EFFECTIVE LEADERSHIP THROUGH TOUGH ECONOMIC TIMES Charlie Meyer

What Is The Core Essence Of An Effective Leader? How is leadership defined?

Leadership Definitions Leader = person Leadership = process

Leadership Definitions Leadership is defined as top executive(s) who displayed high levels of persistence, overcame significant obstacles, attracted dedicated people, influenced groups of people toward the achievement of goals, and played key roles in guiding their companies through crucial episodes in their history. (Collins & Porras, 1994) Built to Last

Leadership Definitions Leadership is the process of persuasion or example by which an individual (or leadership team) induces a group to pursue objectives held by the leader or shared by leader and his or her followers. (Gardner, 1990, p.1) On Leadership

Leadership Definitions Principle-centered leadership is cultivating security, guidance, wisdom and power. (Covey, 1991) Principal-Centered Leadership

Leadership Definitions Leadership is that process in which one person sets the purpose or direction for one or more other persons, and gets them to move along together with him or her and with each other in that direction with competence and full commitment. Jaques & Clement (1994, p.4) Executive Leadership: A. Practical Guide to Managing Complexity

Leadership Definitions The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between the two, the leader must become a servant and a debtor. That sums up the progress of an artful leader. DePree (1987, p.9) Leadership is an Art

Leadership Definitions Being in Charge Dunlap (1996) Mean Business: How I save Bad Companies and Make Good Companies Great

Leadership Definitions You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message. What I have learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power and when you make heroes out of employees and personify what you want to see in the organization. Roddick (1991, p. 214) Body and Soul

Leadership Definitions Leadership is an intangible quality with no clear definition. That’s probably a good thing, because if people knew the definition, they would hunt down their leaders and kill them. Adams (1996, p. 287) The Dilbert Principle

Leadership Definitions Leaders don’t matter. The idea that we should keep looking for better and better leaders is to me a statement of the problem... strong leadership absolves people of their responsibility. Block (1997, p.7)

Key Factors in Tough Situations: “Being In Charge” Define Reality Communicate Objectives Communicate Process

Being in Charge Make every decision Tell people what to do Tell people how to do it Control systems Put out fires Provide “carrot and stick” rewards

Being in Charge Develop people to make their own decisions and manage themselves Unleash talent toward highest priorities Create empowered aligned systems Provide disciplined focus and execution systems

Define Reality “Budget deficit of unprecedented proportion” Too soft? Too hard? Lay it all out

Communicate Objectives PURPOSE STATEMENT To be a high performing, and financially sustainable organization that is providing superior levels of service to ensure that Tempe is the best place to live, work, and play.

Communication Process (WIGS) Freeze increase to compensation and benefits Reduce staffing by 179 Cut non-personnel budgets by 18% Increase revenue by $1 Million Fund OPEB Use fund balance to create a “soft landing” Develop a policy for a balanced five-year plan

Communicate Process Charlie, Click here…..

Communicate Process: Budget Balancing Worksheet Number of FT permanent positions eliminated first half of the FY 30 - Number of FT permanent positions eliminated last half of the FY Changes to salary/benefit policies ( annualized reductions -- recurring) - 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 Reductions of PT positions, contracted svcs. and non-personnel costs 14.0%4.0% Revenue increases (annualized estimate -- recurring) 1,000, ,000 Annual Appropriations to fund the OPEB liability 6,600,000 Non-recurring (one-time) additions to revenue - Non-recurring (one-time) expenditure reductions - - Unreserve the $10 million OPEB funds? (Y or N) N

Communicate Process: Projected Revenues and Expenses

Communicate Process: Unfunded Fund Balance

“Political Savvy” How does “political” differ from “political savvy”? How do you develop it? How do you use it to effectively accomplish things?

What Are The Expectations Of Financial Staff? Solely provide information? Level of assertiveness if decisions being made are not wise from a financial perspective Whose role is it? CFO City Manager

Conclusion “Quando omni flunkus moritati!”

Contact Information Charlie Meyer 31 E Fifth St Tempe, AZ (480)