Training

Leadership

By Steven Baker

Overview

What is Leadership?

Studied scientifically since 1930’s Kurt Lewin Three basic categories

Effective leadership theories

Skills Theories

Trait Theories

Six Core Characteristics

Best Practices

What is Leadership?

The business related website BNET.com offers a great definition of leadership. . .

One of the greatest contributions of psychology to business

Existed in ancient times; scientific studies began in the 1930’s

Kurt Lewin’s three basic categories of leadership

Authoritarian

Participative

Delegative

The Authoritarian Leader

Clear expectations of what needs to be done, when, and how to do itClear division between leader and followersLeader makes decisions independently without input from rest of groupBest applied to situations where there is little time to make the decisions or where the leader is the expertStructured environment

The Participative Leader

Generally accepted as the most effective styleLeader offers guidance but allows for input from the groupParticipation is encouraged but leader still has final sayGroup members are more engaged and more

motivated and creativeDwight D. Eisenhower

The Delegative Leader

Offers little or no guidanceLeave decisions up to group membersCan be effective in situations where group members are expert, butOften leads to poorly defined roles and lack of motivationLeader is still responsible for resultsRudy Giuliani

Innate or Learned?

Theories of what makes a great leader?

Trait theory

Some people are natural leaders and are endowed with certain traits not possessed by other individuals. This research compared successful and unsuccessful

leaders to see how they differed in physical characteristics, personality, and ability.Traits that appear regularly in leaders

• Ambition, energy, the desire to lead, self-confidence, and intelligence.

• Although certain traits are helpful, these attributes provide no guarantees that a person possessing them is an effective leader.

Skills theory

Good leaders set goals, priorities, and standards

Good leaders aren't afraid to surround themselves with talented, capable people

Good leaders have personal integrity and inspire trust among their followers

Video

Theories

Peter Drucker offers a pragmatic approach to leadership in the workplace. He believes that consistency is the key to good leadership.Good leaders have personal integrity and inspire trust among their followers; their actions are consistent with what they say.Keep in mind that no list of leadership traits and skills is definitive because no two successful leaders are alike.What is important is that leaders exhibit some positive characteristics that make them effective managers at any level in an organization.

Characteristics of a leader

Six core characteristics that the majority of effective leaders possess Drive

Leaders are ambitious and take initiative.

Motivation Leaders want to lead and are willing to take

charge.

Honesty and integrity Leaders are truthful and do what they say they

will do.

Characteristics of a leader

Self-confidence: Leaders are assertive and decisive and enjoy taking risks.

They admit mistakes and foster trust and commitment to a vision.

Leaders are emotionally stable rather than recklessly adventurous.

Cognitive ability Leaders are intelligent, perceptive, and conceptually

skilled, but are not necessarily geniuses. They show analytical ability, good judgment, and the capacity to think strategically.

Business knowledge Leaders tend to have technical expertise in their

businesses.

The world's most effective leaders

Think about the most powerful, influential, positive influence in your life. It doesn't take long, does it?

Usually it's a mother, father, teacher, coach, priest, or spouse.  Now I'll bet they had these qualities: 1. They cared about you 2. They believed in you. 3. They are fair 4. They expect excellence.

ALL GREAT LEADERS HAVE HIGH EXPECTATIONS.

Best Practices

Rewarding performers not only on their financial results, but various other factors as well.

Top management meet often to discuss methods to improve their business performance.

Meetings and surveys are conducted at regular intervals to include employees in decision-making for company strategy and policies

Best Practices

Understand that recognition by peers is an important motivator

The best leaders show recognition to their performing employees through different methods Commendation letters Putting their names on the company’s intranet newsletters Commending in the presence of people respected by the

performers Giving small gifts.

Putting in place a system that allows employees to work on improvement besides providing them the needed resources.

The art of listening

General rules to follow Focus Accept speakers point of view Use eye contact and body language Avoid distractions Identify non-verbal communication Ask questions

Delivery of a message

Be clear and concise

Enlist an open-door policy

Remain positive

Negative feedback can promote positive growth

Refrain from any form of favoritism

Perceptions

Perceptions are reality

Perceptions are based on many things Communication, body language, clothing, hair

style, etc.

First impressions

Things are not always as they seem

Perceptions

Perceptions

Perceptions

Perceptions

Empathy

Having empathy at some level is important in order to understand their perceptions of things.

Did you form an impression of me prior to this meeting?

Has that changed?

Can it change?

Purpose & Goal

“The goal of training should be to provide the supervisor with the proper understanding and tools so that he (she) can motivate his (her) employees to do their best for the company, willingly”

People generally want to do well in their job, it is the motivation that is often times lacking.

The goal is to show people that you appreciate them and the work they do.

Through effective interpersonal communication training, it is possible to obtain the results that make everyone happy. Creating a win-win situation.

Research has found . . .

“In a recent poll conducted by SHRM and USA Today of both HR professionals and employees, the importance of communication between employees and management was ranked as either very important or important by 98% of all HR professionals. Participating employees mirrored this ranking closely at 96%”

Summary

The importance of being a leader

How it affects others

Understanding your Leadership style and utilizing your natural abilities in situations

Understanding and developing skills from other styles

Best Practices of an effective leader