better relationships? ...Will it be beneficial to all concerned? Rotary International Motto
What is Superior Leadership?
Superior leadership works through the emotionsGreat leaders
Move us
Ignite passion
Inspire the best in us
No matter what leaders set out to do their success depends on how they do it
If leaders fail in the primal task of driving emotions in the right direction, nothing they do will work as well as it should
Goleman, 2002, The New Leaders
Some Strategies
Developing or refining skills
Staying open to seeing and doing things differently“Insanity is doing the same thing repeatedly expecting to get a different result” Albert Einstein
“If you do what you have always done you will get what you have always got” Anonymous
“Minds are like parachutes – they only function when open” Lord Thomas Dewar
Looking after yourself
Leadership Theory
TraitsBorn to lead
BehaviouralSkill set
SituationalChange style to suit situation / people
Servant LeadershipLead by serving others
Leadership Styles
Visionary – Moves people towards shared dreams
Coaching – Connects what a person wants with organisation goals
Affiliative – Creates harmony by connecting people to each other
Democratic – Values people’s input and gets commitment through participation
Pacesetting – Meets challenging and exciting goals
Commanding – Soothes fears by giving clear direction in an emergency
Goleman, 2002, The New Leaders
Leadership Flexibility
There is nothing so unequal as the equal treatment of unequals
Not everyone is coming from the same placeDifferent strokes for different folks
Everyone is a potential high performerSet well planned goalsMonitor performance
You can expect more if you notice moreEspecially the art of catching people doing things right
Recognition
Correct problems immediately
Two Skills for Today’s Leaders
Handling AmbiguityLearn to tolerate uncertaintyNon linear networksCrisis and renewal are integral parts of organisational development
Leading for LearningHigh ethical standardsImprove organisational processesGain clarity about issues before brainstorming solutionsEnhance communication
Becoming an Effective Leader, 2005, Harvard Business School Press
Emotional Intelligence Model
Self-managementSelf-motivationSelf-regulation
Self-awarenessVision, values, beliefs
Relationship managementKnowledge/skills
Awareness of others
Understanding
Empowered personResilientLess stressSatisfactionIntuition/insight
CooperationCollaborationBetter decisionsWin/winMeaningful relationships
Benefits to OrganisationImproving and fulfilling professional relationshipsBetter insights = better decisions = better outcomesMore effective as leader/managerIncreasing efficiency = increasing profit
PersonalCompetency
SocialCompetency
IntRApersonal (self)SELF-REGARD
EMOTIONAL SELF-AWARENESS
ASSERTIVENESS
INDEPENDENCE
SELF-ACTUALISATION
IntERpersonal EMPATHY
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
Bar-On Model
Adaptability
REALITY TESTING
FLEXIBILITY
PROBLEM SOLVING
Stress Management
STRESS TOLERANCE
IMPULSE CONTROL
General Mood
OPTIMISM
HAPPINESS
Why People Misunderstand Each Other
Personal Filters
Thought Patterns
Beliefs and Values
Attitudes, History, etc …
Information Input
Sight
Hearing
Taste
Touch
Smell
Words
ORIGINAL ACTUAL DATA
Information Output
Opinions
Personal Values
Personal Beliefs
Ideas
Feelings
INTERPRETATIONS
Developing Self-Awareness
Johari Window
Created by Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham
Managing the Emotional Environment
Ability to elicit cooperationMotivationBuild rapport / relationship
Ability to listenSelf awarenessSelf regulationEmpathy
Building an Emotional Bank Account
Ability to place needs of others, and the organisation, above your own
Clearly Define Outcomes
Fine Tune Your Self Awareness
Develop Behavioural Flexibility
Take Action (versus “Talk Fest”)
Whether you believe you can, or you believe you can’t, you are right!! — Henry Ford
Success Formula
Summary
Gifted leadership occurs where heart and head meet
Leaders execute a vision by Motivating
Inspiring
Listening
Persuading
To make a difference we need to promote emotional intelligence in our organisations
Goleman, 2002, The New Leaders
Questions …