The only person that I can change is ME! And try as they may, others cannot make me change if I don’t make that decision myself.
For leaders, this is a critical thing to understand because in their capacity ,they are responsible for guiding others through a rapidly changing world.
I believe effective management of change begins with an authentic and compelling vision and clear values for whatever the organization/endeavor. Values & vision are part of the recruitment/hiring process where staff is on board with the direction and purpose of the company from the beginning.
Vision and values are part of performance discussions, are integral components of meetings , drive the budget vs numbers and metrics driving vision/values/purpose.
People are more apt to be on board with change if they are connected to the values and the vision. If there is a big disconnect(ie they are there for the money for instance), resistance to change will be elevated.
I have an anecdote that I speak to, to help leaders with change; “Change, & Kindegarten”…Go to youtube/liftoffleadership and you will find it.
Change isn’t going away; the more leaders accept it and learn to deal effectively and proactively with it, the more effective and vital our organizations will be!
Posts Tagged ‘Self Leadership Values Leadership Accountability’
Change & Kindegarten
Tuesday, August 24th, 2010Attention all Leaders Watch this video
Monday, August 16th, 2010Imagine Leadership Video http://www.youtube.com/user/xplanevisualthinking#p/u/3/TuuTlQ0FzEU
Does Leadership need to be a Profession to keep it on the up & up?
Thursday, July 22nd, 2010
In further contemplation of the HBR article July 21 by Rakesh Khurana and associated responses I would like to add some additional thoughts about leadership and it being designated as a profession.
Underlying this discussion is the reason I believe for the discussion; that is the decline in public trust & confidence in leadership as a consequence of the egregious behavior of leaders in many arenas. I’m not slamming all leaders because surely there are many altruistic, effective leaders of integrity and accountability.
In my perspective and in the many conversations that I have with people about the state of leadership today, there is a lot of cynicism and distrust of leadership in general; many have given up on having respect for leaders at all.
I believe that this lack of confidence and trust is at the root of the need to even have a conversation about professionalizing leadership.
With that said, I believe that something needs to be done to elevate the behaviors, conduct and quality of leadership. Something needs to be done to restore public trust and confidence. And not just for the sake of restoring respect but for the sake of the future as it is affected by the conduct of leaders.
Developing a professional designation is in my opinion one way to solve what I consider to be a real issue around the poor regard that leaders hold now for all the reasons and more stated above.
A professional designation doesn’t have to be like accountants or physicians. It can be unique to leadership and developed through pulling together a diverse group of actual leaders, academics, consultants and employees to tackle the issue and arrive at solutions. They could start with a future vision of how leadership could look in the future and go from there with a strategy.
The Hippocratic Oath wasn’t a designation or something in a book for my father. It was an expression of what he believed in his heart was the reason that he was a physician. The plaque on the wall that he proudly displayed had nothing to do with money and everything to do with serving others. It was an ideal that he believed in. Imagine if leaders felt that way about their responsibility to and influence on the quality of the lives of others?
To me it’s not naïve to think that leadership can be moved I this direction; it’s necessary to our future.
Leadership in its positional authority can have a great influence on people and society. In that role leaders can do good or do harm. If a designation and program can be developed that will remind leaders of this then it is a project truly worthwhile.
LiftOFF’s RESPONSE to Why Management must be a Profession by Rakesh Khurana
Wednesday, July 21st, 2010Hi Rakesh
I could not agree with you more. I have been a leader for 35+years and have personally witnessed a steady decline in public trust and confidence in leadership in general. If measured by the consistent reports of leadership fraud, self interest and general unethical behavior/ decisions on the part of so many leaders, this trend does not look like it will be reversed unless efforts are made to address these issues and seek solutions.
I agree that one solution is to make leadership a profession. My father was a DR. and so proud of the Hippocratic Oath; it truly guided his actions.
It looks like it’s time to have something similiar for leaders ; not just the oaths floating around(a good start) but a consolidated profession inclusive of an oath that is incorporated into all MBA programs and a well conceptualized and developed, collaborative professional leadership designation.
It’s time.
On another note I have a book coming out next spring called “LiftOFF Leadership”(Beaufort Books) that is my effort to elevate the leadership ranks. It reminds leaders of their influence on and responsibility to those that work for them,their organizations and communities. It calls for a return to fundamental values(such as Integrity/Accountability…)and allows the reader to reflect on ,identify and assess themselves on core values.
The book is just one medium for my commitment to bringing the leadership”profession” back towards being respected and trusted.
I think the task would be enhanced if leadership actually was a profession.
In conclusion if there are plans in the works to actually make this a reality I would like to contribute.
With kind regards,
Betty Shotton
www.liftoffleadership.com
www.liftoffleadership.com/blog
facebook/liftoffleadership
Do you think we are experiencing a Crisis in Leadership?
Saturday, July 10th, 2010I do and would love to get the opinions of others.
And I’m not talking about just the Presidency or big name/high profile names like Fuld or Madoff or Lay.
I believe that we are experiencing a growing public lack of trust and confidence and respect for the profession because unethical and self serving behavior amongst leaders is so rampant.
This poor behavior on the part of leaders has developed from a widely adopted Wall Street model that says profit at all costs…at the cost of jobs, the environment, sustainability, the health and welfare of customers and the public…profit at the cost of what is needed to actually sustain life in the long run.
This narrow focus has and continues to pummel humankind and our natural resources.
Do you agree/disagree and from your responses I would like to move forward with discussions of solutions.
Leadership crisis? Yes/ No?
In RESPONSE TO HBR NON CONSCIOUS LEADERS BY Tony Schwartz 6/01/10
Tuesday, June 1st, 2010LIFTOFF Leadership Responds:
Thanks for bringing up the subject of the “Non consciousness” in leadership. I like to refer to your use of the term as EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE.
We all have it; it’s just the degree to which our behavior and conduct is adversely affected by it.
In a perfect world leaders would have the enlightenment of Buddha and the humility born of the hardships and injustices endured by Nelson Mandela. Unfortunately most western leaders don’t get the opportunity to be wrongfully imprisoned for 27 years nor do many decide to cast off their inherited legacies of wealth and comfort for a lifelong pursuit of meaning.
It might be kind of ok to have wasted time and energy in the ranks as employees grabble with the complexities and dysfunctions of other staff members.
The same should not be so for leaders. Their influence is too great.
A leader’s emotional baggage can inflict much harm and is evident in the meltdowns of many a financial/business/religious and political leader recently…pick your scandal. Behind the dysfunction is a root cause that could be dealt with some analysis and time devoted to understanding oneself and doing the work and spending the time to correct resultant damaging behaviors. But leaders are not encouraged to do that.
Thousands of years ago the Delphi Oracle told us succinctly what was fundamental to progress, “Know thyself”. It is as pertinent today as it was then yet still we don’t take the time to do it.
Our business culture has largely modeled itself after the military so stoicism, stiff upper lip, hide your weaknesses has been the message to leaders for decades.
Perhaps it is time to start providing emotional training in MBA programs and push Self Leadership as a fundamental class for any Leadership Development Program. Send out the message to leaders that not only is it ok to get help with emotional issues but it is imperative that they identify their weaknesses and be willing to change and grow into an ever better person(on an on-going basis) .
A very wise friend of mine once said; “I looked at my life and noted where I hurt others and vowed to change the behaviors behind the damaging actions and/or words”…good advice for all of us.
Entries (RSS)