Leadership is in Your Hands

Though some people still hold the philosophy that “leaders are born and not made”, there is a strong body of research that suggests that, with desire, we can choose to learn the leadership skills so important to influencing and guiding others.

Over the years, most of my consulting projects have required addressing the need for leadership. Whether working with union-management issues, communities reaching out for growth, executives, or with student leaders, strategies for improving leadership have made a substantive difference in those who apply them.

Developing and/or strengthening leadership behavior certainly isn’t limited to adults or to business, as I was reminded while working with students at Berg Middle School. Principals Dave Gallaher and Wendy Parker recently expressed a need for building positive leadership with the middle school students. In response, our office developed a 4-hour leadership program that is having tremendous impact on those who take part.

In just five weeks, the program originally developed to respond to Berg’s needs has proven valuable to five very different groups that have participated including eighth graders, high school students, college students, nurse managers, and selected teens at a Teen Center. We have identified several key elements of the program that enable the kind of extraordinary outcomes and behavior changes that have caused key decision makers to request additional programs. Consider how these program elements might benefit you in our work world or personal life.

1. Ownership- Throughout the program, there are overt and subtle messages to each participant for owning the responsibility for their own as well as others’ learning and fun. Beginning the session with clear goals, guidelines for working together, shared fun and a clear schedule are overt messages. Learning participant names, holding each other accountable to the guidelines and shared participation in the teaching of major points are more subtle messages that each person is a valued contributor.

2. Simplicity- There are four segments to the program, each packed with powerful information, but communicated with clear object lessons and/or simple language. For example, for all of the many definitions of leadership I’ve learned (and used!) over the years, the very best I learned from a colleague. Simply stated, leadership is positive influence. Positive influence.
Participants are challenged to affirm positive influence, leadership behavior, throughout their time together.

3. Personal Responsibility- We hold each other accountable to telling the truth throughout this leadership experience. Many of us agree that there are far too many times in our daily lives when there is an omission regarding the truth. A “truth miss” damages trust. Damaged trust hurts relationships. Hurt relationships inhibit working together. Most of us agree that the truth, respectfully told, is essential to becoming a powerful positive influence. So we emphasize telling the truth throughout this program. If you don’t understand something, say so. If you disagree with something, say so. If you want to encourage someone, say so. If you want to contribute an idea, say so.
Consistently honoring the truth in our communication and actions builds authentic self confidence and leadership.

4. Application of skills to a current issue- Inviting participants to apply their brainpower to rational problem solving and planning has been wildly successful. In a limited amount of time, usually 90 minutes, participants address a current issue of concern using brainstorming, priority setting, planning and goal setting. Most of the output has been highly valuable. For example, the eighth graders tackled the issue of making their school a safer place on the last day of school, the high school students addressed becoming more responsible citizens regarding their commitments and promises, the college students considered specific strategies for building a sense of community on their campus and the nurse managers identified specific actions to impact their hospital’s quality of services to patients. It has been a significant confidence builder for participants to experience the success of developing high quality actions to resolve significant challenges.

More than ever, we live in a time when we are concerned about our future. However, our future comes minute by minute. We can choose to make the most of each minute by developing ourselves and others as leaders through growing our influence in positive ways.

By Susan B. Wilson, President, Executive Strategies

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