Exploding the Leadership Myth for Managers

On the 17th April in Townsville I was the closing keynote speaker for the Local Government Managers Australia, Queensland. My topic was on “Exploding the Leadership Myth”. Here are some key points for all managers and leaders of all types of organisations:

1. Articulate the value of what has to be achieved.
2. What’s the purpose of your objectives, goals and ambitions for the organisation?
3. Concentrate on being successful but never paralyse yourself or your organisation by striving for perfection.
4. Learn how to understand people to drive real performance.
5. Find your personal “leadership voice” and honour that. Build your leadership value by growing upon your strengths not trying to correct your weaknesses.
6. Leaders don’t always need additional or extra resources to create improvement. Improved thinking can sometimes produce much greater results than simply throwing more money at an issue.
7. Power does not corrupt. Powerlessness creates bureacracy.
8. The value of communication is in how it is received and understood, not in how it is given.
9. Frame your thinking to focus on cause and effect, future and present – but never suffer over problems that are of no consequence.
10. As leaders, a lot of the time the best answers to the problems we face are found at the point of contact with product, service and relationship.
11. As leaders, a lot of the time the best answers to the problems we face are found in the people who do the work.
12. As leaders, a lot of the time the best answers to the problems we face are just plain common sense.