Leadership Lessons from a Reformed Control Freak

The Art of Managing &
Leading in the 21st Century
Copyright (c) 2014. Brian Smith-PLD 1

The Art of Managing &
Leading in the 21st Century
Connecting
Communicating
Educating
Delegating

Worth Remembering …
“If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn
more, do more and become more, you are a leader”
– John Quincy Adams

What’s Your WIIFM?

“A common core of personal and social abilities has
proven to be the key ingredient in people’s success:
Emotional intelligence.”
– Daniel Goleman

One Piece of The Puzzle

Dominant
Interactive / Interpersonal
Steadiness
Conscientious

 If I managed and interacted with you in a style that
you liked – a style that you identified with - would
it make for a more enjoyable experience for you?

 There are no good or bad styles
 All styles have strengths and areas of opportunity
for growth
 All styles can be more or less effective depending
on how you are able to modify your behavior. A
strength over used can become a weakness.

“The task of a leader is not to change human beings.
The task is to multiply performance capacity of the
whole by putting to use whatever strength, whatever
health, whatever aspiration there is in individuals.”
– Peter F. Drucker

 People like to work with people they like
 Take time to know your people, their hobbies, likes
and dislikes and build those all important
relationships. Relationships lead to trust.
 You need your people a great deal more then they
need you – build collaborative teams.

“The single biggest problem in communication is the
illusion that it has taken place.”
– George Bernard Shaw

 What skill or key characteristics does it take to
be a good communicator?

 You cannot not communicate
 Whenever contact is made, communication
occurs
 Meanings are in the way people behave, not in
what they say.

 Check your non-verbal cues. Do they invite
communication?
 Read and analyze the listener’s non-verbal
cues. Ask questions to clear up any
discrepancies between what was said – and
what you heard.
 Know the receiver’s natural communicating
and listening style and adjust your style to
suite theirs.

“I listen to understand not necessarily to agree.”
- Dale Carnegie

 What gets in the way of being a good listener?
What are some of the barriers to Active
Listening?

 Humans have the ability to listen at a rate of
125 to 150 words per minute.
 Humans have the ability to speak at a rate of
250 to 350 words per minute.
 That means humans have the ability to tune-out
some 100 words per minute.
(Dr. Ralph Nichols, Are you Listening)

 Give the speaker your undivided attention.
 Take notes if appropriate.
 Remain neutral. Avoid giving advice, agreeing
or disagreeing or criticizing.
 Do not interrupt

“If you think education is expensive – try ignorance”
- Derek Bok

“The only thing common about common sense is that
it’s not very common amongst most people. Common
sense is not common behavior.”

What is your learning style?
1. Auditory Learner – Learns by hearing
2. Visual Learner – Learns by watching
3. Hands-On Learner – Learns by doing

 Step One: Set the proper conditions and
environment for learning
 Step Two: Demonstrate the task. Break it down
into little steps.
 Step Three: Let them do the task while you
observe and give words of encouragement.
 Step Four: Let them continue doing the task. Be
sure to check in later to see how they are doing.

“There is nothing constructive about criticism. You
cannot lure an employee into creativity, although you
can avoid their dissatisfaction with the way you treat
them.” – Frederick Herzberg

 Adults can learn new things
 Adults can learn when conditions are right
 Adults prefer to learn in small bites, but only if
and when they need to. Make it relevant

“In the digital age you need to make knowledge
workers out of every employee possible.” – Bill Gates

 What gets in the way of delegating tasks to
others more often?

1. Decide what you want to delegate
2. Decide who to delegate it to
3. Create a “Teachable Moment”
4. Ask questions - confirm learning
5. Monitor their performance
6. Keep lines of communication open
7. Hold the person accountable for results
8. Praise performance often

“If you fail to delegate you are robbing your people of
their opportunity to grow. Resist the urge to “Micro-
Manage”. You have to give up control to get control.”
- Brian Smith

 Feed “Achievers” maintain “Sustainers”
 Resist the urge to “Micro-Manage”
 Don’t get caught up on the process – Results
are the only thing that matters

For the first time in our life time we have the
potential of working with 4 different generations
in the same workplace. Each generation
communicates and interacts differently. And each
generation is motivated by different things.

 Born between 1946 - 1964
 Implement their best ideas
 Show respect for years of service
 Tap into their knowledge and experience
 Recognize achievements

 Provide opportunities to learn new skills
 Flexible working schedule
 Work from home
 Adopt a “Coaching” style

 Provide structure, leadership, guidance
 Encourage team work
 Provide work / life balance
 Take the time to listen – really listen

 Flexible schedule
 Balanced lifestyle
 Interesting, meaningful work
 Crave immediate feedback

“One of the most important things about being a good
manager or leader is to rule with a heart. You have to
know the business, but you also have to know what’s at
the heart of business and that’s people”
– Oprah Winfrey

 Friendly – Establish relationships
 Observant – Help those in need
 Confident / Competent - Know what you know
 Understanding – See it from their point of view
 Sincere – Be genuine – Show them you care
 Energized – Enthusiasm is contagious
 Dependable – Do what you say you’re going to do

Brian Smith – Power Link Dynamics
Phone: 613.323.4470
Email: brian@briansmithpld.com
Web: http://briansmithpld.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/briansmithpld
Twitter:: http://twitter.com/briansmithpld
Linkedin: http://ca.linkedin.com/in/briansmithpld
Are you or someone you know looking for a
keynote speaker who can deliver an entertaining
and informative presentation on a variety of soft-skills
topics? Contact me – Let’s talk

Leadership Lessons from a Reformed Control Freak

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