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Leadership Essentials The Final Frontier
Presented by: Paula Riesch – PMP
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Objectives
• Learn what leadership is• Learn key components / laws of leadership• Learn key traits of successful leaders• Learn the difference between ‘good’ and
‘bad’ leadership• Take Away: How to improve YOUR
leadership abilities.
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Exercise
Think of someone you personally know that you think of as a leader.
Think of 2-3 things about them that makes you consider them a leader.
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U-12 Softball Team
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Definitions of Leadership
Leadership is influence - nothing more, nothing less.– John Maxwell
Leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal.
A leader is the inspiration and director of the action. -Susan Ward
A leader chooses a particular course of action and then gets others to go along. - Barbara Kellerman
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Leadership v. Management
“Management is doing things right; Leadership is doing the Right Things”– Peter Drucker
“Leadership is the art of accomplishing more than the science of management says is possible”– Colin Powell
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Project Manager – Leader or Manager?
• The role of the Project manager is multi-faceted. The PM serves simultaneously as a leader, manager, facilitator, and mentor.
• As a leader the Project manager defines the project vision and sells that vision to stakeholders and team members.
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Importance of Vision for PMs
• Provide shared, measurable, challenging and achievable GOALS as clear as sunlight. -Kimberly Wiefling
• Can have adverse results if the ultimate goal isn’t clear.
• Do you develop and share crystal clear goals with YOUR teams and stakeholders?
“When I was younger I wanted to BE somebody when I grew up. I just wish I had been more specific” Lily Tomlin
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Communication of the VISION
• Keep it Simple: Remove jargon, acronyms, technobabble, qualifications, etc.
• Use of Metaphors – paint a verbal picture• Multiple Forums: Formal & informal, written and
verbal• Repetition of the vision• Address seeming Inconsistencies• Two-Way communicationRequires CLARITY of thought and COURAGEFrom: Leading Change by John Kotter, 1996
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Laws of Leadership
The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, by John Maxwell
• The laws are the foundation of leadership• The laws can be learned• The laws can stand alone• Leadership requires the ability to do more
than one thing well• No one does all 21 laws well
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of InfluenceThe True measure of Leadership is Influence.
This is different than positional authority. Influence must be earned.
Food for Thought: – Mother Theresa– Story of Louis– Who are key influencers in YOUR
organization? How did they get there?
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Law of Influence
Influence is created through: – Consider the perspective of who you are influencing
• What is motivational to them?• Tailoring your ‘style’ and your message
– Building Positive Relationships– Work ethic and team work– Experience and competence– Trust: Do what you say– Influence evolves over time
“Being in power is like being a lady, if you have to tell people you are…you aren’t” Margaret Thatcher
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of ProcessLeadership develops daily, not overnightLeadership abilities compound over time. Leaders are continually learning and improvingSome have more natural ability, but everyone
can nurture and improve their leadership abilities.
“Leaders aren’t born. They are made just like anything else, through hard work”. Vince Lombardi
“If I have the belief that I can do it, I shall surely acquire the capacity to do it, even if I may not have it at the beginning”. Mahatma Gandhi
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of NavigationAbility to chart the course
(This is where Project Managers can really SHINE!!!)Have a vision of the end goal AND of the journey to
achieve it. A good leader inspires (Defines the ‘what’) A good leader instructs (Defines the ‘how’)“Never neglect details. When everyone’s mind is
dulled or distracted, the leader must be doubly vigilant” Colin Powell
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of Solid Ground-Build TRUST– Trust is the foundation of Leadership– To Receive trust, you must also give trust– Negative examples: Watergate & Enron– Positive Examples: Tylenol dealing with tampering– To build trust
• Frequent and honest communication• Work as hard (or harder) as the rest of your team• Do what you say, and say what you do• Take responsibility
– Its important to trust in yourself
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of Respect– People follow leaders stronger than
themselves.– Dictators rely on intimidation, that is not
leadership• How do leaders gain respect?
– Natural ability– Respect for others– Courage & loyalty– Success
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of Intuition– Everyone is intuitive in areas of their strengths– Consider facts plus instinct plus intangible
factors (politics, relationships, etc.)– Often need to make a decision with incomplete
information– Intuition feeds Creativity
“ Don’t be afraid to challenge the pros – even in their own backyard” Colin Powell
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Irrefutable Laws of Leadership
• The Law of Priorities– Leaders understand that Activity is not necessary
accomplishment– Focus on the Important… the “critical path” to
achieving a well-defined goal• Not everything warrants your ‘best’ effort
– Re-evaluate priorities regularly – What is more important – Heart, lung or kidneys?
(Kimberly Wiefling)A leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys
the entire situation and yells “Wrong Jungle!”Stephen Covey
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Good Leaders v. Bad Leaders
Ineffective Leaders• Incompetent
– Don’t have necessary skills or experience
• Rigid– Unable to modify
course when circumstances change
• Intemperate– Lacks self-control
Unethical Leaders• Callous
– Uncaring or unkind• Corrupt
– Lie, Cheat, Steal• Insular
– Disregard the well-being of ‘others
• Evil– Commit Atrocities
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From: Bad Leadership: What it is, How it Happens, Why it matters; by Barbara Kellerman 2004
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Bad Leaders
• Some Examples: – Juan Antonio Samaranch: IOC president– Andrew Fastow: Enron’s former CFO– Hitler: competent but Evil
• There can be no bad leaders without bad followers– Those that facilitate and assist the corruption– Those that tolerate it and look the other way
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How to keep from going Bad
• Limit your tenure• Share Power• Don’t believe your own
hype• Get real, and stay real• Compensate for your
weaknesses• Stay Balanced
• Remember the mission• Stay Healthy• Develop a personal
support system• Be Creative• Control your appetites• Be reflective
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From: Bad Leadership: What it is, How it Happens, Why it matters by Barbara Kellerman 2004
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Key Leadership Traits
• Honesty & Courage• Imparting a Vision• Competency & Intelligence• Charisma / Ability to Inspire• Excellent Communicator• Interpersonal Skills• Team Orientation
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Leadership Trait: Honesty
• Honesty / Integrity– Foundational to
Leadership– Your actions are the real
indication of your character, especially in times of stress
– Required to sustain excellence over the long-haul
– Having the courage to do the right thing and tell the truth as you see it
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Leadership Traits: Visionary
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• Be a Visionary– Has a forward-looking vision
of the future– Shares the vision effectively– Provides Focus
• A common shared vision is very powerful at any level– I have a Dream– Man on the Moon– Yes, we Can!
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Leadership Traits: Inspire
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• How to improve: – Change your focus to others– Make good first impressions– Share yourself: Mentor &
coach– Tell stories as illustrations– Share your Passion
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Leadership Traits: Competence
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• Competence / Intelligence– Do your Homework– Do more than your share– Keep Learning & improving– Be ready and engaged every
day– Follow-up on tasks– Don’t need to be the expert on
everything
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Leadership Traits: Communication
• Have the ability to transmit a sense of urgency and enthusiasm to others
• Communicators take something complicated and make it simple
• Ability to Simplify your message for the audience
• Seek a response / action• Proactive and honest
communication• Listening
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Leadership Trait: Interpersonal Skills
• Demonstrate mutual respect and professionalism– Consider people’s intentions and goals
• Be Approachable• Foster Relationships
– The Human Touch• Take responsibility
– Don’t lay blame on others– Share success
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Team Orientation
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• We succeed or fail as a team
• Work with the team– Work as hard as anyone
else• BE THERE! (and bring
food) • Your job as PM to keep
Project team productive– PM as Human Shield
• Delegate appropriately
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Develop YOUR Leadership Capabilities
• Watch / observe – Those you admire –
what makes them effective?
– Your own Behavior• Self-assessment and
evaluation– Tools are Available
• Self-Study / Reading
• Opportunities at Work– Project Team– Colleagues– Seek ‘stretch’
assignments• Church• Sports Teams• Volunteer
Organizations• At Home
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Primary Sources
• The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John Maxwell
• Bad Leadership, Barbara Kellerman• Scrappy Project Management, Kimberly
Wiefling• The 21 Indispensable Qualities of a
Leader, John Maxwell• “The Challenges of Leadership in the
Modern World” Warren Bennis
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Questions?
Thank you for your [email protected]
608.843.2034