Authentic Leadership and Communicating with Purpose

A Think Tank on Ethics and Responsibility

Anthony ButlerAssistant Director of Leadership,

Rosenberg Center for Student Involvement

You can’t build a reputation on what you’re going to do.

Henry Ford

The Leader’s Responsibility

Create a culture of communication.

Why can’t weCOMMUNICATE?

Rules

• No idea is a bad idea

• Be creative

• Take risks

• No criticism allowed

Communication, Communication, Communication…

• Why do teams fail to communicate?

• What are some examples of poor communication in your groups?

• What about examples of great communication?

Creating a Clear, Meaningful Sense of Direction

The tools to communicate direction:

• A clear statement of purpose and core values

• An inspiring and specific vision of an exciting future

• A clear statement of our core business and position

Responsible Management Gets ResultsFaust, Lules & Phillips

Creating a Clear, Meaningful Sense of Direction

The tools to communicate direction:

• A focused set of strategic initiatives that we follow to achieve vision for the shorter term (1-3 years)

• Processes and documents that communicate the vision, strategies and goals and translate them into meaningful, concrete terms for those who make them happen.

Responsible Management Gets ResultsFaust, Lules & Phillips

How a Leader Sets Direction

• Create a strong vision

• Articulate a clear course

• Bias the organization toward action

• Lift up the organization

• Practice excellent personal communication

• Earn conviction

A Briefing for LeadersDilenschneider Harper Business

How a Leader Sets Direction

• Sustain the vision

• Create unity of purpose

• Leverage the strength of the culture

• Support positive rituals

• Harmonize vision and culture

• Train people to focus

A Briefing for LeadersDilenschneider Harper Business

The team’s responsibility

Communicate consistently and influence UP if needed.

Brainstorming Group Communication

• Work in Pairs

• Describe a situation where communication wasn’t happening for your team

• Brainstorm ideas on how your group could have communicate better.

• Now SWITCH

Brainstorming Group Communication

• Report out: Tell us some solutions for poor communicators.

• Let’s make a list of winning communication strategies for groups

• What strategies can we all agree on…UNANIMOUSLY!

Leadership and Listening

Captain

D. Michael Abrashoff

USS Benfold

From one of the worst

ships in the Navy to

the best.

Leadership and Listening

• See the ship through the crew’s eyes

• Find round people for round holes.

• Use the power of word magic.

Leadership and Listening

“Shortly after I took

command of Benfold,

I vowed to treat

every encounter

with every person

on the ship as the

most important

thing of that

moment.”

D. Michael Abrashoff

What is Authentic Leadership?

• And what does authentic leadership have to do with communication?

• Handout on authentic leaders

Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Winston Churchill

Questions?Anthony Butler

Assistant Director of Leadership, Rosenberg Center for Student

InvolvementStudent Center Room 303

410.837.5419abutler@ubalt.edu