At the recommendation of my former colleague Rebecca Hunt, I secured myself a copy of James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner’s The Truth About Leadership: The No-FADS, Heart of the Matter Facts You Need to Know. Knowing Rebecca, I knew this book must be well worth the read, and it did not disappoint. Indeed, it may very well be added to my top ten must reads for those aspiring into leadership positions. It is a straightforward, easy read - one that is rooted in concrete examples and free from gimmicks (or as the subtitle states - leadership fads). Instead the work is rooted in the nuts and bolts of leadership: self-confidence, credibility, values, vision, collaboration, trust, obstacles (or opportunities), standards, and heart. Kouzes and Posner remind their readers to take a step back, and focus on the core truths of leadership. Or as leadership coach Patrick Lencioni notes, these authors focus on what really matters in leadership. I’m so very grateful that Rebecca suggested I read this book -- she was spot on when she said I would enjoy it. Kouzes and Posner open this work setting the stage with a contextual framework - acknowledging that the workforce has changed “becoming increasingly diverse, multicultural, dispersed, horizontal, and distributed.” As a result, they conclude, today’s workforce requires more collaboration rather than competition. They also note that it requires “greater sensitivity to interpersonal relationships.” Nonetheless, as the authors point out, there continues to be several basic truths (or tenants) about leadership. They insist that regardless of these changes, “good leadership is good leadership,” and throughout this work explore what they have identified as the ten fundamental truths of good leadership (quoted/listed below).
As I was reading through each fundamental truth, I appreciated that at the core of each theme was authenticity, bravery, learning (reflecting), and integrity. It is about knowing yourself, trusting yourself - and thereby empowering those around you in a manner similar to how you empower yourself. As an Arbinger trained facilitator, I pride myself on always reflecting on my actions, learning from them, and leading by example (even when, or especially when, things get tough). Reading through each truth (or each chapter), I was reminded by some advice I received from one of my many mentors, Dr. Karla Leach - share your non-negotiables with your team so they always know where you are coming from. Creating a list of three or four non-negotiables for me was quite easy. In fact, when I asked my husband to share with me one of my non-negotiables, he hit number one without any thought (it was an immediate response):
I took Dr. Leach’s advice and shared my non-negotiables with my team at Northland Pioneer College, and asked my team to do the same. This was an amazing exercise in conjunction with taking the StrengthsFinders Assessment. Together the exercises generated some understanding of who we were as individuals, but also who we were as a team. I look forward to the opportunity of doing this with my new team at Walla Walla Community College Walla Walla Community College. For those who have worked with me before, I know it will surprise you that I have an appreciation for the fact that the authors referenced the incredible work of Michael Hyatt. They rooted their discussion on being future-focused or vision-driven in the works of Hyatt. This spoke to me, as I have utilized the tools of Hyatt for the last few years, and witnessed the transformation that unfolded when one truly invests in strategically planning their time. It’s using your time to achieve your goals, and reflecting on the process and goals regularly. It’s about making the time, daily, to invest in future-focused activities. I can’t help thinking it's the “eye on the prize” mentality. It’s making sure you take yourself out of the daily grind to focus on your primary responsibilities. The authors concluded this chapter reminding the readers of the ten fundamental leadership truths, concluding that leaders are responsible. This section, like so many others, reminded me of who I am (especially since one of my top 5 Strengths in StrengthsFinders is Responsibility). The authors include a powerful quote to emphasize this commitment to responsibility. It reads: “a leader is one who steps beyond her own self-doubts and realizes her journey is her responsibility.” It's about seeing a problem, and taking responsibility for fixing the problem. It’s not about waiting for someone else to fix it, or about blaming someone else for it -- its about identifying the problem and finding the solution. Obstacles are truly opportunities. With that let me take this opportunity to thank my former colleague, and friend, Rebecca Hunt for the wonderful reading suggestion. I would HIGHLY recommend this work to anyone in or aspiring to be in a leadership role (at any level). It is an easy read, with very digestible truths. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did! Thank you Rebecca. “You must remain optimistic and hopeful about what is yet to come. You must truly believe that the future will be brighter and be confident that we’ll all get there together. A positive difference can only be made by a positive leader.” -- James M. Kouzes and Barry Z. Posner
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Last month as part of LeaderBooks - Michael Hyatt’s Book Club for Leaders, we read Daniel Harkavy’s The Seven Perspectives of Leaders. This timely book - written in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic - set up the context using the descriptor VUCA - or Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, and Ambiguous. Per Harkavy, leaders today are “leading in VUCA times on steroids.” Now, more than ever, is the time for leaders to be learners - for them to be reflective, optimistic, innovators. In this work Harkavy, an experienced leadership coach, explores what he has labeled as The Seven Perspectives of Leadership, noting that if leaders hold onto these perspectives they will “have a proven framework for improving decisions and increasing … influence.” Here are the 7 Perspectives:
As Harkavy sets up the framework for his introduction and analysis of each perspective, he reminds the audience that today “leadership is not about certainty.” It can’t be in a VUCA world. Rather, leadership is about confidence. He writes “if you wait until you are 100 percent certain of a decision or action, then you have probably waited too long.” This reminded me of conversations I have had with my PhD mentor, Dr. Tom Isern -- especially around the time I was working on my dissertation. He had a motto -- a done dissertation is better than a perfect dissertation. Something that was hard for a young “achiever” to accept back then (to use a StrengthsFinder characteristic). There’s a balance that one must accept - especially in academia, you can always find more material (research/evidence) or do more editing/proofreading, but at some point you have to call it, and submit it. In reflecting on my career in the academy, often I have seen projects stagnant over years and years of discussion (and no action, no trial run). Unfortunately, in an era of high-paced societal changes, institutions within higher education are no longer afforded the opportunity to slow down and take their time. Now, is the time -- to act with confidence, to innovate, to risk, to change. In a fast-paced society, the academy must pick up speed before it is Netflixed (to use a term referenced by Daniel J. Phelan in Unrelenting Change Innovation, and Risk). To do so, leaders, as Harkavy notes, must act with curiosity. He writes “Curiosity plays a crucial role in good leadership. Exceptional leaders go beyond merely asking questions to develop what I refer to as ‘intentional curiosity’.” When I think about this, I reflect on the importance of being present for every conversation I have. This means, I am not on email all day, every day. For instance, as I am writing this blog reflection - I have my email closed, Microsoft Teams closed -- and my phone on silent. (Of course, I have house leads bypassed, as the housing market in Walla Walla is absolutely insane, and I need to be able to drop everything to move on an opportunity.) As I am starting my new position at Walla Walla Community College, I am starting with what Arbinger, Inc. has labeled - Meet and Greet sessions. These are designed with intentional curiosity - to get to know the individuals who report to me, who lead institutional committees, and who are on our leadership team. I truly believe it is my genuine curiosity in these individuals (as well as that of others) that will create a solid foundation for these new relationships. That being said, this practice of intentional curiosity isn’t something reserved just for the “honeymoon period” of a position. To be successful, leaders must approach all situations as opportunities to learn. “Effective leaders remember that they’ve never truly arrived,” writes Harkavy. “They know they always have more to learn and more to contribute. To succeed, they accept that they must remain curious, stay open, and act with humility.” In addition to the 7 perspectives, Harkvay has identified 5 common obstacles of pitfalls leaders find themselves in [quoted below]:
Harkavy concludes this work with tips and tricks for executing this framework, including a free assessment located at www.7Perspectives/assessment. I took this assessment and found it to be very insightful. However, since I was in transition between positions, I look forward to retaking it after a month or two at WWCC, once I have a better understanding of the current reality, vision, bets, team(s), students, myself, and mentors. I see this work as something that could be used to help develop a leadership team. And, I would highly recommend it to anyone in a leadership position, whether in the academy or another industry. The perspectives are very relevant, regardless of the industry. Harkavy says it best “business is business, and leadership is leadership.” We all (ie leaders) have something to learn from this work! “Your leadership effectiveness will be determined by the decisions you make and the influence you have.” -- Daniel Harkavy |
AuthorDr. Jess Clark is a trained historian and higher education leader passionate about leveraging technology, including AI, to enhance learning experiences. A lifelong learner and servant leader, she empowers educators in the digital age. Through her blog, she shares expertise on educational leadership, curriculum development, and integrating technology in higher education, inspiring administrators and educators. Dr. Clark's commitment to embracing emerging technologies like AI reflects her belief in technology's transformative power in shaping the future of education. Archives
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