Are you
April 2014 
Recommended Leadership
Reading
 

 

 

April's Leadership 

Book Recommendation:

 

Just Listen

 

By: Mark Goulston, MD

 

"Overall, Goulston's book is about understanding people and how to get into their worlds."- 
Katie DiBenedetto,

 

Huffington Post

By Edgar Schein

 

Another Leadership  Book Recommendation:

 

Humble Inquiry: The Art of Asking Instead of Telling

 

By: Edgar H Schein

 

Asking others, not telling them, develops more followers and attains great results.  A must read for any leader.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




Click on the image to learn more about Vistage Peer Advisory Boards

Managing & Leading: What are the Differences? 

 

 

I often get confused between Managing and Leading - after all aren't they one and the same?

 

I soon discovered that managing is squeezing efficiency out of the system.  It is largely about productivity - how can I get more units of output per labor hour.  How do you think individuals behave when they are managing (controlling) others?  What about those individuals being managed (controlled)?
  
Over the years - I am just as guilty as the next person - telling others what to do, how they can do it faster, quicker and more efficiently becomes the norm when managing.

 

Place yourself in others' shoes - how would you feel if you are constantly being told what to do and how to do it?  If you are anything like me, not happy!  I feel like my mom is micromanaging me - and she did her fair share of micromanaging me!

 

On the other hand, leadership is about organizations becoming more effective.  More effective can have different meanings for different individuals.  Making better decisions is at the top of the heap.  Fostering a culture of inclusivity and collaboration can be next in importance.  Leaders have many tools at their disposal to help create an ideal environment to foster overall organizational effectiveness. 

 

Enter the notion of transactional leadership vs. transformational leadership - what do you suppose the difference is?

 

I used to work for a very well-known company and part of our compensation plan was to have large year end bonuses. That, of course, is a form of transactional leadership - a reward and punishment system.  Employers incentivize others by holding a financial carrot over their head - using this technique to inspire employees to achieve and even exceed their goals.

 

On the other hand, transformational leadership was first defined as "leaders and followers make each other advance to a higher level of moral motivation." by Presidential biographer, James MacGregor Burns.  Noted deceased academic leadership expert, Bernard Bass, extended the work of Burns by linking the impact on followers through garnering trust, respect and admiration of them. 

 

Today we talk about creating a culture that anchors in trust, respect and helping others learn and grow.

 

Are you devoting enough time to foster a culture of inclusion and employee development and growth?

 

Let me know what you think and your obstacles to creating this environment.  

 

Simply email me to pholberton [at] holberton.com and put into the subject heading Cuture of Respect.  Let's begin a dialogue.

  

 

Member News - Vistage
Unfamiliar with Vistage? As a Vistage Chair, I work with CEOs, Business Owners and Key Executives to increase their effectiveness and enhance their lives. We meet monthly in peer groups and also have one-to-ones resulting in more authentic leaders, higher-quality decisions and better results. We are joined by world class speakers and subject matter experts from across the US to present half day in-depth explorations of C-Level business topics. From time to time I'll mention special achievements of Vistage Members. Hope you find this section of the newsletter of interest. -PH
 
Evan Falchuk

Having been a Vistage member since 2006, Evan Falchuk has turned from the private sector of business - Chairman
President and then Vice Chairman of Best Doctors - to candidate for Governor of the great state of Massachusetts as Founder of the Independent Party and its Candidate.

 

Vistage, a peer group that helps its members navigate their future is not limited to the private sector only.

 

Think about running for Governor (especially as an independent candidate) - it is a lot like building a business from scratch.  You have an idea (Government is paralyzed), the entrenched competition is not listening to the market (Voters) and there is an opening to make a difference. 

 

Lots of hard work, good strategy, a few breaks along the way are needed, and last but not least - persistence.   Taking on this new leadership role is not for the faint of heart.

 

In a local article "Upstart Falchuk Eyes Gubernatorial Upset of the Century"  dated April 11, 2014 says it all.  Being strategic in selection of your running mate is important as well.  Falchuk recently announced his selection for Lt. Governor - Angus Jennings, an accomplished housing and land use expert. 

 

Evan's Vistage peer advisory board helps by challenging some of his underlying assumptions for building the Independent Party and his Campaign.  Peer Advisory Boards do not need to be subject matter experts. Our greatest contribution is asking difficult questions - to help each other think through all the ramifications of our actions. 

 

Leadership is normally a noun that can be thought of in a verb context. 

 

Leadership is about movement forward; it is not a spectator sport - watching from the sidelines. 

 

Change does not come easily, yet it begins with that first courageous step.  Evan has taken that step.

 



I hope you've found this newsletter helpful. If you'd like to learn more about The Holberton Group and our executive coaching and business advisory services, or whether a Vistage Peer Advisory Group can help your organization, please send an email to [email protected].

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Speaking of Leadership� is written and produced by Phil Holberton. If you have any questions or comments, or for reprint permission of this newsletter, please email: [email protected].
 
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