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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

An Eight Step Guide to Developing Your Leadership Skills

Dan McCarthy, Director Executive Development Programs

The University of New Hampshire

2017 SHRM Vermont

Human Resources State Conference

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Today’s session:

• Less theory; more practical application

• You’ll leave with at least one action step for your own leadership development journey

• Can also apply to help others develop their leadership

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

My background:

• Leadership Development, OD and HR for RG&E, Kodak, Paychex

• The University of New Hampshire: Exec Ed

• Leadership writer, executive coach, consultant

• 30 years of management experience (and stupid mistakes)

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

1. Why?

2. Define leadership

3. Assessment

4. Get specific

5. Variety

6. Plan and practice

7. Feedback and reflection

8. Continuous learning

The 8-step Roadmap

you?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

• Leadership development requires behavioral change

• Behavioral change is HARD and requires motivation

Step 1: Start with “Why”?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Motivation =

1. Purpose

2. Autonomy

3. Mastery

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

No purpose = no motivation = no behavior change

Why do you want to improve your leadership skills?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Action:

1. Answer the question: Why do I want to become a better leader?

– So I can be more successful

– So I can help others be more successful

– So I can help my organization succeed

– So I can make a difference in the lives of others

– So I can leave as lasting legacy

– So I can change the world

Find a compelling reason that will motivate you!

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Step 2. Know What Leadership Looks Like

What is “leadership”?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

"There are almost as many definitions of leadership as there are persons who have attempted to define the concept." - Ralph Stogdill

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Your

favorites?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

1. Read 1-2 biographies of leaders you admire

2. Read 2-3 leadership books

3. Interview 2-3 leaders that you admire

4. Take a leadership course

5. Develop your own “top 10” list of traits, characteristics, and/or behaviors that define leadership for you

Action Steps: Learn about leadership

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Step 3: Assess yourself against your list

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

The limits of self-assessment:

– Intentions vs. behaviors

– Blind spots

– Technical vs. behavioral skills

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Feedback

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Action Steps: Get some feedback:

– Ask……. Carefully

– On a scale of 1-10……

– Listen, say “thanks”, and be on the lookout for blind spots

– 360 degree leadership assessment

– Personality and style assessments

– Recruiters, job interviews

– Ask your teenager

Leadership

Course or

Coaching

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

• “Improve my ability to listen when I’m in a hurry or under stress”

• “learn how to manage conflict”

• “Learn to be delegate, to let go”

• “Improve my presentation skills”

Action step:

• Pick just one thing

• Get S.M.A.R.T. about it

Step 4: Get Specific

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Step 5: Development

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

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• First born:• Intelligence (but not too smart)

• Energy, ambition

• Then, mostly made:• Knowledge

• Skills

• Emotional Intelligence

• “Scars”

• “Grit”

• Resiliency

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

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The “Right Stuff”• “I am the sum total of the life I have

lived….There is no such thing as a natural–born pilot. Whatever my aptitudes or talents, becoming a proficient pilot was hard work, really a lifetime’s learning experience. For the best pilots, flying is an obsession, the one thing in life they must continually do. The best pilots fly more than the others; that’s why they are the best”.

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

How do leaders develop?

• Thinking back over your career, choose 3 – 5 development experiences of importance and impact – the ones that resulted in the most learning. These can be on or off the job, at any point in your career. They could be jobs, assignments, projects, bosses, classes, coaches, or other experiences that made you see things in a different way, built skills that you still use today, or significantly changed your behavior.

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

SignificantOtherPeople

ChallengingAssignments

Hardships

OtherEvents

48%

18%

17%

17%

Research from the Center for Creative Leadership

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Action Steps: Hit the need with a variety of learning resources

Action steps:

• Take on a challenging work assignment

• Take on a challenge off-the job

• Get help from others: coach, mentor, roles models

• Take a course (no fads, assesments, peer learning, application)

• Read a “how-to” books, subscribe to blogs, videos, podcasts, etc…– Developmental “HEAT”!

• Get some “feedforward”

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Action steps:

• Write it down!

• Leadership Development Plan

• Public “declarations”

• Find a partner

• Deliberate practice

Step 6: Plan and Practice

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Action Steps:

• Get more feedback: “How am I doing?”

Reflection:

• Start a journal

• Debrief with a coach, learning partner, mentor

Step 7: Feedback & Reflection

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Step 8: Continuous Improvement

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

1. Why?

2. Define leadership

3. Assessment

4. Get specific

5. Variety

6. Plan and practice

7. Feedback and reflection

8. Continuous learning

Summary: The 8-step Roadmap

you?

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Executive Development Programs – Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics

Email: daniel.mccarthy@unh.edu

Phone: 603-862-3311

Twitter: @greatleadership

UNH Leadership Certificate Program:

6 days, Durham NH

360 assessment, coaching, research based contenthttp://paulcollege.unh.edu/executive-education/leadership-certificate-program

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