12 Lessons from my MA Leadership

Sitting in the lecture hall the very first night of the residence week that kicked off my 20-month MA Leadership program at the University of Guelph, I thought: “What will this mean to me. Will I be delivering the intro next year? What will be the focus of my research?”  Sitting in the convocation hall with classmates and lifelong friends almost two years later I thought: “Wow! So many stories in this room: People got married, babies were born, parents died, jobs were lost, promotions earned, people were ill and then, thankfully, healthy again… life went on still, we did it – together.” To me, this shift in focus is one of the major changes brought about by the MA Leadership program.

1. I moved from a focus on me, my dreams, needs, fears, etc. to deeply caring about my classmates’ journeys. Fundamentally, isn’t that what leadership is all about?

Through classes, reading and discussion my understanding of leadership changed in so many ways.

I used to think

Now I know that

2. Leadership is about the leader.  Leadership is about empowering followers.
3. Each leader has a style (autocratic, democratic  or laissez-faire).  Great leadership is situational.
4. It’s better and faster if I do it on my own. Empirically, groups arrive at better solutions and it’s important to build the skills and confidence within your team. Thank you Prof. Lynch
5. I’m no Ghandi! Servant leadership is just not my style. Leadership is all about service and empowering others. Thank you Prof. Caravaggio
6. A leader is decisive and keeps things on track to achieve the vision. A leader also challenges assumptions, includes those on the ‘fringe’ and views consultation as a sign and source of strength and value creation. Thank you Prof. Kurucz
7. Organizational change unfolds with a clear vision and a precise plan. Staff have no choice but to implement change. Change strategy must be viewed as a learning process. It must leave room for emergence. To endure, change must embrace, involve and become embedded in, the entire system and the culture. Thank you Prof. Gruman
8. Business ethics is just about treating people fairly. Ethical leaders have a moral obligation to scrutinize the social value of their product or service, the means of production as well as the ends. Sadly, we are falling woefully short of this obligation. Thank you Prof. Rock
9. Hard work and results will pave your way to the top. Understand organizational politics, influence tactics and the power of your network. You may not want to use them but you should be aware when those around you are! Thank you Prof. Mau
10. Study, study, study to learn, learn, learn. You must not miss the learning while you’re getting an education. Thank you Prof. Evans
11. We make better decisions with hard data. Leaders must understand what makes research valid and should question the assumptions behind the data. Thank you Prof. Islam

Thank you to the faculty and the staff of the College of Management and Economics. Of course, deepest thanks go to my classmates, my family and friends for their many contributions and unfailing support along this journey.

12. Turns out, it was never about me 😉

To change yourself and support those around you find out more about this life-changing program.

Food for Thought: Cupcakes Challenge Assumptions

Home baked or store bought: Is one more considerate than the other? That depends on your perspective and your assumptions.

Are assumptions colouring your behaviour?

Since my Mom was a great homemaker and a superb baker I always thought that home-baking showed love and care whereas store bought screamed “shameful last minute”. But recently I’ve been challenging those assumptions. First, I don’t always have time to bake and the point is to get together and celebrate, not a contest of some kind. More recently, a friend whose daughter has allergies noted that when she goes to a potluck she can only choose from items that have a full ingredient list so she prefers store bought for the peace of mind it affords.

Hmmmm…

  • Where else is my background contributing to a firm conviction that there is a “right” way to do things? (P.S. My husband may not comment on this post)
  • What’s the cost of these assumptions (time, guilt, dissatisfaction)?
  • Are there multiple ways to achieve the same outcome?
  • Have I asked others about their needs and perspectives?

I’m going to enjoy a cupcake while I think about that.

Bring the Love to Work – Today and Everyday

Love is not about chocolate, flowers and doilies. It’s about compassion, caring and validating others. So, don’t hesitate to bring love to work.

In The Leadership Experience (2008, p.152-3) Richard Daft writes: “Leaders who lead with love have extraordinary influence because they meet five unspoken employee needs:

Hear and understand me.
Even if you disagree with me, please don’t make me wrong.
Acknowledge the greatness within me.
Remember to look for my loving intentions.
Tell me the truth with compassion.”

Love is a powerful motivator. Love is an action. Love is a feeling.

Benediction… share a “good word”

I’m not sure why after almost 40 years of churchgoing I had never thought about the word ‘benediction’. I’m the type of person who’s really into words, puns, double-entendres, last names that were originally medieval trades – that type of thing. So how is it I thought of benediction strictly as a special blessing at the end of the service or a paternal blessing at Christmas (blame my French-Canadian roots)? I thought of it as something to receive, not really something I should give.

So today when the Minister pointed out that benediction literally means “good word”, i.e. bene+diction, the lightbulb went off. It’s such an empowering concept: We can all bless each other with a good word. It’s a basic act of kindness to recognize what is good in others. In many cultures and religions the word “Namaste” recognizes the divine spark within each of us, a recognition of the other’s importance in society and the universe.

Giving a ‘good word’ is also a powerful act of community building. It takes a moment to bless another person with a good word. It may change their outlook for the entire day. People may ‘pay it forward’ with good words of their own. So try it this week, spread the ‘good word’ or a ‘good word’. Plant a tiny seed of love, a good word, in the heart of those you encounter. Namaste!

source: MS Office