A.M.B.A.

5230
Major Leadership Concepts
 I can’t lead if I am not at the top
◦ Influence Vs Power (p.4)
◦ Is legitimate power a substitute for leadership?
◦ Are the best leaders found in top management
teams (TMTs)
 When I get to the top, I’ll be in control
 When I get to the top, I’ll no longer be limited
◦ As leaders move up in organizations they
experience less bounded rationality in decision
making and more responsibility, i.e. you have less
control)
 I can’t reach my potential if I’m not the top
leader
◦ Most people will never make it to the top of an
organization
◦ Strive to reach your potential, not the top of an
organization
◦ To thy own self be true, (Shakespeare)
 Accept that you have limited autonomy
◦ Factors affecting autonomy
 Empowerment
 Initiative
 Environment
 Job Parameters
 Appreciation
 Managing up is vital; and very difficult with an
ineffective leader
◦ Take responsibility for developing your relationship
with your leader
◦ Cater to your leaders strengths
◦ Affirm your leaders strengths
 Your ethics decide whether you are a
socialized or personalized leader
 Enjoy the process, don’t be too goal oriented
 If leadership is influence, then what do you
have to do or possess to be influential?
◦ Care about others
◦ Exhibit strong positive character
◦ Perform competently
◦ Deal with others in a consistent manner
◦ Be committed
 Are there others?
 “If your leader must continually expend
energy managing you, then you will be
perceived as someone who drains time and
energy” (Maxwell, p. 86)
 Lead yourself exceptionally well
◦ Emotions
◦ Time
◦ Priorities
◦ Energy
◦ Thinking
◦ Words
◦ Personal Life
 “Even if the leader you work for never turns
around to lift you up in return, someone who
has seen you doing that lifting will extend a
hand to you. Just remember: It’s not how
heavy the load is. It’s how you carry it”,
(Maxwell, p. 97)
 Lighten Your Leader’s Load
◦ Do your own job well first
◦ Find solutions to problems
◦ Tell leaders what they need and not want to hear
◦ Go the second mile
◦ Stand up for your leader
◦ Stand in for your leader
◦ Ask how you can lift the leader’s load
 “The key is being willing to do something
because it matters, not because it will get you
noticed”, (Maxwell, p. 107).
 Be Willing to Do What Others Won’t
◦ Commitment
◦ Priorities
◦ Take responsibility
◦ Go above and beyond
 Work-life balance?
 Generational paradigm difference?
 “All leaders are looking for people who can
step up and make a difference when it
matters. When they find such people, they
come to rely on them and are inevitably
influenced by them”, (Maxwell, p. 145)
 Become a Go-To Player
◦ Produce under pressure
◦ Produce with scarce resources
◦ Produce when momentum is low
◦ Produce when the load is heavy
◦ Produce when the leader is absent
◦ Produce when time is limited
 “Some people don’t look to the workplace for
friendship, but they will certainly benefit from
finding it there” (Maxwell, p. 175).
 “Your value as a leader in the middle will
increase as you stretch and get out of your
comfort zone relationships, which are usually
comprised of: people you’ve known for a long
time, people with whom you have common
experiences, and people you know like you”
(Maxwell, p. 191-192)
 Be a Friend
◦ Affective Commitment
◦ Informal networks
 “People who might be described as ‘political’
are ruled by their desire to get ahead instead
of a desire for excellence, productivity,
teamwork, or consistency” (Maxwell, p. 183).
 Avoid Office Politics
◦ Avoid gossip
◦ Stay away from petty arguments
◦ Stand up for what’s right, not just what’s popular
◦ Look at all sides of the issue
◦ Don’t protect your turf
◦ Say what you mean, and mean what you say
 Is this a character and integrity issue?
 What values do you relate to being political?
 “360-Degree leaders get more out of their
people because they think more of their
people. They respect and value them, and as
a result, their people want to follow them”
(Maxwell, p. 221).
 See Everyone As a “10”
◦ See them as who they can become
◦ Let them “borrow” your belief in them
◦ Catch them doing something right
◦ Believe the best-give others the benefit of doubt
◦ Realize that “10” has many definitions
◦ Give them the “10” treatment
 “When a leader’s identity and actions are
consistent, the results he gets are consistent.
When they are inconsistent, then so are the
results” (Maxwell, p. 242).
 Model the Behavior You Desire
◦ Your behavior determines the culture
◦ Your attitude determines the atmosphere
◦ Your values determine the decisions
◦ Your investment determines the return
◦ Your character determines the trust
◦ Your work ethic determines the productivity
◦ Your growth determines the potential
 “Whatever actions leaders reward will be
repeated. That’s why it’s very important to
reward results-and to do it the right way”
(Maxwell, p. 255).
 Reward For Results
◦ Give praise publicly and privately
◦ Give more than just praise
◦ Don’t reward everyone the same
◦ Give perks beyond pay
◦ Promote when possible
◦ Remember that you get what you pay for
 “Leadership is what makes the difference at
every level of the organization” (Maxwell, p.
269).
 Leaders are needed at every level of the
organization
◦ Without a leader, vision is lost
◦ Without a leader, decisions are delayed
◦ Without a leader, agendas are multiplied
◦ Without a leader, conflicts are extended
◦ Without a leader, morale is low
◦ Without a leader, production is reduced
◦ Without a leader, success is difficult
 “360-Degree leaders have certain qualities
that enable them to lead in every direction,
and that is what makes them valuable to an
organization” (Maxwell, p. 285).
 360-Degree leaders possess qualities every
organization needs.
◦ Adaptability, discernment, perspective,
communication, security, servanthood,
resourcefulness, maturity, endurance, & countability
 You are most likely simultaneously leading
and being lead
 Learn to help yourself through leadership (i.e.
synergy through team-work)
 Lose your entitlement attitude
 Examine your motivations and keep your ego
in check
 Your attitude predicts your altitude
 Your ethics determine whether you are a
socialized or personalized leader
 A leaders job is to add value through
influence
 Leadership is influence through
relationship…build good workplace
relationships with employees at all levels
 Leadership is not a goal to be reached, it is a
life-long process of growth and
development….enjoy the process