Start young and become an inspiring future leader

 A big chunk of my life has been devoted to developing inspiring leaders. Now in my retirement, thanks to social media, I am able to follow former students and admire how their careers have progressed. Yes, they have done it themselves, but I know from the feedback I have received over the years, that in some small way I have helped them. 

Now in my retirement, I am helping my granddaughters with their next stages of their lives, as they progress from senior school to sixth form college and from sixth form college to university. I love that I am being given the opportunity and I'm sure it will help them in some small way to succeed in their work and lives. Bearing in mind that during my working life I coached many younger managers progressing up the career ladder, so my experience and content is very tuned into their needs.

The Inspiring Leader model I developed is summarised below and which formed the overview of all the training and coaching that I delivered. It is an amalgam of the many things that I have learned during my years of working. 

• At the 'heart' of the model is Know Yourself which is a fundamental to becoming and Inspiring Leader.
• Then comes the four most important leadership and life skills. Being able to Build Trust, ask Thoughtful Questions, Listen with Empathy and deliver Constructive Feedback.
• Then four roles that a Inspiring Leader should be able to use and master. The role used is driven by the situation presented to the leader. I have used the concept (myth) of the Left Brain / Right Brain to split the roles. Left brain: Smart Manager and Engaging Facilitator. Right Brain: Inspiring Leader and Nurturing Coach.

This is the model aligned to the left and right brain activities with a more detailed explanation of the tasks likely to be done by each role.

 

 Smart Manager

1. Clearly defines roles and responsibilities
2. Ensures that people understand what is expected of them
3. Provides clear direction and priorities
4. Supports people to succeed, particularly when things get tough
5. Juggles multiple priorities and issues thoughtfully
6. Delegates effectively though planned transfer of know-how and power to others
7. Invests the time to effectively communicate key messages and maintain a two-way flow of information
8. Shares thinking behind strategy and decisions 
9. Deals with poor performance in an effective way
10. Celebrates success and recognises the contribution and achievements of people

Engaging Facilitator:

1. Able to align the team to the goals of the organisation
2. Understands how to get the best from a team
3. Runs highly effective meetings
4. Challenges teams to focus on adding value to the customer and eliminating waste
5. Guides teams to become high performing, getting their commitment to bold actions
6. Encourages open expression of ideas and for disagreement to emerge and be openly discussed
7. Guides the group to effectively solve problems and make decisions
8. Able to manage time effectively
9. Helps teams to identify the right areas to focus on and the right actions to take
10. Able to optimise the energy of the group, maintaining focus and a high level of attention

Inspiring Leader

1. Communicates a compelling vision that people want to commit their time and energy to achieving
2. Involves people in the shaping of strategy and the decisions that will affect them
3. Takes bold decisive actions despite risks and uncertainties
4. Communicates with a high impact - able to adapt style and messages to fit a variety of audiences
5. Conveys a sense of urgency and drives issues to closure
6. Able to influence people in a positive way
7. Knows how to manage change effectively, getting people to move from resistors to champions of the change
8. Able to resolve conflicts and maintain unity
9. Applies 'big picture' thinking but still manages the detail effectively
10. Practices what he or she preaches

Nurturing Coach

1. Able to give constructive feedback in a sensitive way
2. Is willing to take the time to listen and understand what people have to say
3. Keeps connected through eye contact and body language
4. Asks insightful questions that help people to solve their own problems and/or see issues in a different way
5. Shows empathy for the other person's situation
6. Able to effectively transfer know-how to others
7. Knows when to 'show and tell' and when to 'guide self-discover’
8. Able to open people's eyes to new possibilities
9. Helps people to improve their performance and realise their full potential
10. Able to help others to increase their confidence and self-belief

This model now is the core thinking that will underpin all of the skills for life programme. Because, to be totally honest the world is desperate for better leadership!!!