Fatal Flaws in Leadership

Leading in the 21st Century, Week9 Summary, 6/4/12

This was a most challenging week with exposure to numerous leadership insights.

1. Bossidy, What your leader expects from you
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This article provided a very nice framework that clarifies what boss and subordinate can expect from each other

Leaders should provide clarity of direction, set goals and objectives, give "frequent, specific, immediate" feedback, be decisive and timely, be accessible, demonstrate honesty and candor, offer equitable compensation

Subordinates should get involved, stay current with what is changing, generate ideas, be willing to collaborate, lead initiatives, develop leaders, anticipate change, drive own growth through perpetual education and development, be a player for all seasons and keep performance evaluations simple (what is good, what needs to change).

2. Lisa Benton case study
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The assignment helped pull in all the concepts explored this week and before about taking ownership for creating winning relationships with superiors and others.

3. Welch, Winning, chapter 18, Hard spots - that damn boss
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Here I learned to take a hard look at myself and ask what problems I may be creating with my behavior.
The characteristics that make up a bad boss were invaluable as they help to sort the good from the bad managers at work.

4. The elearning sections had several insights
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To avoid Mistakes leaders should: Differentiate, Move Fast, Admit mistakes & use it as learning experience
Good boss vs bad boss: say what you mean, do what you say
bosses who get it all wrong: look out for Know-it-alls, Remote & Distant, Jerks, too nice and ineffective
Informality in business: Drives speed of action
Importance of overdelivering: make the horizon broader and broader, the boss smarter and smarter

5. Lecture1 - six sins of leadership
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Not giving self confidence its due
Muzzling voice
Acting phony
Lacking the guts to differentiate
Fixation of Results over values
Skipping the fun part

6. DQ1 Fatal Flaws
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We explored how thinking flaw or a behavior flaw or a combination of both could have devastating consequences and derail leaders

7. Lecture2 - Five laws of managing up
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Law #1: Make Your Own Bed
Law #2: Get Behind the Mask
Law #3: Commit to the Success of Your Boss
Law #4: Speak Truth to Power—Carefully
Law #5: Act Like a Grown-up


8. CICD Team Evaluation
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It was satisfying to see the results from team members and know everyone did their absolute best to pull together.
I recognize that the most enduring value lies in what we learned in the process during our work as a cohesive team

wow !
Dr DP