YOU CAN BE A GREAT LEADER PGF & YMLS: September 2015 Jim O’Brien

Want To Be The Most Influential (Effective) Person in Your Workplace (…or Section/Branch/YM Group ) ? Try LEADERS HIP The “soft” skill that is “hard” to do. PGF & YMLS: September 2015 Jim O’Brien

What do you want out of YOUR LIFE?

For me….. I want to make a positive difference in the world….

Do You Know??? One of the strongest urges of a person is to be a part of a group…. Make your section or branch the group that everyone can fit in.

BIG Messages for today You do make a difference through your leader abilities. Only you can choose to improve your leadership (….tho others can help)!!

Write down what you know about leadership.

LEADERSHIP is the art, science, and craft of influencing other people to accomplish a task and to improve the organization.

What are the Variables in leadership? Leaders Followers The Situation

So if leadership is just a relationship between the leader and the follower(s) in a given situation….and it is really about “influence”, this is easy….

GOOD NEWS!! Leadership can be learned & taught.

Everyone who wants to become a better leader CAN!

Why should I want to grow into a better leader?

Leadership is a relationship between people. O’Brien’s view…

Leadership = Influence Relationship between people Big Idea (s)

OB First Steps to Better Leader Ability 1.Know self 2.Know others 3.Use #1 & #2 to allow influence of others 4.Learn how to do #1, #2, and #3 better

Know your SELF

Knowing Self Personality = Inclinations + Habits –Inclinations = Preferences; “Hard wired” (nature) –Habits = Learned behaviors; “software” (nurture)

Knowing Self Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI)— ESTJ; INFP; etc Strength Deployment Indicator (SDI) (reds; blues; greens; hubs) OCEAN (Openness; Conscientiousness; Extraversion; Agreeableness; Neuroticism) Lots of others

Knowing Self Look into the mirror. Ask trusted colleagues.

What are your VALUES?

Leadership = Influence Relationship between people ID YOUR core values (~3-4) Big Idea (s)

Knowing Others Understand the relationship between performance; satisfaction (job); and motivation PAY ATTENTION ASK THEM

So if leadership is about “Influence”, How do you INFLUENCE others?

By making CONNECTIONS

Connections Connecting is all about others Connecting begins when one feels valued (shared values) Connections: –One on one: Make other feel valued –Group: Invite participation –Audience: Audience is more important than speaker

Connect thru shared values

What do they want from me? Can I trust you? Are you committed to excellence? Do you care about me?

What questions do you have for “them”? Have I given you reason(s) to trust me? Have I demonstrated my commitment to excellence? Have I shown how much I care about you?

What are traits of effective leaders? Model the way Inspire a shared vision Challenge the process Enable others to act Encourage the heart Kouzes & Posner, “The Leadership Challenge”

Model the way Model the behavior expected of others. (POSITIVE ROLE MODEL) Lead from what you believe. By word & deed, demonstrate your values & beliefs. People follow the person, then the plan.

Inspire shared vision Envision the future by imagining exciting & ennobling possibilities. Bring others in to a shared vision by appealing to shared aspirations.

Our Profession and Our Vision Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master: -planners, designers, constructors, and operators of the built environment -stewards of the natural environment -integrators of ideas and technology -managers of risk and uncertainty -leaders in shaping policy

Our Vision Entrusted by society to create a sustainable world and enhance the global quality of life, civil engineers serve competently, collaboratively, and ethically as master:

Challenge the process Seek innovative ways to change, grow, & improve. Experiment & take risks by generating small wins and learning from mistakes.

Enable others to act Promote cooperative goals & build trust Strengthen others by sharing power and discretion

Encourage the heart Show appreciation for individual excellence Celebrate values & victories by creating a sense of community

What are traits of effective leaders? Model the way Inspire a shared vision Challenge the process Enable others to act Encourage the heart Kouzes & Posner, “The Leadership Challenge”

Leader skills develop daily, but not just in a single day.

Leader development is self development.

Four Phases of Leader Growth I don’t know what I don’t know. I know what I don’t know. I grow & know, and it starts to show. I go because of what I know.

Becoming a Better Leader 1.Be an optimist 2.Be self-aware 3.Note your emotions & Emotional Intelligence 4.Seek feedback 5.Take the initiative 6.Get & use a coach 7.Set goals & make plans 8.Practice, practice, practice 9.Measure progress 10.Be honest with yourself and humble with others

Specific things to do for you to improve your leadership 1.Learn from Experience –Risk –Speeches, mentor, coach, volunteer 2.Learn from Examples of outstanding leaders –Journal (& review) –Read biographies & watch films –Interview role models 3.Learn from Education –Classes & self learning programs –Engage coaches, mentors, friends

Final thoughts on Leadership Choose your attitude. Play. Make their day. Be present.

O’Brien’s Top 10 Suggestions for Success 10.Work at something you enjoy and that is worthy of your time & talent. 9.Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully. 8.Commit yourself to quality. 7.Persistence, persistence, persistence. 6. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.

O’Brien’s Top 10 Suggestions for Success 5.Commit yourself to constant improvement. 4.Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life. 3.Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you’ll regret the things that you didn’t do more than the things that you did do. 2.Become the most positive & enthusiastic person you know. 1. Don’t ever do anything that wouldn’t make your Mom proud.

Group Exercise In your role as an ASCE Leader, what activities MUST you do?

I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. ‒ It is my personal approach that creates the climate. ‒ It is my daily mood that makes the weather. ‒ I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. ‒ I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration; ‒ I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. ‒ In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person humanized or de-humanized. ‒ If I treat people as they are, I make them worse. If I treat people as they ought to be, I help them become what they are capable of becoming Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

A Final Reminder Say “Thank You” to someone every day.

If YOU become the world’s greatest leader…. What will people say about you?

Leader ship Jim O’Brien