Leader 21 Conference - Covert Leadership

Hi All

It was really great to see so many past and present students at the Leader 21 Conference last Fiday at the Titanic Quarter.  It was inspiring to see that you have all started your leadership journey and taken leadership development very seriously.  

One of the sessions at the conference discussed the "Art of Leadership" and used a orchestra conductor as a metaphor for leadership and management.  This reminded me of an article that I came across some time ago which also used this metaphor.

BRAMWELL TOVEY, artistic director and conductor of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra

The article is by Henry Mintzberg and he writes about the Art of Leadership in his 1998 Harvard Business Review article Covert Leadership: Notes on Managing Professionals (reprint available on Amazon). He attributes leadership to the then-director of the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra, Bramwell Tovey, and describes leadership as “…unobtrusive actions that infuse all the other things a manager does.” (as opposed to traditional leadership actions like motivating and coaching). And found it particularly effective for managing professionals.  His article is subtitled: “Knowledge workers respond to inspiration, not supervision.”

Check out his article from either Amazon or the Harvard Business Review Electronic Journal (Nov-Dec 1998) on the Learning Resources area on the University of Ulster Portal.  If all else fails pop me an email and I will send you a PDF copy.

Happy reading and let me know what you think of the article.

Leadership Starts with Learning

I came across this sign whilst researching leadership today.  It marks one of the entrance streets that lead you into Southern Methodist University (SMU) Dallas.

It’s funny that a sign like this can make me smile, but it does. I love leadership. I love learning about it, growing in it, sharing with others about it and encouraging everyone to embrace it fully and authentically.

I have also frequently associated leadership with learning. It’s a critical connection to make, especially in the fast-paced, high-tech world we live in today. Things are changing quickly, and leaders need to be continually learning about new trends that can help them to be more effective and more efficient, as well as more engaged with people.

Sometimes, the start of learning is simply pushing yourself into the unknown; totally outside of your comfort zone. In these situations, you have no choice but to learn! When everything around you is new, it forces you to pay close attention to people and to your environment. You become more acutely aware of the details, and you find yourself more frequently seeking to understand.

I am learning to be a better teacher, as I work to complete my Post Graduate Certificate in Higher Edcuation Paractice (PGCHEP). I am learning to be a better mum, as I am supporting my son through his GCSE's and CCF Training. I am learning to be a better mentor, as I celebrate new opportunities for my friends and tcolleagues. I am learning to be more aware of my values as I meet new people and establish friendships.

…and I am becoming a better leader because of all of these things. This experience is all about learning and growing, and I will have more to contribute to the world because of it.

When was the last time you pushed yourself outside of your comfort zone? How did that impact you or the people around you? How are you pressing yourself to learn, improve and grow every day?

I encourage you to make a change and to challenge yourself. You’ll look back on the experience and be glad you did it!

Hi everyone, I have received all your blogs as part of your assignment requirements and Im very impressed but dont let this be the end of your blogging .......keep up the good work and keep blogging and posting your reflections and invaluable comments.

Why should anyone be led by you?

Rene Carayol leading author and television presenter sets you a challenge:

"to manage a little less and lead a little more".

Heres the challenge:

How good is your leadership?

Why should anyone be led by you?

What do YOU bring to the leadership party?

Post your comments

Assignment blog submission for DMP Cohort 31

Hi everyone

Just a reminder that your "blogs" need to be submitted and posted by Friday of this week 8 June 2012. see below:

You should also provide some reflective thoughts(500 words) by posting comments (minimum 4 ) on the following leadership blog

Step 10 - Give

Finally, be a giver. Leaders are givers. By giving, you activate a universal law as sound as gravity: .life gives to the giver, and takes from the taker.. The more you give, the more you get. If you want more love, respect, support, and compassion, give love, give respect, give support, and give compassion. Be a mentor to others. Give back to your community. As a leader, the only way to get what you want, is by helping enough people get what they want first.

As Sir Winston Churchill once said,