Leadership Characteristics

ReferencesLeadership in Organizations, Ann Cooper,

Southwestern,2002Right from the Start, Dan Ciampa and

Michael Watkins, Harvard Business School Press, 1999

“Level 5 Leadership: The Triumph of Humility and Fierce Resolve”, Jim Collins, Harvard Business Review, 2001

“What Makes an Effective Executive”, Peter Drucker, Harvard Business Review, 2004

What is leadership?

Leading people

Influencing people

Commanding people

Guiding people

Consistent, positive goals for change

Why someone is a Leader

Leader by the position achievedLeader by personality, charisma Leader by moral exampleLeader by power heldIntellectual leaderLeader because of ability to

accomplish things

Who is a Leader? Intelligence

More intelligent than non-leaders

Scholarship Knowledge Being able to get

things done Analytical

Physical Doesn’t seem to

be correlated

Leadership TraitsCan do attitude Works for the

benefit of allPersistence HumorDependableEnergeticPlannerVerbal facility

Honesty Initiative Aggressive Self-

confident Ambitious Originality Sociability Adaptability

Level 5 Leadership

Individual who blends extreme personal humility with intense professional will

Selects superb successorsSubjugate own needs to achieve

something more lasting and larger than themselves

Highly Capable – Productive contributions through talent, knowledge,skills, and good work habits

1

Contributing Team Member – Contributes to the achievement of group objectives; works effectively with others

2

Competent Manager – organizes people andresources toward effective and efficient uses3

Effective Leader – Catalyzes commitments from others to pursue vision, stimulates the group to

high performance standards4

Executive – Builds enduring greatness through humility and professional will5

Leadership Pyramid

Steps to Level 5 Leadership

First, get the right people, then figure out what needs to be done

Confront the brutal facts Hedgehog concept Culture of Discipline Accelerate through technology Small steps build momentum Avoid the doom loop

Eight Practices What needs to be done? What is right for the enterprise? Develop action plans Take responsibility for decisionsTake responsibility for communicatingFocus on opportunities rather than

problemsRun productive meetingsUse “we” rather than “I”

Roles of Leaders PlanCreate MomentumEncourages others,

direct othersMaster technologies

of learning, visioning, and coalition building

Manage oneself

Planning

Devise strategy Set direction Create vision Decision maker

Create MomentumFoundation for

change Vision of how

the organization will look

Build political base to support change

Modify culture to fit vision

Learn and know about company

Securing early wins First set short

term goals When achieved

make a big deal Should fit long

term strategy

Create MomentumBuild credibility

Demanding but can be satisfied

Accessible but not too familiar

Focused but flexible

ActiveCan make

tough calls but humane

Master TechnologiesLearn from internal and external

sourcesVisioning - develop strategy

Push vs. pull tools What values does the strategy

embrace? What behaviors are needed?

CommunicateCommunicate the vision

Simple text - Best channels Clear meaning - Do it yourself!

Adapt you communication style Read body language and vocal dynamicsBe sensitive to context Put it in writing Provide detailsCultivate an atmosphere of openness

Enabling Technologies, con’t

Coalition building Don’t ignore politics Technical change

not enough Political

management isn’t same as being political

Prevent blocking coalitions

Build political capital

Directing Direct

Empower employees Become the cheerleader and

coach Control

Motivate Time/task

management Convey sense of

accomplishment

Managers vs. LeadersWhile many activities for managers and

leaders are similar, there is one big difference…..

Managers know and value the unique abilities and eccentricities of their employees. They must identify and capitalize on what is unique about each person to build a better sense of a team and interdependency. Make the most of each person’s strengths

Leaders discover what is universal and capitalize on that. They rally people toward a better future while cutting through all differences.

Manage OneselfBe self-awareDefine your

leadership styleGet advice and

counsel Advice is from

expert to leader Counsel is insight

Types of help Technical Political Personal

Advisor traits Competent Trustworthy Enhance your

status

We’ll revisit this later in leadership articles and last class

7 Habits of Unsuccessful Executives

Feel they and their companies dominate their environment

They are the same as their company

They have all the answers Ruthlessly eliminate all anyone not

100% behind them Obsessed with image Underestimate obstacles Rely on what worked in the past

How Far Can You Go?