Leading …by Acting on the Possibilities. North Carolina State University Cooperative Extension

Leading

…by Acting on the Possibilities

North Carolina State University

Cooperative Extension

Defining Leadership

• What is Leadership

• Brainstorm

Leadership

• One person influencing another to willingly work toward a predetermined objective (Dessler, 2004)

• An individual’s ability to anticipate, envision, maintain flexibility, think strategically, and work with others in the organization to initiate changes that will create a viable and valuable future for an organization (Coulter, 2002)

Characteristics of Leadership

• In small groups or pairs, discuss what you think the characteristics of leaders would include

Characteristics of Leadership

You can’t be an effective manager these days without being an effective leader (Posner, in Bisoux 2002.

• Collaborate

• Build relationships, alliances

• Build connections (listen)

• Ambition & energy

• The desire to lead

• Honesty and integrity

• Self-confidence

• Intelligence• Job-relevant knowledge

Personality Traits

• Extraversion

• Emotional Stability

• Agreeableness

• Conscientiousness

• Open to experiences

Training vs. Mentoring

• Trainer focus – expert model, focus on product, process, procedures, advance organization

• Mentor focus – relationship model, role model, supporter

Identifying Potential Leaders

• Discuss in groups

• Share insights

What to ask when identifying a leader?

• To what extent is this person liked/admired?• Do they have any destructive characteristics?• Is the environment right for this person to succeed?

Possibilities Triangle

Roadblocks

• Stereotyping

• Assumptions

• Pessimism• Lacking vision and unable

to see the possibilities

Creating a Vision

• Speak about possibility• Recognize the downward spiral• Make others more powerful• Enroll every voice• Look at people• Quiet the voice in the head• Don’t take yourself too seriously

Seeing what is Possible

• Study the best• Be curious• Enlarge your mission• Clean sheet of paper• Travel• Leave your comfort zone• Describe what is possible

Describing what is possible

• Balance

• KIS

• Contrast

• Stories

• Paint a picture

• Make a case

Putting Energy into your Message

• Passion

• Energy

• Animation

• Confidence

• Determination

• Purposeful

• Happy

Presentations• Scenario:The child care program where you have been lead

teacher for 5 years was sold to a new owner. The new owner interviewed all staff and has identified you as a leader and asked you to manage the program. On the staff are 14 staff members. Two teachers are retiring within 2 months, four are seeking employment elsewhere. There is one cook who has been injured and a temporary cook has been hired. There is not an advisory board. What steps do you take?

Divide into small groups. Discuss. Then identify one person to present a persuasive message about direction to the group (who will act as if they are your staff).

Pursuing what is possible

• Take risks

• Supporting others

• Training

• Cheerleading

• Feedback

Self- assessment

• Read through the handout.

• Rate yourself

• Develop a plan to gain additional experiences, knowledge, confidence through practice and feedback

Balance

• Achieving your vision

• Effective leadership

• Seeing, describing, pursuing

LEADERSHIP 

Pull the string, and it will follow wherever you wish.

Push it, and it will go nowhere at all. 

     - Dwight D. Eisenhower

Discussion