1 / 20

Why Would I Want to Follow You?

Why Would I Want to Follow You?. Pacific Northwest Council IMA May 14, 2011. Disclaimer.

koto
Download Presentation

Why Would I Want to Follow You?

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Why Would I Want to Follow You? Pacific Northwest Council IMA May 14, 2011

  2. Disclaimer • Opinions expressed here are those of the presenter and do not represent the opinion of Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), IMA, Pacific Northwest Council. ODOT has not seen or approved this presentation.

  3. Leaders and Followers • Thought for the minute: • What would the world be like if everyone were followers? • What would the world be like if everyone were leaders? • The paradox is that everyone is a leader and everyone is a follower. It is all a matter of timing.

  4. When we are leaders • Consider why you chose to lead? • Absents of others to lead • Ego gratification • Power—For a few, it is like drinking salt water • Position Power • Expertise Power • Dictatorial Power (Executive Narcissists) • Invested in the cause • You know what is right for everyone • Pecuniary Reasons—A form of ego gratification

  5. What do followers expect from you when you choose to lead • TRUST • COMPASSION • STABILITY • HOPE • How important is commonality of belief?

  6. Trust in the leader • Trust is a bond—you die keeping the promise • Actions follow words—Consistency • Believability • Honesty • Integrity • Respect

  7. Leaders Developing Trust • Consistent behavior and actions • Solid work and business ethic • Good judgment • Admit what you do not know and your mistakes—Let the followers see your flaws • Ability to be perfectly candid • Put the interest of the followers at the same level as your own

  8. Trust in Leaders • Ask “What can you do for me” • Make convenient decisions • Sacrifice family for finances • Develop a rationale for their actions • Possess a “me first” mind-set • Base their values on their worth • Asks “What can I do for you?’ • Make character decisions • Sacrifices finances for family • Develops relationships with their actions • Possess an “others first” mindset • Base their worth on their values What decreases trust in the leader What increases trust in the leader

  9. Do you trust political leadership? • Public does not trust elected officials • Belief that politicians are more concerned about self and re-election • Hypocritical—Actions do not follow words • Only one solution to the problems—Will not listen to the other persons point of view and see the merits • Bad actors

  10. Trust in Business Leaders • Clayton Porter • Ken Lewis • Jack Welsh • Ken Lay • Tom Curley • Dennis Kozlowski

  11. Compassion • Showing compassion at work will result in the following: • Are significantly more likely to stay with their organization • Have much more engaged customers • Are substantially more productive • Produce more for the organization • “My supervisor or someone at work seems to care about me as a person” • How much do you know about your coworkers as people?

  12. Stories of compassion • Injured worker is continued to be paid after using up all leave • Company is sold, and the seller gave 60% of profits to former employees • After a tornado, a company that lost its building made arrangements to pay employees and have them work from home.

  13. Stability • Core values are stable. They will buffer the employees from unnecessary change. • Provides a solid foundation • Security, strength, support, and peace • Leader and company are both financially stable • Leader will explain the finances

  14. Stability • In the workplace, it is critical for organizations to evolve, change, and grow over time. • As a leader, ensure the changes are incremental • Keep employees involved in the changes • Try to be empathetic to the situation. • Be honest with the implications of the change • What is in it for the employee • What is in it for the company • How do the two intersect.

  15. Hope • Instilling hope is a requirement for leading other people • Gives followers something to look forward to • Initiating the future • People want hope that things will change for the future • Feel enthusiastic about the future • Direction and guidance

  16. Things Leaders do to Provide Hope • Communication—TALK to followers • Taking time to explain planned changes well before they are undertaken so people have input. • Transparency on issues one can be transparent about • Send employees to train for new roles in an organization

  17. Why understanding your followers is important? • Good leader will understand how their style will enable the follower. • A good follower will make a better employee • When both are working together you have a higher performing organization.

  18. Special Issues for followers • Accept bad news • Surprises are great for parties or good news, but not great for bad news • Followers know when you are giving the company line or providing spin.

  19. What do individuals do when they chose not to follow a leader? • Become disengaged • Only put in required hours at the office • Waste company time discussing how bad things are • Increase in sick leave usage • Take their skill to another organization • Not use the organization as a customer

  20. A final thought • Every leader has their strengths and weaknesses. • Every leader is different • Successful leaders know themselves. They know how to build and retain: • Trust • Compassion • Stability • Hope

More Related