It Takes One to Know One – The IRS Executive in You

Presented by: Katheryn N. Houston & Karen FreemanAIM 42nd Annual Business Conference

New Orleans, LA August 2011

Recognizing Leadership Potential

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“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He/She does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of their actions and the integrity of their intent.”

~ Anonymous (edited)

Defining Leadership

• Leadership is the ability to influence the activities of an individual or group toward the achievement of a goal

- Task-oriented versus Relationship-oriented

Defining Leadership• Task-oriented leaders

establish…– Patterns of organization– Channels of

communication– Ways of getting things

done• Systems Structures• Protocols• Procedures

Defining Leadership• Relationship-oriented

Leaders…– Maintain personal

relationships– Open communication– Provide emotional

support– Exhibit facilitating or

“guiding” behaviors to get things done

Characteristics of Leadership

• Generally directs the activity in which he or she is involved but no problem in receiving directions from others

• Flexibility in thought and action–Comfortable with ambiguity–Adapts readily to new situations–Solves problems creatively

• Accepts responsibility and seeks it out• Communicates well and with ease

Characteristics of Leadership

• Is sociable • Is self-confident • Able to motivate others• Demonstrates social savvy

– Respect for authority, rules and social conventions

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Leadership Potential

• Think of an outstanding leader.• What are the qualities this

leader possesses?• What are the behaviors of this

leader that demonstrate these qualities?

Leadership opportunities

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IRS Executives•50% of IRS executives will be eligible for retirement by 2017•For the first time in history, today’s workforce is comprised of four generations:

– Traditionalists (born 1900 -1945)– Baby-Boomers (born1946-1964)– Generation X’ers (born 1965-1980)– Millenials (born 1981-1999).

The “clash of cultures” will not only provide a challenge to management in melding a team, but also in management’s ability to attract and retain talent.

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IRS Leadership Competencies

• Four Core Competencies– Personal Leadership– Leading Others– Leading Improvement – Business Results

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Leadership Competencies

• Personal Leadership behaviors:– Self Development– Communication– Political Savvy

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Leadership Competencies

• Leading Others behaviors:– Relationship Management– Group Leadership– Customer Focus– Managing Performance and Development

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Leadership Competencies

• Leading Improvement behaviors:– Change Management– Innovation and Risk Management– Achievement Orientation

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Leadership Competencies

• Business Results behaviors:– Problem Solving and Decision Making– Leveraging Resources– Strategic Planning and Implementation

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Executive Traits• Ask or inspire you to be a part of something bigger, more

exciting• Exhibit leadership potential outside the job• Motivated by challenge and not afraid to take a calculated

risk• Not intimidated by responsibility because the sense of

accomplishment is what it is about • Possess the desire to find a better, faster, cheaper,

smarter, more fulfilling way of getting something done • Grabs hold of a problem and will not let go• Cares more about getting things done

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Leadership

• Webster defines a leaders as one “endowed with a heroic or mystical character and who governs with a minimum of formal constitutional restraints, or extreme demagogy, and claims to be above narrow class or group interests.”

• Walter Lippman, 20th century author, editor and syndicated new columnist said “The final test of a leader is that he leaves behind in other men the conviction and the will to carry on.”

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Leadership

• “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He or she does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.” ~~Anonymous

• “The best executive is the one who has sense enough to pick good men to do what he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.” ~~ Theodore Roosevelt

Questions?