making tomorrow’s leaders philip mayers february 2014

MAKING TOMORROW’S LEADERS

Philip Mayers February 2014

….in an environment that is challenged by multiple role ambiguities – how does a competent team player transition into a BOLD leader?

Role ambiguity occurs when people are unclear about

expectations within their role, their workplace, their industry

sector, and challenged by societal pressures

In the words of George Costanza

“It’s like when worlds collide”

Typical layers of ambiguity

- Caring is an holistic responsibility- Carers are qualified professionals- Carers advocate for clients- Carers support workmates- Money is a sordid subject (there’s never enough to go around)- Often overshadowed by compliance- At tea break we rubbish the bosses we’re supposed to respect

“The whole balance of power between leaders

and followers has shifted - with leaders

becoming weaker (having less authority) and

followers growing stronger (questioning

authority)”

Professor Barbara Kellerman

Becoming the emboldened

leader

Who can refuse higher salary, status and the ability to make decisions?!

The reality

- Moving from buddy to boss, jealousy- Out of your comfort zone- One of the people you used to rubbish- Additional time demands- New skills and knowledge required- Headaches about decisions- Accountability for others- Managing budgets

Promotion = Stress

Two possibilities

- What have I let myself in for?

- You’ve just been given a major career opportunity. Don’t spoil it!

Culture is the key

The whole ‘rights revolution’ has changed everything *

Why should anyone be led by you? **

The leadership paradigm needs to create a culture that welcomes emerging Leaders and supports the contribution of Followers

* Barbara Kellerman

** Goffee & Jones

A complicating factor *

* HR Monthly February 2014

Working towards a culture change

The CEO must demonstrate exemplary leadership competencies (very well dealt with by Kouzes & Posner in ‘The Leadership Challenge’ ®)

When leaders are at their personal best there are FIVE core practices common to all

Model the Way ® Establish principles about the way people should be treated and goals pursued. Set standards of excellence, achieve small wins, unravel bureaucracy, provide ‘signposts’, create opportunities for victory

Inspire a Shared Vision ® Passionately believe that you can make a difference, enlist others in your dreams, breathe life into your visions

Challenge the Process ® Look for innovative opportunities to improve your organisation, experiment and take managed risks, accept the inevitable disappointments as learning opportunities, enable others to act

Enable others to Act ® Foster collaboration and mutual respect, create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity, make each person feel capable and powerful

Encourage the ®

Accomplishing big things is hard work, so recognise individuals’ contributions, share the rewards of efforts, celebrate accomplishments and make people feel like heroes

Handy Hints

Peer consultation groups Experiential learning in a risk managed environment Leading work projects Secondments Promotion into another department Work out a game plan for you and your team to best

work together to achieve goals and objectives

Your job has changed – it’s not about being popular, it’s about leading and helping others to achieve results

Stop gossiping Ask your HR Manager for training and support Treat each person fairly and with respect ‘Go out and make yourself useful’ (Peter Drucker) Take time to THINK......... and start a STOP-doing list

(Jim Collins)

Handy Hints cont.

Creating tomorrow’s leaders is a shared responsibility Shared by the CEO who shapes an

enabling culture The individual who can focus on the future

and systematically cut through the multiple layers of ambiguity that might sometimes trip you up