In the past I've done a lot of thinking and some writing about leadership. I'd like to know what it means to be a leader and how to go about it. So, the last direct report I had with my boss's boss was insightful. We got on the topic of leadership. And I learned a few things. Both of the gentlemen that I report to hold Doctorate degrees in Education. So you'd think they would be good teachers. And they are, strangely enough. In summary, here's what Steve shared with me.

It is essential, as a manager, to be a good leader. And there are two dimensions of leadership. These are:

1. Initiating Structure

2. Consideration

But what does this mean?

Initiating structure "refers to the leader's behavior in delineating the relationship between himself and members of the work-group, and in endeavoring to establish well-defined patterns of organization, channels of communication, and methods of procedure."

Consideration "refers to behavior indicative of friendship, mutual trust, respect, and warmth in the relationship between the leader and the members of his staff."

Of these two dimensions, the most important, by far, are the behaviors of consideration. Steve also shared an action system list with ideas pertaining to both dimensions. But I'll save that for another day............
1:24:38 PM    comment []