You, too, can learn from politicians...

by Mary Beth Matteo, Founding Director of the S. Dale High Center

Nothing like a real life example to bring “bad leadership” into focus. In your view, what mistakes are our politicians currently making?
• Failure to listen

• Failure to think strategically—planning for the long haul

• Refusal to give up some of their power

• Following their agenda, despite criticism, because they know “they’re right”

• Assembling the facts selectively

• Failure to bring constituents together: dividing people instead of unifying them

• Failure to set an example, leading with integrity

Sum & Substance: If you’re like the rest of us—not quite perfect yet—you may have a few of these failing in common with our politicians! Some of these failings, when made by people in the government, seem arrogant and blatant. But these practices are easy to slip into, even when we’re so close to perfect!

Can we measure leadership?

by Mary Beth Matteo, Founding Director of the S. Dale High Center

All of us want to hire “leaders” in key positions in our companies. Most of us want to train future leaders, either in our business, or our family.

How do we recognize leaders, or potential leaders? Usually we focus on the personality attributes of leaders and then look for these characteristics in specific individuals. There are a plethora of tests and training methods to identify and strength leadership characteristics whether employees or family members.

This is only one half of the picture, so let’s back up and look at the definition of leadership. A leader’s responsibility is to establish the conditions (the culture, the climate, the incentives) to enable others to take the right actions to succeed. If the top executive achieves the results himself/herself, the top executive is not a leader but simply a high achiever. If the top executive enables his/her employees (or family) to succeed, that is a leader!

Sum and Substance: So, how do we measure leadership? We measure follower behavior and the achievements of followers. Leaders get results through people!