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"An effective leader is one who inspires others to give maximum effort to achieve a worthwhile goal."

"Develop the person, and the leader will emerge."

Leadership

I believe that Leadership at all levels is the most important and possibly the least understood asset of any organization. Innovative ideas are the engines of organizational success, and effective leaders are the driving force behind those ideas. Successful organizations understand that effective leaders, not just at the top, but all through the organization, from the CEO to the team members in each department, hold the keys to the engines of creativity.

In addition, effective leadership at all levels gives these organizations the ability to quickly adapt to a rapidly changing environment and quickly bring innovative ideas to the marketplace. However, leadership skills must be developed, not assumed.

"If I sit at a piano, does that make me a piano player?" No, no more than being placed in a position of power or authority will make one a leader. Becoming a more effective leader, like becoming an accomplished pianist, requires time, patience, and practice. It also, more than anything, requires an understanding of what makes an effective leader.  I believe that effective leaders either know or instinctively follow certain Principles of Effective Leadership. These Principles serve as a guide that the effective leader follows in his or her decisions, actions, and behaviors towards others. The Leader who follows these principles knows that  true strength flows not from Position, which is ego-driven, but from his or her ability to influence others to work towards a common goal. 

By focusing on the Leader as a Person and on Principles of Effective Leadership, we can introduce, examine, and learn how to develop the personal qualities and skills  that an effective leader needs. In addition, by removing the link between Leader and Position, we can open up leadership potential and behavior throughout the organization. In essence, everyone in the organization can and should become a leader.

Leading Workshops

The first session in my Leading Workshops is an introductory session. I engage the participants in a discussion of  leadership and what it means to be a leader. We discuss the various definitions of leader and leadership and then talk about the type of leader whom I refer to as an "Effective Leader." At the end of the session, I introduce the first two Principles of Effective Leadership and ask the participants to think about these Principles before the next session. I also ask them to bring in some examples of leaders that they believe succeeded because they followed the Principle, as well as some who failed because they did not.

The goal is for each participant to reach a personal understanding of how the Principle works, why it is important for effective leadership, and how to develop and use that Principle in his or her everyday life. The Workshop is my preferred method of introducing the Principles of Effective Leadership. There first two chapters of the workbook that I use in class can be found under the link Creative Writing Samples.

Workshops generally consist of eight one-hour sessions, which can be held once or twice a week. To encourage individual participation, the number of participants in each Workshop should be between five and ten. However, up to fifteen can be accommodated depending on the size of the meeting space. Participants can and should come from any department or any level within the organization, as this enhances dialogue and understanding between different departments and levels. Participants need only to have a sincere desire to become a more effective leader and a willingness to engage in a meaningful dialogue with the group. I believe that the benefits of the workshop will extend far beyond the workplace, and will enrich the family and community lives of the participants. Workshops can easily be held at the sponsoring organization's location during, before, or after normal working hours. I will gladly work with you to set up convenient times.

Leading Seminars

In my Seminars, I introduce each Principle and then offer examples of how and why it works and why it is important for effective leadership. Although the Seminar format limits group participation, those with a sincere desire to become more effective leaders can gain much from attending. The Seminar is recommended for organizations who wish to introduce the Principles of Effective Leadership to larger groups in a one-time setting. Seminars can be held at your location provided you have a venue that is large enough. I will be happy to work with you to arrange a time and place to hold your Seminar.