Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

Jeffrey D. ArmstrongMichigan State University

ESCOP/ACOP Class 3 (Blue)

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

•My perspective is based on experiences in / with:–Multiple states–Multiple universities–Multiple stakeholder groups and issues

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

• Must be:– Change Oriented– Servant in Nature / Level 5– Courageous & Bold– Optimistic, Disciplined & Ethical

LeadershipTo What End?

For What Purpose?

LeadershipTo What End?

For What Purpose?

The Land Grant Mission / Covenant

LeadershipTo What End?

For What Purpose?

The Land (Global) Grant Mission / Covenant

What is the LG Covenant?• Higher education that embraces:

– practical knowledge; as well as,– traditional scientific & classical studies

• With values including:– Quality– Inclusiveness– Connectivity

Responsibilities / Expectations• Catalyst for realizing upward mobility

– Economic development & quality of life• Listen and respond to society’s needs

– Intellectual agenda for today and tomorrow • Assure that our value to society / people

will continue to grow and to appreciate – no matter the circumstances

Unique Challenges to Extension & Experiment Station• Federal • State • Local• Storm vs.

Climate Change

“Our covenant with society is not about granting entitlements, it’s about providing opportunities.”

President Lou Anna Simon, 2005 Inaugural Address, MSU

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

Creating Change• Change is difficult• Resistance to change is human

nature• Comfort and Stability

vs.• UNcomfort and INstability

Sustainable Communities, Agriculture and Natural

Resources• Economically• Environmentally • Ecologically• Socially

– Social responsibility in the food chain

Why People Resist Change• Out of their control• Why is this necessary?• The old way works!• They feel incapable of changing• Pain > Gain

Quotes• “Everything that can be invented

has been invented”– Charles Duell, Commissioner of

Patents, 1899• “I think there is a world market for

about five computers”– Thomas J. Watson, IBM, 1943

Quotes• “There is no reason for any

individual to have a computer in his home.”– Kenneth Olson, Digital Equipment,

1977

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

• Must be:– Change Oriented

–Servant in Nature / Level 5

Willing to Accept Responsibility

•Courageous vs. Conforming Leadership

•Level 5 – “Good to Great”–Servant style leader

Level 5 Leadership

• Personal humility/compelling modesty• Professional will/do what must be done• Their ambition is first & foremost for the

organization• Set up their successors for success• Give credit to others & take personal

responsibility when things go bad • Came from inside the company

“Low Ego Zone”

You can accomplish anything in life provided that you do not mind

who gets the credit

HARRY S. TRUMAN

Communicate, Communicate, Communicate …..

• Drucker – 60% of all problems• Transparency – there are no

secrets– Courage – be open and honest– Think “PR” / politics

• No one thinks they have a communication problem

• 2:1 rule – listen : talk

Coach ….. Andbe Coached!

• Coaching is about enhancing performance not simply dealing with negative performance

• How do you handle opposition?– Constructive criticism

Vs.– Unwarranted or unjust criticism

Coach ….. And Be Coached!

• How do you handle mistakes?– From others

Vs.– Your own

• How do you handle success?• What do you do to recharge?

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

• Must be:– Change Oriented– Servant in Nature / Level 5

–Courageous & Bold

First Who – Then What:Hire and Promote the Best

• Get the right people on the bus (share your values)

• Draw a line in the dirt!• Hire people for who they are• Hire for tomorrow’s job• Bring on people that are different• Hire “team players” – we vs I• Think long term• Be prepared – keep it legal

Keep The Main Thing The Main Thing

• Determining what is important is the easy part

• Maintaining focus is the hard part• “Not to do” lists are more

important than “to do” lists

• Understanding what you can be the best at & what you can’t be the best at

• Having a good competence not enough-can you be the very best

• What drives your economic engine-what has the greatest impact on success

• Only do those things that you can truly be passionate about

Hedgehog Concept

Be The Best You Can Be• Know yourself

– Work on areas needing enhancement– Be honest

• Set goals• Let go of the past

– Avoid “Groundhog Day”• Be a lifelong learner• Don’t be afraid to stretch … take a chance

Time Management

How we do the things we do

The things we do

Main Things RightExample – run a productive and

necessary meeting

Main Things WrongExample – waste

two hours during an important meeting

Wrong Things RightExample – facilitate

a great meeting that was not necessary

Wrong Things WrongExample – waste

everyone’s time at an unnecessary meeting

Address Interpersonal Conflicts

• Molehills and mountains– Ignoring it doesn’t make it go away– 1 : 10 : 100 rule

• “The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking that we were at when we created them”

– Albert Einstein

Performance Groups• Super stars

– Rewarded or abused?• Middle stars

– Build confidence; feedback; coach for goals; catch them doing good things; find a mentor; create rewards

• Falling stars– Must have the courage to confront

performance issues

Leadership for the 21st Century Land Grant University

• Must be:– Change Oriented– Servant in Nature / Level 5– Courageous & Bold

–Optimistic, Disciplined & Ethical

Half Full, Half Empty –On my way to the next glass!

• “A pessimist is one who makes difficulties of his opportunities; an optimist is one who makes opportunities of his difficulties”

» Reginald B. Mansell• Same situation viewed differently

– Developing country – shoe market• “No market here. Nobody wears shoes.”• “Great market here. Nobody wears shoes.”

– Same talk – two different reactions

Half Full, Half Empty –On my way to the next glass!

• Unique aspects of LG System– Tough budgets!

• Opportunity for leadership• Tough times put folks to the test

– Departmental cultures• Impact of 1-2 negative or positive folks• Negativity spreads faster than e-mail• Impact of leaders

Three Keys to BeingA “Next Glass” Leader

• Attack worry with purposeful action

• Surround yourself with positive people

• Continually look for the best in others … and yourself

Create a Culture of Ethics and Integrity

• You must walk the talk• Treat others as you would want to

be treated• Avoid “yes” people• Avoid the “everyone is super”

pitfall– You can’t tell folks what they want to

hear for very long!

Buckets and Dippers

Consider:• Are you and your organization changing with the

rest of the world?

• Is your view of the LG Mission modern?

• What are your areas of excellence?

• What will you subsidize?

• What will you no longer do?

References• “Good to Great” – Collins• “Monday Morning Leadership” and

“Leadership Courage” – www.cornerstone.com

• 2005 Inaugural Address, Lou Anna Simon, President MSU

president.msu.edu/speeches_pubs.html

Questions?Questions?