Ready to Lead? Prepare to Think and Act Like a Successful Leader PDF
Preview Ready to Lead? Prepare to Think and Act Like a Successful Leader
BOOKS THAT MAKE YOU BETTER Areyouready Ready tobeagreat leader? R e Do you have what it takes? Can you make it happen every day? a d y Leadership – it’s a daunting word. We often think of leaders as T transforming, inspirational heroes who instigate great change. This o may be true for some, but, for the most part, leadership lies at the front L e line where people like you lead a team faced with everyday challenges. a d Ready To Lead? shows you exactly what leading means in real terms. ? It focuses on you, the new leader – what it feels like and what you need to do – so you know what you are up against before you take on your E new role. n d a L Ready to lead? Read on… a r ? k in Lead ‘…apragmaticandactionableapproachto developingrealworldmanagementskills.’ Mack Gill, President of SunGard Offshore Services ‘…anexcellentcompanionfortheaspiring leadersoftomorrow.’ Pádraic Gilligan, Marketing Director, MCI Dublin Prepare to think and act like a successful leader £12.99 MANAGEMENT Enda Larkin Visit us on the web www.pearson-books.com Larkin_01E_0273715061.indd 1 25/9/07 10:08:47 READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page i ‘Enda Larkin has provided the next generation of leaders with a foolproof, step-by step manual which avoids the grandiose theorising of the so- called leadership gurus and outlines, in simple, practical terms, how to be ready to lead.’ Patrick M Delaney, Managing Director, Ovation Global DMC ‘Ready to Lead? is an ideal companion for anybody starting out in an organisation which is results driven and recognizes the role of teams, large and small, in delivering sustained performance.’ Tony Kelly, Director of ICG ‘Clear language, relevant case studies and a studied avoidance of hyper- bole and jargon make this book an excellent companion for the aspiring leaders of tomorrow.’ Pádraic Gilligan, Marketing Director, MCI Dublin ‘Ready to Lead? is a refreshing change from many other books on leader- ship in that it provides a pragmatic, practical and actionable approach to developing real world management skills.’ Mack Gill, President of SunGard Offshore Services ‘Ready To Lead?is an invaluable and practical guide for anyone who wants to understand the difference between managing and leading, and use that knowledge to climb the corporate ladder.’ Richard Curran, Deputy Editor, The Sunday Business Post ‘Practical, enormously helpful and wonderfully well organized!! The self assessment exercises alone are an important linkage to effective leader- ship. Enda Larkin has added a valuable, practical work to the expanding literature surrounding the topic of leadership. Ready to Lead?provides an effective guide to help maximize the reader’s individual potential as a leader at all levels within any type of organization.’ James B. Hayes, Chairman of the Board Ashworth, Inc. and Retired Publisher FORTUNE Magazine ‘Stop, think and question is a reflective technique for any leader, or aspiring leader and is well expounded in this book by Enda Larkin.’ Jim Coyle, Standards and Qualifications Director, Lifelong Learning UK READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page ii READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page iii Ready to Lead? READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page iv Books that make you better Books that make you better – that make you bebetter, dobetter, feelbetter. Whether you want to upgrade your personal skills or change your job, whether you want to improve your managerial style, become a more powerful communicator or be stimulated and inspired as you work. Prentice Hall Businessis leading the field with a new breed of skills, careers and development books. Books that are a cut above the mainstream – in topic, content and delivery – with an edge and verve that will make you better, with less effort. Books that are as sharp and smart as you are. Prentice Hall Business. We work harder – so you don’t have to. For more details on products, and to contact us, visit www.pearsoned.co.uk READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page v ENDA LARKIN Ready to Lead? Prepare to think and act like a successful leader READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page vi PEARSON EDUCATION LIMITED Edinburgh Gate Harlow CM20 2JE Tel: (cid:2)44 (0)1279 623623 Fax: (cid:2)44 (0)1279 431059 Website: www.pearsoned.co.uk First published in Great Britain in 2008 © Pearson Education Limited 2008 The right of Enda Larkin to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988. ISBN: 978-0-273-71506-1 British Library Cataloguing-in-Publication Data A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Larkin, Enda M. Ready to lead? : prepare to think and act like a successful leader / Enda M. Larkin. p. cm. Includes index. ISBN 978-0-273-71506-1 1. Leadership--Handbooks, manuals, etc. 2. Management--Handbooks, manuals, etc. I. Title. HD57.7L37 2008 658.4’092--dc22 2007036510 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without either the prior written permission of the publisher or a licence permitting restricted copying in the United Kingdom issued by the Copyright Licensing Agency Ltd, Saffron House, 6–10 Kirby Street, London EC1N 8TS. This book may not be lent, resold, hired out or otherwise disposed of by way of trade in any form of binding or cover other than that in which it is published, without the prior consent of the Publishers. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 11 10 09 08 07 Typeset in 9.5/14.5pt IowanOldSt BT by 3 Printed and bound in Great Britain by Henry Ling Ltd, Dorchester, Dorset The Publisher’s policy is to use paper manufactured from sustainable forests. READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page vii Contents About the author xi Preface xii Acknowledgements xiii Introduction 1 PART 1 LEADERSHIP MINDSET 5 1 Leading and managing: what’s the link? 7 Understanding organisations 8 From management to leadership 8 People focused, but results orientated 12 Leaders are different 14 2 The need to lead 17 Ignore the leadership myths 17 Grasp the leadership realities 20 Reflect upon 24 PART 2 LEADERSHIP PROFILE 25 3 Leadership qualities 27 Can everyone lead? 28 What do you look for in your ideal leader? 29 The leader’s challenge 29 Leadership qualities 31 vii READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page viii READY TO LEAD? 4 Leadership behaviour 35 Attracting qualities 35 Bridging qualities 45 Where to now? 47 Reflect upon 52 PART 3 CORE LEADERSHIP SKILLS 53 5 Communication 55 The art of communication 55 Elements of communication – content and context 57 Communicating more effectively 59 Improving your listening skills 61 6 Leadership styles 67 Leadership styles model 67 Adopting a flexible approach 70 Reflect upon 74 PART 4 TEAMBUILDING CHALLENGES 75 7 Your team 77 Principles of team effectiveness 77 Building an effective team 80 Building-block 1 – cohesion and commitment 81 Building-block 2 – composition and compatibility 82 Building-block 3 – competence and capabilities 83 Building-block 4 – cooperation and collaboration 85 Building-block 5 – communication and consultation 86 Building-block 6 – conduct and control 88 Building-block 7 – continuity and change 90 Building-block 8 – climate and conflict 90 viii READ_A01.QXP 1/10/07 11:58 Page ix CONTENTS 8 Common teambuilding concerns 93 Motivating your team 93 Handling conflict 96 Coping with change 99 Dealing with difficult team members 103 Reflect upon 106 PART 5 SETTING PERSONAL GOALS 107 9 Setting personal goals 109 The goal achievement framework 109 10 The five goals 115 Goal 1 – Translate your leadership mindset into action 115 Goal 2 – Strengthen your leadership profile 117 Goal 3 – Develop your core leadership skills 118 Goal 4 – Establish networks and mentors 119 Goal 5 – Change, but stay true to yourself 122 Reflect upon 124 PART 6 MAKING AN IMPACT 125 11 Choosing your leadership style 127 Leadership Scenario 1 128 Leadership Scenario 2 130 Leadership Scenario 3 133 Leadership Scenario 4 135 Leadership Scenario 5 137 Applying your style in practice 139 12 Building your team 141 Setting your priorities 141 Early days in the role 142 ix
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