E-Leadership –Emerging Behavioral and Communication Issues

1. E-Leadership –Emerging Behavioral and Communication Issues ‘Kehinde Olagoke NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF BUILDING

2. Leadership As we know it! • Have a Vision • Harness the Talent and skills of Team members and clients • Communicate & Articulate the Vision to Team members and your clients • Delegate Function • Monitor Progress, Mentor Team/Followers/Clients • Motivate by rewarding achievements and reprimanding failure to meet the challenges of the clients.

3. e-Leadership? Now significant human interactions are mediated through information technology to produce new organizational form and new work environment termed E-environment and the emerging leadership is labeled as E-leadership or Electronic leadership

4. Leadership- Traditional or Electronic Any connection ? The goals of leadership have not changed , but the e-leader needs to implement those goals electronically through computer mediated virtual teams that are dispersed over space and time . Leadership patterns are beginning to reflect transition from industrial to post-industrial society. The new society variously called information society, is marked by rapid and far reaching changes in digitalization of information and communication technology.

5. Why e-leadership? The use of information technology over the years has been altering the way organizations are Conducting their business. As a result new organizational form -virtual organization - has emerged. Leader and followers now communicate through E-technologies (telephone, e-mail, chat social media and video-conferencing etc).

6. So what is in it for Me? • Instant direct communication with employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders . • Access to clients irrespective of location • Enhancement of organizational performance by making use of multi-functional teams • Cost Reduction • Access to information/greater workforce connectivity • Rapid response to customers demands • Increased or Improved Bottom-line as competitive advantage is enhanced

7. What are we Up Against ? • Bridging the physical distance between the leader, his team and clients. • Communicating effectively with widespread team members who in turn make it simple for the clients. • Conveyance of enthusiasm and inspiration to followers and clients electronically • Building of Trust with team members and the clients you don’t see

8. Technology + Leadership = Transformational Leadership Adaptive Structuration Theory - Human actions are guided by structures: Structures are rules and resources that serve as templates for planning and accomplishing tasks . • Technology creates organizational structures of which leadership is a part. • Leadership and technology have a recursive relationship .

9. Practice of e-Leadership • Be prepared • Develop New Skills • Be adaptable to Change/Flexible • Learn to Re-learn • Learn to Motivate • Learn to Build Trust • Understand the value of e-technologies • Experiment with ideas

10. e-Leadership and Communication Comunication is key in e-leadarship. It takes place through information technology. Could be verbal, non verbal, Visual , non Visual etc The basic responsibilities of the leader do not change; the only thing that change is how the leader can communicate with his people effectively while they are not at the same office building.

11. Barriers to e-leadership Communication • Beliefs/Perception • Information Overload • Assumption

12. Overcoming the Barriers of e-leadership communication • Knowing when to replace traditional work processes with virtual ones • Learn about cultural differences, if these could pose problems • Avoid the use of Jargons • Avoid language that is confrontational or Judgmental

13. Audience Analysis Analysis- Who is the audience ? Understanding- What is the audience’s Knowledge of the subject Demographics- What is their age , gender , educational background Interest- Why are they listening to me ? Environment- Where will this document be /presented Needs - How can I meet the needs of the audience Customization - How can I tailor my work to meet their needs? Expectations What would they learn from my presentation Note that the results of your audience analysis that will determine the tool/channel of communication

14. E-leadership Communication Tools • Email • Internet Forum Discussion Boards • Weblogs • RSS (Really Simple Syndication) • Social Networking e.g Facebook, Yammer, Twitter, etc • Conferencing Tools (Video or Telephone) e.g Skype • Online Chat eg. Yahoo Messenger, Blackberry • Flash meeting • Application/Desktop sharing • Intranet

15. Using Email in Internal/External Communication • A fairly informal business correspondence with a set of rules called Netiquette, Digital manners etc. • Be Concise and Unambiguous • Be clear and Direct in the Subject Line • Never think your email is totally Confidential • If this is made public , would you be comfortable ? • Do not torture your readers with abbreviations • Use Uppercase for emphasis Only • Don’t start with Dear Sir/Madam • Use Informal Closing • Don’t send one word emails • Save a tree ! • Use the address fields with care • Politely Sign your messages