Leadership Excellence

Leadership and Twitter

Twitter is proving to be an interesting communications media.  In addition, the ability of some to develop an online leadership presence is indeed fascination. Plus, there are some similarities between real life in the flesh leaders and those who are genuine leaders on Twitter.  

Twitter leadership is not merely measured in quantity --the number of people who follow or are followed.

In my qualitative opinion, there are creative, curious individuals finding new and unique ways to create communities. Not for profit, nor simply their own personal benefit, but for the benefit of greater information sharing. One of these is the group #followHR.  The leader is a recruiter who identified a commonality amongst a diverse group of human resource types.

The parallels: imagination, creativity, willingness to take a risk, commitment without regard to time or personal sacrifice.

I realize this is somewhat superficial... just beginning to formulate thoughts on this process.

Welcome to the coming of the economic recovery and  how to take advantage of leadership skills

Leadership and Individual Performers-- The Question of Transition

A common thread in succession planning is the "readiness" of an above average individual performer to accept the mantel of being a leader.I'd like to turn our attention to the opposite scenario...that of an individual who is currently an effective leader  transitioning to an individual performer. 

You/ve been trained in delegation,motivation, team building, synergistic results.. the positive ego strokes which come with successfully navigating the challengers of executive management and customers. Life has been positive and indeed exhilarating.

An opportunity arises where you can utilize the technical knowledge you have acquired. Indeed the financial compensation is enhanced.  However, you are now an individual performer responsible for leading external customers.  Gone are the planning meetings, the rubbing elbows with groups of higher executives. 

There are many keys to this new job fit.  One of the obvious observations is that leadership drive is always present.  It does not dissipate. To fill the void, mentoring the individual in identifying work or avoacational leadership is recommended. This is key to retention and performance.

Secondly, consider the element of psychic reward.  The individual performer usually has a smaller support system.  The recognition which comes with corporate accomplishment may be less public: and those well deserved atta boys from co workers may be absent.

Alone on an island vs.engaging and motivating a team...indeed the challenges and rewards are significantly different.

Self Serving Leadership and Emotional Intelligence

I am struck by Arlen Specter's rationale for changing political parties.  The Philadelphia politiican stated he was not willing to give up his 29 years in the Senate and lose in the Republican primary.  To me this self serving rationale is illustrative of the loss of servant leadership... Who serves whom? 

This is a classic example of a leader who doesn't have a clue about emotional intelligence and its role in leadership.  Poor Arlen is out there on an island all by himself.  A shephered without a  flock is a lonely guy taking aa walk.  Arlen is a lonely politician who has lost his way in the fog of self importance.

And so, the message is... if you are a leader.... look around,is anyone following you?