LEADERSHIP : CUTTING THROUGH THE CLUTTER
May 2014 [email protected]
« Most book, articles and concepts
about leadership are ridiculous ». Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”,
Betacodex.org
disclaimer :
This presentation does not pretend to add a new concept about leadership
My goal in making this presentation was merely to « summarize the summary » made by Niels Pflaeging, and to show how mind mapping can help put some order among the clutter.
In matters of Leadership, stop looking for “the” ultimate model
– you need to find the one that is the most suitable for YOU, in a
given situation.
Mind mapping can help clarify the clutter
What kind of leadership for what context?
Too many sources?
How about your personal experience, point of view?
Remote, virtual teams?
Find your own
Too much information about Leadership? Start from your own needs …
Sort them out with mind mapping
Where to start? Challenges? Sources?
Using mind mapping to explore the various dimensions of leadership
Context : norms and cultural dimensions
Leadership in a cross-cultural environment : remote, virutal
teams?
Is there a truly global model of Leadership ?
Relationship to time, rules, uncertainty,
hierarchy….
Where to start? Theory or practice?
http://www.betacodex.org/node/3537
Inspiring examples
Finding the Leadership concept candy store :
a great slideshare from Nils Pflaeging (Betacodex), who summarized it all for us
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
Nils Pflaeging summarized the history of leadership thinking
Reviewing the main thinkers of Leadership and their key concepts
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
Classics, innovators, mavericks …
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
Source : Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
And a few portraits of CEOs
Historic examples, models, mentors
Identify your own heroes and mentors
And remember models are like scaffoldings : you delete them once you
have finished building your house.
Historic examples, models, mentors
Identify your own heroes and
mentors
And make your own model
FEELING OVERWHELMED ALREADY?
Time to identify your key resources
Some of of my favorites quotes
• « No curricular reforms will work until the scientific model is replaced by a more appropriate model rooted in the special requirements of a profession »
• Warren Bennis, acadmic rebel
• (see also Henry Mintzberg and Sumantra Ghoshal)
• « Make money and have fun » • Bill and Vieve Gore
• « The business of business is people » • Herb Kelleher, CEO, SouthWest Airlines
Quoted by Niels Pflaeging, author of “heroes of leadership”, Betacodex.org
Some more quotes
• «Management is above all a practice in which art, science and craft meet”
• Henry Mintzberg
• « It is not a question of strategy that gets us into trouble, it is a question of emotions » John P.Kotter
You can also craft your own definition
• “I believe:
• There’s too much noise in business today. There are too many things vying for our attention. Senior leaders must be diligent about cutting out the noise to get their organizations focused on what really matters.
• Playing it safe is dangerous. You never maintain the status quo by playing it safe. You get worse. You lose your edge. You lose your confidence. You don’t feel alive. You can’t win.
• People want to do great things. They want to build great things. They want to be involved with other great people. Great leaders create the conditions for other people’s greatness to come out.”
Doug Sundheim
http://blogs.hbr.org/2014/05/the-trouble-with-leadership-theories/
So, I did craft mine …
• I believe:
• People are ready to follow purposeful leaders : they know the direction and why it is important to get there, even if the path is uncertain; they are centered and know the priorities
• Authentic leaders are people who are not afraid to confront their own limitations. They feel the fear, and do it anyway
• Leadership is not just a matter of born charisma, but something you can develop over time as you face and overcome challenges
• Leaders are driven – they are passionate about what they want to achieve, what they believe in
• Leaders genuinely care for their team’s progress , individually and collectively
• Leaders are not afraid to take (calculated) risks : they anticipate and have a plan B
Robert de Quelen, May 2014
Find your own style
Focused
Transformative
Participative
Results-o
rien
ted
Post-heroïc
Special thanks
• Niels Pflaeging, Betacodex
• Silke Hermann
• Valerya Carvalho
• Alain Cayrol
• Nicole de Chancey
• Renaud Redien-Collot
• Robert Dilts
• David Cooperrider