A.M.B.A. 5230
Major Leadership Concepts
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I can’t lead if I am not at the top
◦ Influence Vs Power (p.4)
◦ Is legitimate power a substitute for leadership?
◦ Are the best leaders found in top management
teams (TMTs)
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When I get to the top, I’ll be in control
When I get to the top, I’ll no longer be limited
◦ As leaders move up in organizations they
experience less bounded rationality in decision
making and more responsibility, i.e. you have less
control)
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I can’t reach my potential if I’m not the top
leader
◦ Most people will never make it to the top of an
organization
◦ Strive to reach your potential, not the top of an
organization
◦ To thy own self be true, (Shakespeare)
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Accept that you have limited autonomy
◦ Factors affecting autonomy
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Empowerment
Initiative
Environment
Job Parameters
Appreciation
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Managing up is vital; and very difficult with an
ineffective leader
◦ Take responsibility for developing your relationship
with your leader
◦ Cater to your leaders strengths
◦ Affirm your leaders strengths
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Your ethics decide whether you are a
socialized or personalized leader
Enjoy the process, don’t be too goal oriented
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If leadership is influence, then what do you
have to do or possess to be influential?
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Care about others
Exhibit strong positive character
Perform competently
Deal with others in a consistent manner
Be committed
Are there others?
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“If your leader must continually expend
energy managing you, then you will be
perceived as someone who drains time and
energy” (Maxwell, p. 86)
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Lead yourself exceptionally well
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Emotions
Time
Priorities
Energy
Thinking
Words
Personal Life
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“Even if the leader you work for never turns
around to lift you up in return, someone who
has seen you doing that lifting will extend a
hand to you. Just remember: It’s not how
heavy the load is. It’s how you carry it”,
(Maxwell, p. 97)
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Lighten Your Leader’s Load
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Do your own job well first
Find solutions to problems
Tell leaders what they need and not want to hear
Go the second mile
Stand up for your leader
Stand in for your leader
Ask how you can lift the leader’s load
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“The key is being willing to do something
because it matters, not because it will get you
noticed”, (Maxwell, p. 107).
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Be Willing to Do What Others Won’t
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Commitment
Priorities
Take responsibility
Go above and beyond
Work-life balance?
Generational paradigm difference?
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“All leaders are looking for people who can
step up and make a difference when it
matters. When they find such people, they
come to rely on them and are inevitably
influenced by them”, (Maxwell, p. 145)
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Become a Go-To Player
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Produce
Produce
Produce
Produce
Produce
Produce
under pressure
with scarce resources
when momentum is low
when the load is heavy
when the leader is absent
when time is limited
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“Some people don’t look to the workplace for
friendship, but they will certainly benefit from
finding it there” (Maxwell, p. 175).
“Your value as a leader in the middle will
increase as you stretch and get out of your
comfort zone relationships, which are usually
comprised of: people you’ve known for a long
time, people with whom you have common
experiences, and people you know like you”
(Maxwell, p. 191-192)
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Be a Friend
◦ Affective Commitment
◦ Informal networks
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“People who might be described as ‘political’
are ruled by their desire to get ahead instead
of a desire for excellence, productivity,
teamwork, or consistency” (Maxwell, p. 183).
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Avoid Office Politics
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Avoid gossip
Stay away from petty arguments
Stand up for what’s right, not just what’s popular
Look at all sides of the issue
Don’t protect your turf
Say what you mean, and mean what you say
Is this a character and integrity issue?
What values do you relate to being political?
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“360-Degree leaders get more out of their
people because they think more of their
people. They respect and value them, and as
a result, their people want to follow them”
(Maxwell, p. 221).
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See Everyone As a “10”
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See them as who they can become
Let them “borrow” your belief in them
Catch them doing something right
Believe the best-give others the benefit of doubt
Realize that “10” has many definitions
Give them the “10” treatment
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“When a leader’s identity and actions are
consistent, the results he gets are consistent.
When they are inconsistent, then so are the
results” (Maxwell, p. 242).
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Model the Behavior You Desire
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Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
Your
behavior determines the culture
attitude determines the atmosphere
values determine the decisions
investment determines the return
character determines the trust
work ethic determines the productivity
growth determines the potential
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“Whatever actions leaders reward will be
repeated. That’s why it’s very important to
reward results-and to do it the right way”
(Maxwell, p. 255).
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Reward For Results
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Give praise publicly and privately
Give more than just praise
Don’t reward everyone the same
Give perks beyond pay
Promote when possible
Remember that you get what you pay for
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“Leadership is what makes the difference at
every level of the organization” (Maxwell, p.
269).
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Leaders are needed at every level of the
organization
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Without
Without
Without
Without
Without
Without
Without
a
a
a
a
a
a
a
leader,
leader,
leader,
leader,
leader,
leader,
leader,
vision is lost
decisions are delayed
agendas are multiplied
conflicts are extended
morale is low
production is reduced
success is difficult
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“360-Degree leaders have certain qualities
that enable them to lead in every direction,
and that is what makes them valuable to an
organization” (Maxwell, p. 285).
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360-Degree leaders possess qualities every
organization needs.
◦ Adaptability, discernment, perspective,
communication, security, servanthood,
resourcefulness, maturity, endurance, & countability
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You are most likely simultaneously leading
and being lead
Learn to help yourself through leadership (i.e.
synergy through team-work)
Lose your entitlement attitude
Examine your motivations and keep your ego
in check
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Your attitude predicts your altitude
Your ethics determine whether you are a
socialized or personalized leader
A leaders job is to add value through
influence
Leadership is influence through
relationship…build good workplace
relationships with employees at all levels
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Leadership is not a goal to be reached, it is a
life-long process of growth and
development….enjoy the process