Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Almanac On Leadership
Almanac On Leadership
Right??
Wrong!!!!
People can choose to become leaders. People can learn leadership skills.
“Leadership is the capacity and will to rally men & women to a common purpose with the character
that inspires confidence”
Leadership has 2 sides – what a person is (Character) and what a person does (Competence).
Good leaders develop through a never ending process of self-study, education, training and
experience. They do not just rest on their laurels.
The best leaders are those who take advantage of opportunities and are enthusiastic participants in
change.
5. You Have Just Faced Some Negative Feedback. How Do You Respond?
a) Nothing: it's a wishy washy management fad that hopefully will soon go out of fashion.
b) It's an excuse to be allowed to a laugh on company time.
c) It's a way of empathising with how your colleagues may be feeling.
d) That you should try to understand your boss's moods.
9. Is Delegation...
a) A waste of time: no one else will be able to do it as well as you so you might as well do it yourself.
b) An easy way to share the workload.
c) An effective way to create new learning opportunities for others.
d) Something I'm always on the receiving end of.
a) Something to be controlled.
b) An opportunity where anything could happen.
c) A chance to make progress.
d) Something to go along with.
How Many………
A’s ---------------
B’s ---------------
C’s ---------------
D’s ---------------
You're a natural born leader just waiting for the right job to come along.
You're strong, decisive, and authoritarian. Everyone around you respects you.
At least that's what you'd like to think. In reality, the situation may be rather different. At best your arrogant,
bullish, autocratic approach is seen as old fashioned.
Mostly B's
You've got good potential. You support people. You listen to others. You are lateral. You take the initiative.
All this bodes well for your future. But only if you overcome what could become a fatal career flaw - wanting
to be liked. There is nothing wrong with seeking out the approval of others.
But you do this to such an extent that you want to be everyone's best friend. So, when difficult and direct
words are needed you can end up just being nice instead. Try, instead, to learn to confront potential conflicts
with sensitivity and honesty. People will respect you more for it.
Mostly C's
Management, here you come. If you want to move up the ranks you've probably got the ability to make that
climb. You're creative, assertive and empathetic.
You easily draw groups together and enjoy heading them up. Most promising though is the importance you
give to bringing on the abilities of others.
You have high expectations of them, higher possibly than they have of themselves. And you seem prepared
to do what you can to help them realize their own potential.
Out of all management skills, this is the one modern companies seek out most. Be mindful, however, not to
let more superficially forceful characters conquer your position.
Mostly D's
You're smart enough to have figured out by now that your place is more likely to be in, rather than at the
head of, the team.
You prefer to listen to ideas, not voice them. You prefer to implement decisions rather than make them. This
is not necessarily a bad thing. The world of work would not be sustainable if everyone led and no one
followed. You're a solid, reliable, loyal team player.
But be cautious, that in your acquiescence to others, you don't become sycophantic. At times, be prepared
to do things your own way.
LEADERSHIP STYLES
There are normally three styles of leadership:
Authoritarian or autocratic
Participative or democratic
Delegative or Free Reign
POWER STYLE
Authoritarian (autocratic)
This style is used when the leader tells her employees what she wants done and how she wants it done,
without getting the advice of her followers.
Some of the appropriate conditions to use it is when you have all the information to solve the
problem, you are short on time, and your employees are well motivated.
Some people tend to think of this style as a vehicle for yelling, using demeaning language, and leading
by threats and abusing their power.
This is not the authoritarian style...rather it is an abusive, unprofessional style called bossing people
around. It has no place in a leaders repertoire.
The authoritarian style should normally only be used on rare occasions. If you have the time and
want to gain more commitment and motivation from your employees, then you should use the
participative style.
Participative (democratic)
This type of style involves the leader including one or more employees in on the decision
making process (determining what to do and how to do it).
However, the leader maintains the final decision making authority. Using this style is not a sign of
weakness, rather it is a sign of strength that your employees will respect.
This is normally used when you have part of the information, and your employees have other parts.
Note that a leader is not expected to know everything -- this is why you employ knowledgeable and
skillful employees.
Using this style is of mutual benefit - it allows them to become part of the team and allows you to make
better decisions.
A good leader uses all three styles, depending on what forces are involved between the followers, the
leader, and the situation. Some examples include:
Using an authoritarian style on a new employee who is just learning the job. The leader is competent and a
good coach. The employee is motivated to learn a new skill. The situation is a new environment for the
employee.
Using a participative style with a team of workers who know their job. The leader knows the problem, but
does not have all the information. The employees know their jobs and want to become part of the team.
Using a delegative style with a worker who knows more about the job than you. You cannot do everything!
The employee needs to take ownership of her job. Also, the situation might call for you to be at other places,
doing other things.
Growing a Team
What is a team?
A group of people coming together to collaborate. This collaboration is to reach a shared goal or task for
which they hold themselves mutually accountable.
A group of people with a high degree of interdependence geared towards the achievement of a common
goal or completion of a task.
Team members are deeply committed to each other's personal growth and success. That commitment
usually transcends the team.
A team outperforms a group and outperforms all reasonable expectations given to its individual
members.
That is, a team has a synergistic effect...one plus one equals a lot more than two.
“I want to be remembered as a Leader, who gave all whenever he was on the field.”
- Walter
An Introspection
Your Best Quality as a Team leader?
Your most important “Area of Improvement” as a Team Leader?
Few Situations
In a team of high-powered personalities, what trait is the most important for the Team Leader to
possess?
What trait is most important for the Team Leader to demonstrate, in a team composed of Less Involved
personalities.
Remember….
Power of Positive Vision
Importance of experimenting & risk taking
Understanding self, people & situations and tailoring our approach & behavior.
Conflict Management.
Leading by Example and Following your own Rules.
Do not use Power to control people.
Chalk a plan to bridge the gaps between where we are and where we aspire to reach (as a team).
Ensure a platform for active exchange of feedback from all levels.
Constantly challenge your own “Thought Process” and sharpen your axe.
Important Words