LEADERSHIP : CUTTING THROUGH THE CLUTTER

May 2014 robert.dequelen@astrolab-consulting.com

« 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