Making the link between the principles of effective leadership and mediation skills? Claire Maxwell Degree Programme Director/ Clinical Senior Lecturer Post Grad Clinical Leadership Newcastle University April 2014

Introductions Name, role & organisation One word to describe what ‘leadership’ means to you?

So - differing perspectives!

‘Seeing’ and ‘feeling’ leadership? Complex & multidimensional Difficult to define or indeed understand! Context specific NHS, Education, Armed Forces…….. Despite complexity – we usually know when we see it or feel it! Always know when its poor/ ineffective!

Main principles of effective leadership? Main principles of effective leadership?

Principles of ‘effective’ leadership Psychological theories view leadership as a social influence process – influencing followers to group goals Business-orientated models place emphasis on the leadership of organisational functions

The ‘How’ & ‘What’ of Leadership Kaiser et al (2012) Organisational ‘What’ = vision, horizon scanning, strategy, goals, systems, innovation Interpersonal ‘How’ = behaviour, connection to others, emotional intelligence, authenticity, integrity

The ‘how and ‘what’ of leadership… Which is the most important??

The Apple Paradox

The question of leadership! Three key questions: 1. Why should we look at leadership? 2. Why is it important? 3. How does it differ to management?

1. Why should we/you look at leadership? (In context of HE/FE)

Why look at leadership? Changing environment/ culture Focus on funding/ financial issues Competition from other universities/colleges International market New business elements introduced

2. Why is it important?

Why is it important? Survival!!Change managementEngagement of staffStudent/learners ‘journey’Research & teaching qualityPerformance indicators

3. How does leadership differ from management?

Leaders v Managers (Bennis 1998) Manager Has their eye on the bottom line Relies on control Administers Maintains Has a short-range view Asks how and when Accepts the status quo Does things right Leader Has a vision & their eye on the horizon Inspire trust Innovate Develop others Has a long range perspective Ask what and why Challenges the status quo Does the right thing

The biggest difference? Biggest difference between a leader and a manager rests on the status quo “managers are willing to live with it and leaders are not” (Warren Bennis 1998)

Culture & Context of Education Environment of constant change Significant amount of change management Staff coping with change – loss and grief John Fisher’s Model of Transition (2012)

Coping with workplace change

So – surely effective leaders need to have excellent mediation skills! Leadership AND Mediation skillsMediation AND Leadership skills

Leadership and Mediation skills Effective Leaders need: Strategic understanding & vision People skills & empathy Authenticity & integrity Emotional intelligence & influencing skills Excellent communication Change management skills AND excellent mediation skills!

Culture of collaboration and engagement “ like good leaders, good mediators motivate people to work through difficult problems in order to achieve particular goals” (Hoffmann 2009)

Styles of Leadership in HE/FE?

Distributed Leadership

One definition….. “The NHS needs people to think of themselves as leaders not because they are personally exceptional, senior or inspirational to others, but because they can see what needs to be done and can work with others to do it” (Prof Kim Turnbull James 2011)

From Heroes to Teams……… Research suggests ‘Great Man/ Heroic’ approach to leadership – outdated Organisations to survive – need more transformational approaches Leader as Coach Distributed leadership Encouraging effective ‘self- leadership’ Effective teamwork

How easy can that be?!

Herding Cats??

Leadership Dilemmas Nothing is black and white Working in ‘grey’ Constant dilemmas/ conflicts Need tenacity & resilience Courage and self efficacy Strong networks & support

Strong networks & supportive culture

How can we ‘measure’ culture?

‘Culture Barometer’ Culture is easier to ‘smell’ than it is to measure!

Edgar Schein - Culture & Leadership “The bottom line for leaders is that if they do not become conscious of the cultures in which they are embedded, those cultures will manage them. Cultural understanding is desirable for all of us, but it is essential to leaders if they are to lead.” (Edgar Schein 1992)

Mediators as part of this network?

Mediators to support and challenge?

Steven Covey Argues the single most important behaviour for maintaining successful work relationships is to: "seek to understand" before "seeking to be understood"

Self - Leadership “Its hard to lead others if you don’t know how to lead yourself, and you cant lead yourself without the right tools!” (Blanchard 2014)