Archives For leadership development

9 Ways to Maximize Your College Leadership Experience

May 24, 2013 — 7 Comments
gradcrowd1 300x259 9 Ways to Maximize Your College Leadership Experience

Centennial High School 2013

I’m often asked which colleges are the best for “leadership.”  The short answer is “most will do just fine.”  As with most of life, it’s what you make of it.  College is a great place to grow as a leader.

Much of your leadership learning will come from peripheral aspects of the college experience.  Being involved.  Living with strangers.  Leading without authority.  Getting along in diverse groups.  Projects with assigned (potentially lazy) teams.  Live it deeply.  Make mistakes.  Try new approaches.  Keep leading and learning.

This post is for my son, Ben, and other young leaders graduating high school and heading to college.  I’ve collected advice from seasoned leaders across the globe.   If you aren’t headed to college,  please comment with your advice, and pass the post along to an aspiring young leader.

Annette Schmeling, VP of Student Development at University of Dayton, suggests making a specific plan.

  • Focus first on Academic Success
  • Identify 3-5 “activities outside the classroom” to be involved in.  List the activities, explain why they are important to you
  • Make connections with the career services office and learn about internships and professional development opportunities starting the freshmen year
  • Learn how to utilize social media tools to engage with others. Start early to establish a purpose-fueled online reputation Continue Reading…
In Callings, Change, confidence, Developing Leadership in Children, grow your career , , , , , ,
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Powerful Presentations: Teaching Your Team To Talk Strategy

March 18, 2013 — 10 Comments

iStock 000022885869XSmall 300x270 Powerful Presentations: Teaching Your Team To Talk StrategyA “stand and deliver” presentation on your results is always nerve-wracking.  But– watching your team do one is down right scary.

Remember when you…

  • couldn’t sleep the night before
  • were so stressed, you missed the main idea
  • failed to anticipate the political dynamics
  • used the wrong words, which took the entire conversation downhill
  • didn’t have supporting documentation
  • couldn’t answer obvious questions
  • left them with the wrong impression?

What didn’t kill you can make them stronger. Continue Reading…

In confidence, Empowerment, Execution, Help People to Grow, Meetings , , ,
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Volunteer and Grow? Side Effects of Volunteering

February 22, 2013 — 4 Comments

growinunfamiliarplaces 300x300 Volunteer and Grow? Side Effects of VolunteeringHas volunteering made you a better leader?

As I was getting established in my career, going to grad school at night, and becoming a mom, I kept thinking (and saying), “I just don’t have time to volunteer.”

Sure,  I would bake the cupcakes or volunteer at church, but certainly nothing that required sustained energy and effort. I thought, “people with more time would surely be better at that than me.”

Looking back now, that sure sounds like an excuse… and a mistake.

I regret what I missed in the giving and in the growing that comes from volunteering during that phase of my life.  The growing is more fun these days.

I am delighted to have a guest post this week on SmartBlog:  Smartbrief on Leadership entitled How Volunteering Makes You a Better Leader.

I hope you will take the time to check it out and leave a comment.  How has volunteering made you a better leader?

In Empowerment, Fear and Courage, grow your career , , ,
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How To Build Results That Last Beyond Your Tenure

December 10, 2012

 

results 300x300 How To Build Results That Last Beyond Your Tenure

I’ve heard all of the following phrases and many more like them uttered over the years.

“I can’t take a vacation, every time I do the whole place falls apart.”

“I had that organization running so well, and then she took over…. what a mess”

“Well, she was the lynch pin that held that whole place together, now that she’s moved on I am not optimistic”

“I came back from maternity leave early, I just couldn’t stand the thought of cleaning up the mess”

“She built all those relationships, we can’t replace that”

Not only have I heard these phrases, I am embarrassed to say that I have said some of them.

Sometimes they are true.

Sometimes they are not.

Either way, it’s not leadership.

An important sign of real leadership is what happens after the leader moves on.

  • Is there a clear vision?
  • Does the team have a clear brand and shared values?
  • Do the next steps seem perfectly clear?
  • Does each member know how they can best contribute?
  • Can the team rely on one another to get things done?

And yet, some leaders seem to take secret pride when things fall apart in their absence.  They exude a quiet form of giddy when their team can’t function without them.

Short-term results are important.  But how do you build a team that can sustain results long after you have moved to the next assignment?

If you are a “indispensable” leader, something is really wrong.  You are not adding value long-term.

What can you do now, to ensure your impact will last? Continue Reading…

In Authenticity, Empowerment, Execution, Performance, Planning, Productivity , , , , , ,
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Development Deluge: Are You Working Too Hard?

November 26, 2012 — 10 Comments

iStock 000022239521XSmall 300x225 Development Deluge: Are You Working Too Hard?Bob (not his real name) pulled me aside after the meeting.

“I’ve been reading your blog and all the books you talked about.  I went out and got 5 mentors, all of whom are giving me feedback.  I’ve been trying out new behaviors and asking for feedback on how I am doing. I’ve been thinking a lot about my development and career plans and next steps…It’s completely overwhelming.”

Another subscriber told me, “I’m going to have to stop reading your blog… it’s getting too expensive”

“Huh?… ummm… the blog is completely free,” I reminded her.

“Yes, but I’ve gone out and bought all the books you referenced.”

“You do know, I am not selling any of those… right?  That they are just references?

“Yes, but they all sound so good.”

Hmmm…. perhaps that is why Chris Brogan is inviting his readers to join him on a 3 Book Diet this year.  His movement has gained traction.

I told Chris I can’t do the 3 book thing, I need great thinking to inspire my leadership and writing.  Reading other people’s work is also helping me build wonderful relationships.  But somewhere between 3 and everything in sight seems like the right range. Continue Reading…

In grow your career, Help People to Grow , ,
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Empowerment Run Amok: How One Bad Decision Leads To Another

November 5, 2012 — 12 Comments

iStock 000018889887XSmall 300x232 Empowerment Run Amok: How One Bad Decision Leads To AnotherYou believe in servant leadership.

Empowerment is your middle name.

Results are strong.

The team is happy.

And then….

Someone makes a really bad decision.

The consequences are big.

Your boss is not happy.

How could YOU let that happen?

Why weren’t YOU more involved? Continue Reading…

In Listening , , , ,
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The Great Leadership Development and Succession Planning Kit: A Book Review

September 24, 2012 — 1 Comment

greatleadershipcoverJPEG 187x300 The Great Leadership Development and Succession Planning Kit: A Book ReviewI imagine most of you are familiar with Dan McCarthy and his insightful blog, Great Leadership.  I also know that many of you are also bloggers, who, like me, have aspirations of “some day” turning your posts into a brilliant and useful book.  Dan has done just that in his e-book, The Great Leadership Development and Succession Planning Kit.  It turns out that 500 well-written posts, woven together carefully, can lead to an insightful, practical, and witty “how-to” guide for identifying potential and developing great leaders.

I’ve been on all sides of the succession planning and leadership development process, from developing tools and programs, to facilitating talent review sessions… to being the topic of such discussions and “rotational assignments.”  I was impressed by the depth and applicability for people working in any of these capacities.  If you are an executive starting to build a program, you can easily save significant time and money with the head-starts he provides here.  For HR practitioners and consultants, there are rich tools and practical guides you can use with or without adaptation.   And, if you are leader at any level, in any box on the proverbial “grid,” this read provides insider insights as well as specific development content.

It’s organized into 4 sections: the foundation, succession planning, development, and leadership skills. Continue Reading…

In Book Reviews , ,
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A Strategic Story about Strategic Storytelling

September 20, 2012 — 8 Comments

iStock 000020564863XSmall 287x300 A Strategic Story about Strategic StorytellingOver the years, I have used strategic storytelling workshops to help drive key messages, build teams, and enhance communication skills.  Today, I share the story of how my interest in that began, and why I frequently use it in my leadership today.

The Strategic Story Behind Strategic Storytelling

The Dramatic Beginning

Many years ago back in my HR days, I spent the better part of a year working on an intensive front-line leadership development program.   We had interviewed everyone,  built the competency models, created the curriculum and worked with vendors to import expertise on specific topics. Then, the whole thing came to a screeching halt.

A big merger was announced, and the program was put “on hold.”  Everything was changing… leadership, organizational structures, priorities, funding…views about certain competencies.  It just wasn’t “the biggest rock” at that point.  This stuff happens.  I understood the dynamics, but I was devastated.  All that work… and there were still frontline leaders that needed development… now.  The work wasn’t changing at that level, and we had identified a need.  The organization was full of young, inexperienced leaders.  And we were young HR leaders, with passion and a cause.

I sat in the conference room with my co-worker with whom I had collaborated on this project.  We just looked at one another.  What should we do now?  After we got over feeling sorry for ourselves, we got to work. Continue Reading…

In grow your career, Risk taking, Storytelling , , , ,
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