SCHOOL BUSINESS LEADERSHIP &
MANAGEMENT:
PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP
ASBO MD & DC Annual Fall Conference
November 9, 2012
Rick Gay, CPPO, RSBO
Purchasing Manager
Baltimore County Public Schools
ISO 9001:2008 Certified
2005-2012 NPI Achievement of Excellence in Procurement Award
NIGP Outstanding Agency Accreditation Achievement Award – OA4
2010 MWMCA Public School District of the Year for Minority Business
WHAT IS LEADERSHIP, ANYWAY?
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WHAT IS LEADERSHIP, ANYWAY?
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leadership is a skill to influence a group of individuals to
willfully follow a direction, in order to achieve the
ultimate goal of the organization.
It involves dealing with a complex set of people, complex
because every individual is different with different
attitudes, temperaments, needs, and competence, and
convincing them all to follow a particular path is no
doubt a very daunting task
If you are an aspiring leader, then it is imperative for you
to know and understand the different leadership traits
and principles that need to be acquired and followed for
being a successful leader.
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WHO QUALIFIES TO BE A LEADER?
WHO CAN BE CALLED A LEADER?
IS ANYONE AND EVERYONE CAPABLE OF
BECOMING A LEADER?
Leadership development is crucial for individual and organizational success.
Executives and managers are often called upon to find creative solutions to
Complex situations.
Leaders usually have more drive and determination and probably a greater
concentration of positive qualities than non leaders.
We do not believe in "born leaders;" we believe the leadership is a skill, ability, or
competency that can be acquired.
Research over many years, has revealed that leaders commonly share a definite
set of skills, or competencies.
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WHAT MAKES A PERSON WANT TO FOLLOW A
LEADER?
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When people decide to respect you as a leader, they observe what
you do so they can know who you really are.
People then use this observation to tell if you are an honorable and
trusted leader, or a self-serving person who misuses authority.
A good leader has an honorable character that selflessly serves
his/her organization. In your employees’ eyes, your leadership is
everything. Your activities affect the organization’s objectives and
their well-being.
People want to be guided by people they respect and who have a
clear sense of direction. To gain respect, they must be ethical. A
sense of direction is achieved by conveying a strong vision of the
future.
So basically, you must be trustworthy and you have to be able to
communicate a vision of where you are going.
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THE PROCESS OF GREAT LEADERSHIP:
1. Inspire a shared vision – Next, share you vision in
words that can be understood by your followers.
2. Challenge the process – First, find a process that
you believe needs to be improved the most.
3. Enable others to act - Give them the tools,
authority and methods to solve problems
themselves.
4. Model the way – When the process gets tough, get
your hands dirty. A boss tells others what to do; a
leader shows it can be done.
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PRINCIPLES AND TRAITS OF A GOOD LEADER
The qualities that identify a true leader are as follows:
Vision
This is one of the most definite leadership quality that you'll find in an absolute
leader. A leader has this extraordinary ability to foresee the future. It is not
simply a dream, but a realistic dream as they can foresee the change in time,
the challenges that they might have to face, and the way to survive and evolve
in future.
Goal Oriented
Another must-have quality of a leader includes setting goals for the
organization. Other than setting goals for themselves as individuals, it is
imperative for a leader to set goals for the organization and the employees of
the organization respectively.
Great and Quick Thinkers
The ability to think quick and smart is another important attribute of a leader
that distinguishes a true leader from others. It's a tough market out there, that
means tough competition and the leader who can think smartly and quickly can
sustain this huge challenge and continue to thrive. Otherwise, he'll be crushed
as the world does not match your pace, you need to match the world's pace.
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PRINCIPLES AND TRAITS OF A GOOD LEADER
Setting an Example
Being a leader is not easy, it means that you are a role model to many in your organization. A leader is an
inspiration to everyone and besides wanting your employees to work, you want them to perform. Employees
have a tendency to closely watch their leaders, the kind of demeanor they carry, the way they speak to them,
and the general behavior at work. Hence, it is essential to keep a positive attitude in even in tough situations.
Motivation
For a leader, it is important to understand the level of motivation of the employees in the organization.
According to the Maslow's Hierarchy Theory, a human being has different needs at different levels.
Understanding those needs and providing the employees with what they need so that they can give their
hundred percent at work is an essential quality that a leader must work upon if it is not inherent in him. A
little motivation could work wonders for your employees and the organization, both.
Recognition
Rewarding and recognizing the employees for the work done is another important trait that many of the
leaders tend to miss out on and that is the reason for many unsatisfied employees. Remember, your
employees are the most valuable asset of your organization and they also have many options available in this
fast-moving world. So, if you don't appreciate and acknowledge the valuable contribution they make in your
success then they would have no qualms in leaving you because they have other places to go.
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THE 10 PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP:
1. Know yourself and seek self-improvement. In order to know yourself, you
have to understand your “be”, “know”, and “do” attributes. This is possible
by continually strengthening your attributes by reading and self-study.
“Be” - what he/she is, i.e. beliefs and values
“Know” - what he/she knows, i.e. job, tasks, human nature
“Do” - what he/she does, i.e. implement, motivate, and provide direction
2. Be technically proficient. As a leader, you must know your job and have a
solid familiarity with your employees’ jobs.
3. Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Search for ways
to guide your organization to new heights. And when things go wrong, do not
blame others.
4. Make sound and timely decisions. Use good problem solving, decisionmaking, and planning tools.
5. Set the example. Be a good role model for you employees. They will believe
what they see not what they hear.
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THE 10 PRINCIPLES OF LEADERSHIP:
6. Know your people and look out for their well-being. Know human
nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your workers.
7. Keep your people informed. Know how to communicate with your
people, seniors, and other key people within the organization.
8. Develop a sense of accountability, ownership and responsibility in
your people. These traits will help them carry out their professional
responsibilities.
9. Ensure that tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished.
Communication is the key to this responsibility.
10. Train your people as a team. By developing team spirit, you will be
able to employ your organization, department, section, etc. to its
fullest capabilities.
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PERSONAL LEADERSHIP
1. Take Charge of Yourself. You’re responsible for what you
think, feel, and do. Decide what your guiding values are
and commit to live consistent with them.
2. Rethink your goals and objectives and set new ones. Do
they fit your company’s vision of who the company is
and where it is going? Decide what you want and where
you are going. Plan and execute the plan.
3. Become aware of the new company goals and align your
priorities to support the changes. Make sure your
priorities also support you and your personal goals and
values.
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TEAM LEADERSHIP
4. Work to make the changes effective for the company and your team.
Swim down stream. Ask for help. No one succeeds alone.
5. Be clear about why the changes are occurring and what the
challenges are of others. Listen, be empathetic. Understand the
needs of others before concluding.
6. Team with others to leverage their talents, perspectives, skills,
experiences, and supportive energies. Work to be creative in solving
challenges, especially in relationship building.
7. Keep yourself engaged in learning. Focus on how to better lead and
be a team.
Think about your customer, their business and personal needs, and
how you can help them solve those needs.
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EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION BY LEADERSHIP IN
THREE CRITICAL AREAS IS THE KEY TO WINNING
ORGANIZATIONAL TRUST AND CONFIDENCE, AND
INVOLVES:
Helping employees understand the company’s
overall business strategy.
 Helping employees understand how they
contribute to achieving key business objectives.
 Sharing information with employees on both
how the company is doing and how an
employee’s own division or department is doing
– relative to strategic business objectives.
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DEALING WITH CRITICISM
Can you think of any other advice for dealing
with criticism?
 What's worked well for you?
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DEALING WITH CRITICISM CONSTRUCTIVELY
Criticism is an unavoidable consequence of success. No one escapes it. Presidents are criticized. Even
mother Theresa was criticized.
Harsh criticism takes the wind out of our sails. It sometimes makes us want to give up. Sometimes, it
leaves us with doubts that hobble us for days or even decades. Even constructive criticism can keep us
up late at night or kill momentum in an otherwise exciting project.
It seems there is very little we can do to stop criticism other than to do nothing and hide. Put yourself out there to do
just about anything worth doing, and it's coming, baby.
There is, however, a lot we can do to process criticism. Since we control at least 50% of all communication as the
receiver, we can control how we hear criticism and how it affects us. We can actually control MORE than 50% if we
know it's coming, but I'll get to that in a minute.
Criticism is a gift. If looked at from this perspective, we can realize certain advantages. It improves what we're doing. It
tells us where we are, or at least how others perceive where we are. It can actually build confidence if it's leveraged
correctly.
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HERE ARE A FEW THINGS YOU CAN DO TO TURN CRITICISM
FROM SOMETHING BAD INTO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE IN
YOUR LIFE.
1. Realize that criticism is a natural part of success.
Winston Churchill once wrote "You've got enemies? Good. That means you stood up for something in your life." Think about criticism in
this way: if someone has criticized you, it means that they paid attention to what you've done. It means that they have exerted energy to
figure out how they think you're doing is related to them. And it means that they cared enough about whatever you're doing to make the
time to either write or verbally express their criticism. Criticism is actually an honor of sorts.
2. Get rid of your failure support team.
Professional enemies, jealous friends, and habitual critics create a lot of noise. The value they provide is diminished by their intention to
do you harm. Criticism is often random from these people, and it is never satisfied. Just put them on ignore.
3. When you can't ignore your critics, respond strategically.
Agree with them. There is usually some truth behind every criticism. It may be completely it of context, not relevant to the situation at
hand, or purely done for cruelty, but it's not completely manufactured. If someone says: "You're ALWAYS ignore people!" Agree with the
part that's true. "You're right that I didn't pay enough attention to Sally during our staff meeting today."
4. Take constructive criticism seriously.
If it's constructive, then it's not meant to be harmful. This criticism, like all criticism, is often difficult to swallow, but it is a gift. It's not
always easy to give constructive criticism, so when someone does this for you, be grateful and spend some quality time thinking about it.
This kind of feedback might not be helpful, but it is definitely worth considering.
5. Thank your critics.
Let it be known that you appreciate constructive criticism. Not only does this make it easier for people to give you this kind of criticism,
but the act of thanking people releases you from defensive posture. Over time, thanking your critics makes it easier for you to receive it.
6. Deliberately seek constructive criticism.
We do this by getting ahead of things and seeking criticism before it's too late to do anything about it.
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THE SEVEN HABITS OF SPECTACULARLY UNSUCCESSFUL
EXECUTIVES
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Habit # 1: They see themselves and their companies as dominating
their environment Warning Sign for #1: A lack of respect
Habit #2: They identify so completely with the company that there is
no clear boundary between their personal interests and their
corporation’s interests Warning Sign for #2: A question of character
Habit #3: They think they have all the answers Warning Sign for #3: A
leader without followers
Habit #4: They ruthlessly eliminate anyone who isn’t completely
behind them Warning Sign for #4: Executive departures
Habit #5: They are consummate spokespersons, obsessed with the
company image Warning Sign of #5: Blatant attention-seeking
Habit #6: They underestimate obstacles Warning Sign of #6:
Excessive hype
Habit #7: They stubbornly rely on what worked for them in the past
Warning Sign of #7: Constantly referring to what worked in the past
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THE TEN COMPONENTS OF LEADERSHIP,
INNOVATION AND CHANGE
1. Visionary - Conceptualizes a clear and compelling vision of the organization’s future and identifies and reinforces
shared core values in support of the vision.
2. Agents of Change - Challenges bureaucracy and the status quo; creates a sense of urgency; disturbs the comfort zone;
disallows complacency and satisfaction; and encourages “creative tension”.
3. Trusted and Respected - Establishes and reinforces an environment based upon integrity, credibility and trust.
4. Strategic Thinker and Planner - Helps lead the process of strategic thinking, planning and management.
5. Mentors, coaches, teaches and develops people through Empowerment - Helps create a “learning organization” and
develops and empowers others.
6. Motivator and Role Model - Inspires commitment and action through effective communication and example; they
motivate others to make the vision a reality.
7. Teambuilder - Creates a shared sense of vision, missions, values and focus; creates effective teams.
8. Student - Open to new ideas and never stops learning.
9. Self-Awareness - Knows themselves; their personality and their strengths and weaknesses.
10. Architect of a Strong, Positive Corporate Culture - Creates and manages culture.
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SUCCESS WILL COME TO ANYONE WHO
ADHERES TO THESE TEN MILITARY
PRINCIPLES:
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Integrity:
Take the harder right over the easier wrong.
Duty:
Do what you’re supposed to do, when you’re supposed to do it.
Passion:
Be passionate about what you do, or do what you’re passionate about.
Impeccability:
If it is worth doing, it is worth doing right.
Teamwork:
There is no “I” in TEAM.
Selfless Services:
Give back.
Planning:
Fail to plan, plan to fail.
Loyalty:
Up, down, and across your organization.
Perseverance:
It’s not the size of the dog in the fight; it’s the size of the fight in the dog.
Flexibility:
The person with the most varied responses wins.
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SEVEN STEPS TO STAGNATION
“We’ve never done it that way”
“We’re not ready for that yet”
“Were doing all right without it”
We tried it once and it didn’t work”
“It costs too much”
“That’s not our responsibility”
“It won’t work”
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