In Search of Excellence:

Becoming a more effective leader.

Introductions

Are you a leader?

Why are you a leader?

Did you get training?

Activity 

Have you ever had a bad boss/leader? What made them “bad”? Care to share . . .

Introductions

Kerenda ApplebeyTraining and Technical Assistance ManagerEarly On Training and Technical Assistance

CCRESA/Office of Innovation

517-668-0185applebey_k@ccresa.org

Today’s Desired Outcomes• Embrace and celebrate yourselves as leaders – the work

you do and the opportunities you have.

• Deepen your understanding that leadership is not a job title – it is a point-of-view.

• Reflect on qualities of effective leadership.

• Identify specific leadership challenges and identify strategies for overcoming those challenges.

What’s Your Leadership Challenge?

Care to share . . .

Keep in mind – we’ll come back at the end and see if you got any ideas for addressing it.

Your Learning . . .

Focus on a specific leadership challenge and listening for ideas that will help with that challenge

Set a leadership goal for yourself between now and this time next year

Listen for what stands out for you and reflect in whatever way fits for you

What is Leadership?

Activity:

• Turn to a person next to you – introduce yourself

• The definition of leadership is ____________

• Care to share . . .

What is Leadership?

Leadership is ____________

What is Leadership?

Proverb:She who thinketh she leaderth and hath no one following her

is only taking a walk.

Who is a Leader?

Everyone!

Who is a Leader?

The questions become . . .

What kind of leader/influencer will you be? Positive or Negative?

How can you be more effective?1st – Be a positive influence2nd – Change your attitude(s)3rd – Learn some new skills

Themes of Leadership

Vision

Process

Outcomes

Themes of Leadership

Vision Mission and Values Philosophy and Attitude

Professional & Personal Integrity & the Parallel Process Strength-Based Approach

Themes of Leadership

Process Leadership vs. Management People & relationships Effective communication Priorities, intentionality, self discipline

Themes of Leadership

Outcomes Measureable outcomes anyone? What’s the payoff? Learning communities

Themes of Leadership

Vision vs. Process vs. Outcomes

Is one more important than the others?

Know which area you are most comfortable/experienced in . . .

Resist the urge to only focus on that area.

VISION

Vision and Mission Statements Do you have one? Do you know what it is? Care to share . . .

VISION

What is the vision/mission of Early On? Turn to your neighbor and tell them . . . Care to share . . .

VISION What makes a vision/mission valuable?

How will you know when you get there if you don’t know where you’re going?

It needs to be short enough to be memorable.

It will help you make decisions about how to spend your energy and resources.

VISION Organizational Values/Standards of Excellence

• What are some examples of organizational values?

Early On? Your organization/department?

• How are you communicating them?

VISION Philosophy & Attitude

• Professional and Personal Beliefs

• Integrity & the Parallel Process

• Strengths-Based Approach

VISION

Philosophy & Attitude

• Professional and Personal Beliefs What are yours? What beliefs underlie your actions? Create a personal mission statement

VISION

Philosophy & Attitude• The Parallel Process & Integrity

Related concepts• Do unto others as you’d have them do unto others

(Jeree Paul)• Walking your talk

You can not expect that which you are not. Leader ↔ Staff ↔ Parents ↔ Children Model what you expect

VISION Model what you expect (some examples)

Act professionally Work hard Be a good listener Have a sense of humor Have high expectations for yourself and your staff (but

always higher for yourself) When you’re wrong, admit it; apologize and move on Don’t panic in a crisis Accept responsibilities for problems; credit others for

successes

VISION

Philosophy & Attitude

• Strengths-Based Approach More than an example of parallel process Social Services:

• Opposite of deficit-based approach• Abilities vs. disabilities

Business:• Approach to staff development and organizational

leadership

Themes of Leadership

Vision Mission and Values Philosophy and Attitude -- Professional & Personal

Parallel Process, Integrity, Strengths-Based Approach

Process Leadership vs. Management Relationships Effective communication Priorities, intentionality, self discipline

Outcomes

PROCESS

Leadership vs. Management

• Not the same Can be an effective manager without being a leader

but,

Can’t be an effective leader without having some strong management skills

PROCESS

Leadership vs. Management

A couple of key management skills:

Learn to hire well Targeted Selection

Learn to run effective meetings Great Meetings

PROCESS

It’s all about Relationships!

People – your most appreciable asset

PROCESS• Staff development:

Check your assumptions about people/employees Really listen – learn to see things from their

perspective Learn what motivates people

• Learn what de-motivates people Handle conflict effectively

• Between you and staff• Between staff

Support people’s growth – even if it means losing them

PROCESS

Be an effective communicator Over communicate Decision making Problem solving

PROCESS

Be an effective communicator Better to over-communicate than to under-

communicate

“Assumption is the mother of all screw-ups”(Carl

Ill)

- Tell the truth – in the most loving way possible – but tell the truth

PROCESS

Be an effective communicator

Clarify the decision-making process√ I decide√ You give me your opinion and then I decide√ We decide

PROCESS

Be an effective communicator

Problem-solving: Right attitude:

Listen Whose problem is it? What influence do I have? Is a change in perception needed?

Problem-solving

Right action: Identify the problem Prioritize the problem Define the problem

Ask the right questions Talk to the right people Get the hard facts Get involved in the process

PROCESS

• Priorities, intentionality, self discipline Spend your time/energy on the most important

things• Important & Not Urgent (Covey – Quadrant II)

Be intentional – what’s the most important focus/accomplishment:• This year? This month? Today?

Self Discipline – Lead yourself first!

PROCESS

“Great leaders have understood that their number one responsibility was for their own discipline and personal growth.”

(Maxwell, p. 161)

PROCESS

Self discipline Make a list of 5 areas in your work/life that

need more discipline Prioritize them Start small

Find resources Get help/support/models Focus in the a.m., check in mid-day, reflect each evening Allow 60 days before moving on to next area Celebrate your successes!

Themes of Leadership Vision

Mission and Values Philosophy and Attitude -- Professional & Personal

Parallel Process, Integrity, Strengths-Based Approach

Process Leadership vs. Management Priorities, intentionality, self discipline Effective communication Relationships

Outcomes Measurable outcomes anyone? What’s the payoff? Learning communities

OUTCOMES

• Measurable outcomes anyone? Focus of recent years Does it have a negative connotation?

• What’s the pay off? Mission? Other measures? Essential to job satisfaction

OUTCOMES

• Create a learning community Continuous improvement model Reflection is essential to learning• Which is essential to improvement• Which is essential to organizational

health Include staff in the process (don’t inflict it on

them)

Themes of Leadership Vision

Mission and Values Philosophy and Attitude -- Professional & Personal Parallel Process, Integrity, Strengths-Based Approach

Process Leadership vs. Management Priorities, intentionality, self discipline Effective communication Relationships

Outcomes Measurable outcomes anyone? What’s the payoff? Learning communities

Reflections/Ideas?

Small groups (2 – 5) What was your leadership challenge?

Ideas? How would you like to improve your leadership

skills over the next year? Ideas?

What stood out for you in this presentation? What will you do with that?

CLOSING

Resources Addressed & sealed envelopes I truly value your feedback!

Conference evaluation forms Additional feedback:

Desired Outcomes? What was most helpful for you? What could I do to improve this workshop? Which of these topics would you most like to learn more

about?

Thank you for your attention & participation!