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Leading Without Authority
By Regina Barr
As an organizational consultant, the leaders that I find that are most in
demand today are those that can motivate and engage employees that are
outside of the scope of their functional responsibilities. The same holds
true for the non-profit organizations I work with.
What make these leaders effective? Leaders who are effective in leading
others -- particularly when they are not in a boss / subordinate
relationship -- typically exhibit the following behaviors:
1. They are ethical in their actions. They are
clear about their values, goals, and expectations. They do what they say
they will. They are willing to admit to mistakes.
2. They are well connected. They know where to
go for information, both inside and outside of their organization, and they
are willing to share information.
3.They are good collaborators. Rather then tell
people what to do, they ask people for their ideas. They offer ideas as part
of a broader solution. They model or demonstrate the behaviors they would
like to see.
4. They use personal influence effectively.
They get people to do things for them because they want to, not because they
have to. They are not controlling, manipulative or impatient. They relate
with people on a personal level and help bring the vision alive for them.
5. They understand how to manage conflict. They
look beneath the conflict to identify solutions. They know when and how to
utilize various approaches when resolving conflict.
6. They learn from experience. They continually
examine outcomes -- both good and bad. They place a high value on lessons
learned and quickly utilize these learnings to make adjustments as
appropriate.
7. They provide feedback. They coach people
both formally and informally and view this as a natural part of any
relationship or process.
People exhibiting these behaviors are able to create an environment of trust
and an environment where people feel connected to their work. As
organizational hierarchies continue to flatten out and as leaders continue
to have increased span of control, success in leading others where you do
not have direct authority or power over them, will become critical.
John F. Kennedy once said, "It is time for a new generation of leadership to
cope with new problems and new opportunities. For there is a new world to be
won." Those who exhibit the behaviors outlined above will be well positioned
to handle these new problems and opportunities. Those who master them, will
be well positioned for success. What are you waiting for?
About the author:
Regina Barr is a management consultant and speaker with a special passion
for helping women achieve leadership success. Regina helps companies develop
strategies to attract, develop and retain women leaders. Her consulting
firm, Red Ladder, Inc., also helps organizations and their leaders develop
their full potential through strategic project management and coaching. For
more information visit
http://www.RedLadder.com or
http://www.RedLadder.blogs.com
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roduced by Karen Porter, The Administrative Professional Job Performance and Career Success Coach™ and Founder and President of The Effective Admin:
"My specialty is
serving administrative professionals like you with job performance and career
management advice. I have 24 years experience interacting with the 'real'
workplace and working administrative professionals."