(Wow!  Somehow actually attending the conference, and shuttling from hotel to meetings to meals, to social events, left little time for blogging about the conference!  With any luck, I will get caught up today.)

This session was also part of the Empowerment Conference.   (Sidebar:  The Empowerment Conference sessions I went to were great—small groups, interactive presenters, and practical topics.)

Presenter:  Maureen Sullivan, Organization development consultant.

Leadership in today’s organization requires teams, collaboration, innovation, cooperation.   It includes involving and engaging those who carry out the organization’s vision.  Leadership is influencing others to achieve results.  LISTEN to those you are trying to engage.  Leadership includes anyone in any organization.

Leadership requires Emotional Intelligence.  It is a partnership between leaders and followers.   Resonant leaders are in tune with those around them.  The creative parts of our brains light up in an atmosphere of hope.  They go dim in an atmosphere of negativity.

Emotional intelligence requires:

• Self Awareness
• Self Management
• Social Awareness
• Social skills.

A good leader will say we have to make changes; we have to collaborate.  When there are difficulties, no matter what position you play in the organization, say to yourself:

• I am doing what needs to be done.
• I am playing this role.
• Is this problem/issue about me?  I don’t have to take it personally.

So much of this is common sense.  But it’s hard work!  How do we “live it”?

• Mindfulness, personal commitment.  Take stock during the day: how am I doing?
• Hope.  Focus on possibilities.
• Compassion.  Empathy, interaction.

PDCA:  Plan, Do, Check, Act.   See the works of Walter Shewhart. 

Selected sources:

• Learning to Lead: a Workbook on Becoming a Leader
• Resonant Leadership
• Primal Leadership
• Becoming a Resonant Leader
  
• Center for Creative Leadership (see this site)