1. THE MEANING OF LEADERSHIP Dr Alison Atwell: October 2012

2. EXPLORING MEANING Meanings are never closed and finished but open and negotiable. There is never a final interpretation because we never reach a final perception. (Hedley Beare & Richard Slaughter)

3. A DAILY ON-GOING MEANING Leadership has to take place every day. It cannot be the responsibility of the few, a rare event or a once in a while activity. (Ronald Heifetz and Donald Laurie)

4. MY LEADERSHIP GURUS • Headley Beare • Richard Slaughter • John Maxwell • James Kouzes • Barry Posner • Warren Bennis • Burt Nanus • Ronald Heifetz • Donald Laurie • Thomas Sergiovanni • Peter Senge • Linda Lambert • Peter Drucker • Marilyn Katzenmeyer • Gayle Moller • Michael Fullan • Robert Greenleaf

5. UNDERSTANDING LEADERSHIP THEORIES

6. Leadership as a term offers numerous meanings throughout organizations and certainly within educational contexts. However two factors stand out in efforts to define leadership that are common to all.

7. Leadership is a group function that requires interaction and in addition leadership requires intentional influence on the behaviors of other people. You cannot have leaders without followers but at the same time there are many ways of viewing how this relationship works and what makes it work at its best.

8. Above all leadership should be seen as a process rather than a product.

9. There is not one single style of leadership that is better than other styles. Most leaders create their own style of leading by seeking what elements work best for them out of a range of possible styles available. They take the best aspects and weave them together.

10. What we mean by leadership and what our expectations of a leader are has changed dramatically during the past decades. We should acknowledge that to accept new theories requires a change in mind set in order to move forward. For example we choose today to abandon some early theories such as the “Great person theory” in light of our greater understanding of more relevant recent offerings.

11. MY PERSONAL THEORETICAL BASE HEART-CENTRED THEORY

12. The Heart Centred Theory of Leadership identified what is considered important for leaders in terms of a leader’s ability to question processes, inspire shared vision, help others to reach their full potential and to encourage the heart. This style of leadership is seen as being inspirational as it doesn’t ever resort to the use of authority but rather energizes others into a common cause. It generates a compelling vision that changes the way that individuals see the world around them.

13. LEADERSHIP FROM THE HEART Outstanding leaders appeal to the hearts of their followers not their minds. (John Maxwell)

14. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye. (Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

15. DREAMING OF POSSIBILITIES HOW DO YOU BEGIN YOUR LEADERSHIP JOURNEY?

16. WHERE DO OUR DREAMS LIE? WHAT IS OUR VISION FOR OUR PREFERRED LEADERSHIP? HOW SHALL WE REACH THIS PREFFERED VISION?

17. Dreams are the touchstones of our character. (Henry Thoreau) All glory comes from daring to begin. (Eugene F. Ware)

18. HOW DO WE MAKE OUR LEADERSHIP DREAMS BECOME REALITY?

19. To make dreams apparent to others and to align with them requires not just mere explanation or clarification but the creation of meaning. . . Leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality. (Warren Bennis)

20. CONTINUING THE DREAM Leadership development is a life time journey not a brief trip. (John Maxwell)

21. WEAVING THE DREAM

22. LEADERSHIP IS ABOUT INFLUENCE The true measure of leadership is influence- nothing more nothing less. Leadership isn’t about titles, positions or flowcharts it is about one life influencing others (John Maxwell)

23. EMPOWERMENT OF OTHERS Leadership is not wielding authority – it’s empowering people. (Becky Brodin)

24. ARE WE BORN WITH LEADERSHIP? Leadership does not simply happen. It can be taught, learned, developed. (Rudolph Giuliani)

25. Leadership is influencing others to follow. After all if you don’t have followers you are not leading anyone. Leadership is about working with and relating to people. Leadership is not something that I or anyone else can give you. You can’t buy it. And you can’t expect others to anoint you with leadership because you are the manger. Leadership has to be earned. The long and the short of it . . . It takes time (Valerie Sokolosky)

26. LEADERSHIP CORNERSTONES • YOUR VALUES • YOUR SKILLS • YOUR HUMANITY

27. YOUR VALUES • Always value your personal integrity. Your integrity is integral to the trust that others place in you. • Always be responsible. You must be accountable for your actions. • Always be committed. You must give 100% of yourself to the task at hand. • Always look forward and have a vision for the future. VALUES VALUES

28. YOUR SKILLS • Always communicate effectively • Always remove obstacles that will cause tension and inhibit followers • Always be optimistic. Consider the best scenario and aim for its implementation • Always embrace change SKILLS SKILLS

29. YOUR HUMANITY • Always empower others to take responsibility • Always confront issues and be courageous in your journey • Always act as a positive role model • Always continue to develop yourself and to develop others. YOUR HUMANITY YOUR HUMANITY

30. Without trust, words become the hollow sound of a wooden gong. With trust, words become life itself.
(John Harold)

31. Leadership is all about working together with others • Purpose and values • Empowerment • Relationships and communication • Flexibility • Optimal performance • Recognition and appreciation • Morale

32. CHARACTERISTICS OF A GREAT LEADER

33. The following list gives some important characteristics of great leaders. • Teaching • Empowering • Genuine • Caring • Inspiring • Activating • Contributing • Responsive • Serving • Energetic • Inspirational • Giving • Cooperative • Adaptable • Encouraging • Transparent • Accountable • Friendly • Positive • Open • Balanced • Professional • Organized • Collaborative • Loyal • Fun • Problem-solving • Responsible • Diligent • Challenging • Praising • Dynamic • Respectful • Motivating • Communicative • Questioning • Developing • Mentoring • Visioning

34. This list is open and can have additions! • Diplomatic • Open-minded • Creative • Determined • Patient • Optimistic • Sociable • Questioning • Developing • Mentoring • Visioning • Fun • Problem-solving • Responsible • Diligent • Challenging • Praising • Dynamic • Respectful • Motivating • Communicative • Reflective

35. Leadership is not a solo act it’s all about working with others • Morale • Purpose and values • Empowerment • Relationships and communication • Flexibility • Optimal performance • Recognition and appreciation

36. HOW TO BE A GREAT LEADER? If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, you are a leader. (John Quincy Adams)

37. PREPARATION & SKILLS Preparation is the key to leadership. Before you can begin to lead you need to ask yourself some critical questions.

38. Do you have the skills necessary to be a successful leader?

39. Do you know what you are expected to do? Do you really know the people you are leading and what they want?

40. EXTRAORDINARY LEADERS If you really want to become a great leader then you will need to know the answers to these simple questions. It is important that we focus on becoming “great” leaders, “extraordinary” leaders.

41. There isn’t really any value in being “ordinary” leaders if we really want to make a difference.

42. To do this we need to practice leadership not merely play at leadership. In other words keep on building skills. If you want to know the answers to the questions posed above then you need to practice gaining skills.

43. Some of these skills that can be practised include: • Work on your interpersonal skills • Build positive relationships. • Always communicate effectively with others. • Energize others to take action by motivating others to achieve more than they ever thought possible. • Stay approachable and build trust.

44. Develop yourself but also develop others by ensuring that others have every opportunity to grow and collaborate with others and build strong teams.

45. Listen and use people’s names. • When talking to people say or do things that allows the other person to know that you are listening and understanding.

46. Smile when meeting and greeting other people!!!!

47. Always focus on building your personal strengths.

48. Look at what you already do well and learn how to do it even better.

49. Try working on just a few areas at a time so that you can really improve.

50. Address weaknesses: Work out a plan of action to overcome any significant weaknesses.