Leadership and Decision Making ITC/ILO Workshop on Decent Work for Transport Workers Oct Prepared by Victoria Munsey

What does Leadership mean? “Leadership is the crucial dynamic force that motivates and coordinates an organization to accomplish its objectives.” “Leadership is the crucial dynamic force that motivates and coordinates an organization to accomplish its objectives.” “Leadership is the ability to inspire confidence and support among the people who are needed to attain organizational goals.” “Leadership is the ability to inspire confidence and support among the people who are needed to attain organizational goals.”

Why do modern organizations need Leaders as well as Supervisors or bosses? Trend toward a more democratic style; Trend toward a more democratic style; Increased emphasis on teamworking; Increased emphasis on teamworking; Increased awareness of importance of increasing and maintaining motivation. Increased awareness of importance of increasing and maintaining motivation.

GROUP WORK Using cards, list what you think are the characteristics of a good leader. Choose someone to present your findings in plenary.

Charisma From the Greek word charisma, meaning favour, gift. From the Greek word charisma, meaning favour, gift. “A personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader); “A personal magic of leadership arousing special popular loyalty or enthusiasm for a public figure (as a political leader); “A special magnetic charm or appeal.” “A special magnetic charm or appeal.” Source: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary Source: Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary

Key Leadership Skills Inspiring Inspiring Persuading Persuading Influencing Influencing Motivating Motivating

Leadership Styles More Democratic More Directive ???

One’s ‘natural’ leadership style Formed by One’s culture: One’s culture: * National culture * National culture * Organizational culture * Organizational culture One’s work experience One’s work experience One’s character One’s character

One’s ‘natural’ leadership style Could be called one’s “default setting”; Could be called one’s “default setting”; Is often the most effective; Is often the most effective; But is not the ideal style for all situations. But is not the ideal style for all situations. To be effective, we must also master other leadership styles. To be effective, we must also master other leadership styles.

Leadership “Managers are people who do things right, while leaders are people who do the right thing.” Warren Berris, PhD On Becoming a leader

Developing leadership potential Build awareness of our own strengths and weaknesses; Build awareness of our own strengths and weaknesses; Be guided by ethical concerns; Be guided by ethical concerns; Learn to trust our intuition and imagination; Learn to trust our intuition and imagination; Develop clear goals in life and work. Develop clear goals in life and work.

Our own strengths and weaknesses Make an inventory – be objective; Make an inventory – be objective; Learn about interpersonal styles and their consequent impact on others; Learn about interpersonal styles and their consequent impact on others; Try to discover our own prejudices and blind spots. Try to discover our own prejudices and blind spots.

Be Guided by Ethical Concerns Modern life is full of constant change: an ethical base gives us a firm point to stand on. Modern life is full of constant change: an ethical base gives us a firm point to stand on. Superiors, peers and subordinates find it easier to trust a person who acts in an ethically coherent manner. Superiors, peers and subordinates find it easier to trust a person who acts in an ethically coherent manner.

Trusting intuition Intuition is born of experience and observation; Intuition is born of experience and observation; Acting on the basis of intuition can lead to creative breakthroughs; Acting on the basis of intuition can lead to creative breakthroughs; Relying on intuition helps us understand others better. Relying on intuition helps us understand others better.

Prejudices and “blind spots” Learn to question our own preconceptions; Learn to question our own preconceptions; Attend interactive training seminars; Attend interactive training seminars; Pay careful attention when someone you admire reacts entirely differently to you to a given situation – and ask him why! Pay careful attention when someone you admire reacts entirely differently to you to a given situation – and ask him why!

Leaders Develop Clear Goals Much of professional life for those in leadership roles involves dealing with a series of crisis situations. Much of professional life for those in leadership roles involves dealing with a series of crisis situations. Leaders find time to define clear goals for themselves and their working team. Leaders find time to define clear goals for themselves and their working team. Leaders often assist their subordinates in defining precise and measurable goals for the group Leaders often assist their subordinates in defining precise and measurable goals for the group

Effective Leaders Trust their instincts; Trust their instincts; Do not see control of others as the key issue; Do not see control of others as the key issue; See the bigger picture; See the bigger picture; Are willing to trust the wisdom of the group. Are willing to trust the wisdom of the group.

Qualities of Effective Leadership Patience Patience Tenacity Tenacity Firmness Firmness Passion Passion Enthusiasm Enthusiasm Courage Courage Fairness Fairness Sensitivity Sensitivity

Decision Making One of the most important tasks of a leader is making decisions. How do you rate your current skill and success as a decision maker? What decision making techniques do you use?

Steps for making informed decisions Define the problem/question Define the problem/question Collect all relevant data Collect all relevant data Speak to the people involved Speak to the people involved If necessary, re-define the problem If necessary, re-define the problem Clarify your desired outcome Clarify your desired outcome

Problem solving and decision making Much material is available on problem solving. Techniques include: Brainstorming Brainstorming Swot analysis Swot analysis Pro’s and Con’s method Pro’s and Con’s method Weighted pro’s and con’s method Weighted pro’s and con’s method

What factors sometimes make it hard to take a decision? Not enough information Not enough information Fear of failure Fear of failure Personal relationships may be put at risk Personal relationships may be put at risk Other? Other?

Which is worse: taking the wrong decision or taking no decison at all? Group work: in groups of 5, discuss for 5 minutes then chose a group member to present your ideas in Plenary (2 minutes)

Aspects to keep in mind when preparing a seminar on leadership Group work: Working in groups of 5, make a list of aspects, (10 minutes) then select someone to present the list in Plenary. Speakers will have a maximum of 3 minutes each