It Takes One to Know One – The IRS
Executive in You
Presented by: Katheryn N. Houston & Karen Freeman
AIM 42nd Annual Business Conference
New Orleans, LA
August 2011
Recognizing Leadership Potential
“A true leader has the confidence
to stand alone, the courage to
make tough decisions, and the
compassion to listen to the needs
of others. He/She does not set out
to be a leader, but becomes one by
the quality of their actions and the
integrity of their intent.”
~ Anonymous (edited)
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Defining Leadership
• Leadership is the ability to
influence the activities of
an individual or group
toward the achievement of
a goal
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Task-oriented versus
Relationship-oriented
Defining Leadership
• Task-oriented leaders
establish…
– Patterns of organization
– Channels of
communication
– Ways of getting things
done
• Systems Structures
• Protocols
• Procedures
Defining Leadership
• Relationship-oriented
Leaders…
– Maintain personal
relationships
– Open communication
– Provide emotional
support
– Exhibit facilitating or
“guiding” behaviors to
get things done
Characteristics of Leadership
• Generally directs the activity in which he or she
is involved but no problem in receiving
directions from others
• Flexibility in thought and action
–Comfortable with ambiguity
–Adapts readily to new situations
–Solves problems creatively
• Accepts responsibility and seeks it out
• Communicates well and with ease
Characteristics of Leadership
•
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Is sociable
Is self-confident
Able to motivate others
Demonstrates social savvy
– Respect for authority, rules and social
conventions
Leadership Potential
• Think of an outstanding leader.
• What are the qualities this
leader possesses?
• What are the behaviors of this
leader that demonstrate these
qualities?
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Leadership opportunities
IRS Executives
•50% of IRS executives will be eligible for retirement
by 2017
•For the first time in history, today’s workforce is
comprised of four generations:
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Traditionalists (born 1900 -1945)
Baby-Boomers (born1946-1964)
Generation X’ers (born 1965-1980)
Millenials (born 1981-1999).
The “clash of cultures” will not only provide a
challenge to management in melding a team, but also
in management’s ability to attract and retain talent.
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IRS Leadership Competencies
•
Four Core Competencies
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Personal Leadership
Leading Others
Leading Improvement
Business Results
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Leadership Competencies
•
Personal Leadership behaviors:
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Self Development
Communication
Political Savvy
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Leadership Competencies
•
Leading Others behaviors:
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Relationship Management
Group Leadership
Customer Focus
Managing Performance and Development
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Leadership Competencies
•
Leading Improvement behaviors:
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Change Management
Innovation and Risk Management
Achievement Orientation
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Leadership Competencies
•
Business Results behaviors:
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Problem Solving and Decision Making
Leveraging Resources
Strategic Planning and Implementation
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Executive Traits
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Ask or inspire you to be a part of something bigger, more
exciting
Exhibit leadership potential outside the job
Motivated by challenge and not afraid to take a calculated
risk
Not intimidated by responsibility because the sense of
accomplishment is what it is about
Possess the desire to find a better, faster, cheaper, smarter,
more fulfilling way of getting something done
Grabs hold of a problem and will not let go
Cares more about getting things done
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Leadership
• Webster defines a leaders as one “endowed with a
heroic or mystical character and who governs with a
minimum of formal constitutional restraints, or
extreme demagogy, and claims to be above narrow
class or group interests.”
• Walter Lippman, 20th century author, editor and
syndicated new columnist said “The final test of a
leader is that he leaves behind in other men the
conviction and the will to carry on.”
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Leadership
• “A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the
courage to make tough decisions, and the
compassion to listen to the needs of others. He or
she does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one
by the quality of his actions and the integrity of his
intent.” ~~Anonymous
• “The best executive is the one who has sense enough
to pick good men to do what he wants done, and
self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with
them while they do it.” ~~ Theodore Roosevelt
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Questions?