Chapter 3 Building Leadership

Leader – a person who effectively uses leadership skills Leadership – an ability to motivate and unite others to work together to accomplish a specific task

Section 1: Leadership and Learning Styles I.Leadership Styles A.Technocrat – no nonsense leader. My way or the highway. Doesn’t care about people, only the bottom line. People often follow because they are afraid not to. Logic over emotion. Intense, detail oriented, hard-headed. Only focus is on getting the job done.

B. Artist – leads by imagination and intuition. Doesn’t know how all the pieces fit together, the artist has a vision of the “big picture”. Actively invites others to share ideas, isn’t afraid to show emotion. Unpredictable. People sometimes follow just to be a part of the unique opportunities that result.

C.Craftsman – leads by common sense and integrity Can be trusted. Excellent listener, caring, logical person, values getting the job done but refuses to sacrifice people and their views and feelings in the process. Predictable, reasonable. The best kind of leader blends the artist and craftsman styles of leadership together: a leadership style that combines creativity and genuine enthusiasm with levelheadedness, compassion, and collaboration. Which one is best? The answer is in the blending!

II.Learning Styles A.Discussion – some people learn best through face-to-face conversation. Brainstorming & verbal interaction. B.Logic – some people just want the facts. Analysis, organization, to-the- point. C.Design – some people need to see how the “ big picture” fits together. Engineers, builders & designers. D.Emotion – some need hands-on, energetic & fired up approach.

Section 2: The Planks of Leadership I.A Leader Has a Sense of Vision A.Vision – the ability to see more than just the obvious (spot a need that must be met, see how the pieces could better fit together) B.Not random predictions C.Specific Communication Strategy: practice creative thinking skills, seek out ideas of others, grasp the “big picture” II.A Leader Is Willing to Act A.SCS: when leadership is needed, take charge. Say, “It’s time we quit talking and start doing!”

III.A Leader Makes Good Decisions A.Three questions a good leader asks before making a final decision: 1.Am I knowledgeable about the issues and the people involved? (do your homework) 2.Am I making decisions in the correct order? (prioritize – put what’s important first) 3.Am I aware of the risks involved? (don’t be afraid to do something new but be ready for the consequences) B.SCS: Think in terms of what, why, and how when sharing your decision with others. This shows you were thorough in your decision making.

IV.A Leader Can Handle Conflict A.Conflict management – the ability to turn a potentially negative situation into a positive one B.Conflict management plan: 1.Shut up! Allow others to talk and listen to what they have to say. Don’t interrupt. 2.Look up! Show you are involved in what he/she is saying by making eye contact. Be responsive and positive. 3.Hook up! Create an emotional connection so you can see from their perspective. 4.Chill down! Don’t let your temper get out of control. When you verbally respond, make your comments rational, sensitive, and constructive. C.SCS: summarize what they said, pay attention to your tone and body language.

V.A Leader Works to Avoid Pitfalls A.Four potential pitfalls 1.Being afraid to fail – don’t be afraid to do something new just because you might fail 2.Not paying attention to details – details are what make the “big picture” 3.Forgetting people and the original objectives – “What are we trying to accomplish?” “Who played key roles and worked hard?” (reward group members) 4.Not listening to others – get new ideas from the group B.SCS: Use intrapersonal communication to ask yourself if you’ve covered all the bases

VI.A Leader Knows How to Motivate A.Factors creating motivation: 1.The honesty and integrity that you show 2.The strong work ethic that you exhibit 3.The discussion that you promote 4.The logic and intelligence that you put forward 5.The “master plan” of action that you offer 6.The emotion that you share 7.The creativity that you lend 8.The confidence and decisiveness that you exhibit B.SCS: work on making verbal and nonverbal communication clear and meaningful.