Leadership Archives - Page 4 of 6 - Enterprise Management Ltd

Fox Hunting: Why We Need More than Hedgehog Leaders

We traditionally reward Hedgehog leaders who excel in a specialized area. In fact most of our career paths are tailored for specialized knowledge. Their expertise clearly produces value by digging into and sometimes creating new pursuits opens opportunities. But what is being overlooked is the need for Fox leaders with a breadth of knowledge, the ability to see patterns and understand systems interactions. Fox leaders with generalist expertise should not be discounted. Read More

Top 4 Mistakes Women Make in the Workplace

The road to the C-suite is littered with well-meaning, well-qualified workers who never quite get there. So what is the difference-maker?

Executive coach and consultant Dr. Mary Lippitt has worked with hundreds of leaders, from Fortune 500 executives to top Pentagon officials, and she’s conducted research on thousands of people to study how they make choices. Read More

How to Boost Your Influence

John Maxwell defines leading as influencing. President Eisenhower defined it as, “getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” While influence, or persuasion, remains a critical skill, polishing that skill requires some analysis. We must first learn to identify and then focus on what currently drives others; it is then that your influence is given a boost.

Are You Credible?

We all think we are highly credible, but we need to validate that perception. Living in an illusion is not smart. I was working with a CEO who was asked at a staff meeting on Friday if a layoff was planned. He empathetically said no, but the following Wednesday the firm did conduct a layoff. He chose the desire to be popular over the need to be credible. Credibility stems from trustworthiness, believability and a commitment to high integrity. Read More

Effective Communication

Effective Team Communication: What vs Why

At first glance, exchanging information, meaning and messages among team members appears deceptively simple. After all, you know each other and share common goals. Unfortunately, communication and misunderstanding continue. Most of us are poor listeners who quickly jump to assumptions and immediately judge another’s message, rather than concentrating on the content. Effective communication takes analysis. Read More

Stages of Conflict Impact Decision Making

By Mary Lippitt | February 3, 2015

Conflict Stages Impact Successful Group Decision Making

Recently, I resigned from a volunteer Board of Directors due to protracted and unproductive conflict. The Board suffered from heated verbal exchanges and deep-rooted personality conflicts, which diverted energy and stymied decision making. This experience seems all too common among groups. The American Management Association sponsored research, reported that middle managers spent 20% of their time resolving conflict while executives spent 18% of their time dealing with conflict. The AMA defined conflict as a breakdown in decision making mechanisms.

This situation extends beyond volunteer Boards of Directors. All types of executive and leadership teams experience conflict that leads to inept decision making practices. Whether it is repeatedly rehashing a past decision, keeping an issue “under consideration” for prolonged periods, withholding information, or permitting cliques to form the result is often ineffective communication and action. These dysfunctional behaviors can stem from a conviction that divergent views originate from personal agendas or self-serving intentions.

This personal lens blurs objective analysis that would make conflicts easier to resolve. Professional experience, including different educational backgrounds, typically produces distinctive conclusions on the best course of action. When unique ideas are first examined through a rational lens, creative resolutions are revealed and collaboration is enhanced. A focus on content encourages exploration for common ground, while personal stereotypes inhibit consensus.

Stages of Conflict

We all recognize that conflict can be constructive, as well as destructive. Initially, conflict can generate benefits, but in later stages a negative spiral can result. These stages can be depicted as moving from rational examination of content into personal labels. The following depicts the progression in the stages of conflict:

During the first two stages of conflict, difference over ideas and goals, innovative proposals and initiative can emerge. In these instances, differences are viewed as productive brainstorming and as steps to discovering new alternatives. Starting with an objective analysis of the idea produces better solutions, improves teamwork and reduces time required to make decisions. However, when conflict is attributed to personality or values, the likelihood of a promising outcome fades and the issue becomes a matter of who wins and who loses. In these situations, positions harden and creative problem solving vanishes.

The illustration above reflects the increasing breadth and depth of conviction when issues are viewed personally. Like the iceberg that the chart resembles, what is below the surface is the most dangerous. Just like the Titanic on its mad dash to establish a world record for an Atlantic crossing, when we jump into making characterizations we lose.

My decision to resign from the Board grew from personal conflicts, which are hard to repair. Perceptions, rather than thoughtful analysis, drove the board’s actions. People did not have the opportunity to “make their case” as accusations of hidden agendas, attempts to settle scores, the use of power plays, and rampant insecurity replaced fair consideration of ideas. The Board’s effectiveness suffered as many of its members elected to view conflict from a personal lens.

If you currently serve on a team, remind your team that divergent views are a constructive step toward excellence. The benefit may not be more effectiveness, but you will avoid wasting your time in unproductive exchanges—and retain your membership.

Dr. Mary Lippitt, an award-winning author, consultant, and speaker, founded Enterprise Management Ltd. to help leaders with critical analysis. Her new book, Situational Mindsets: Targeting What Matters When It Matters was published last year with a Foreword from Daivd Covey. She can be reached at mlippitt@enterprisemgt.com or https://www.linkedin.com/in/marylippitt/

Also published at http://bizcatalyst360.com/conflict-stages-impact-successful-group-decision-making/

Walk a Mile in My Shoes: Understanding 6 Critical Mindsets

Learn how to identify the critical mindsets that enable you to effectively analyze the business situation.

At some point in life, we’ve all heard the phrase “ … until you walk a mile in my shoes.” Although this is not a literal suggestion, obviously, it is a sound one that underscores the importance of understanding mindsets in business. When dealing with a business contact or situation, your goal is to understand his goal so that you can make smart decisions that will drive your success while further fostering healthy business relationships. Read More

Coaching Others to Get Things Right

Coaching others is a vital part to every leader’s job and the key to a leader’s success. After all having outstanding staff reflects beautifully well on the leader. And, part of that coaching process must entail developing critical thinking skills. Whether it is figuring out how to handle complex issues or assessing new opportunities, analysis and synthesis serve as the pivot between a great decision and a disastrous one.

Coaching Trends and Opportunities

Coaches help clients expand their skills, tools, and perspectives. We are proud of our abilities to help people becomes extraordinary and fulfilled. While we challenge others to reach beyond their comfort zone, to take risks by trying new approaches, and use reflection to broaden horizons, it is time to issue the same challenge to ourselves. What are we doing to expand our toolkit and stretch our thinking? What can we do to prepare for coaching’s future? The key lies in our willingness to check our assumptions, expand our toolkit, and meet evolving client needs. Read More

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