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Leadership: Empowering Executives Across Diverse Career Landscapes

A seguir um conteúdo sobre liderança feito para o nível C1 adiante.

Preparation

What makes a good leader for you?

Do you think a good leader makes a difference in the performance of an organization?


Reading

Part 1 - The best leader in the world? The power of technical skills.

Explore four exceptional leaders: Elon Musk, visionary in technology; Zinédine Zidane, master strategist; Angela Merkel, steady navigator; and Bear Grylls, survival expert. Who would you choose to lead?

leaders of the world in different areas

Elon Musk

As the CEO of SpaceX and Tesla, Musk has revolutionized space travel and electric vehicles. His visionary leadership in pushing the boundaries of technology and sustainable energy has made him a pivotal figure in shaping the future.


Zinédine Zidane

A legendary soccer player and manager, Zidane led Real Madrid to multiple Champions League titles. His tactical acumen, ability to inspire his team, and calm demeanor under pressure have cemented his status as a top-tier coach.


Angela Merkel

As the Chancellor of Germany for 16 years, Merkel navigated the country through numerous crises, including the global financial crisis and the European migrant crisis. Her pragmatic and steady leadership earned her respect on the global stage.


Bear Grylls

Known for his survival skills and television shows, Grylls exemplifies leadership in extreme conditions. His ability to stay calm, make quick decisions, and demonstrate resilience in the wild makes him a prominent figure in survival and adventure.


Scenarios

Who would you trust to lead during tough economic times?


Who could lead a cutting-edge tech business?


Who would you pick to navigate a survival situation?


Who's the best coach for a big sports tournament?


Exercise 1

The conclusion is that putting matching leaders with the appropriate situations is crucal for success. Whether it involves pioneering technology, coaching a sports team, guiding a nation through economic challenges, or leading a survival expedition, having someone with the right technical expertise in each domain is paramount for achieving success.


1. Technical skills data set:

Start by brainstorming technical topics that are relevant to your career. Here are some suggestions for different fields:

Career Field

Possible Technical Topics

Civil Engineer

Building Information Modeling (BIM)

Budgeting for Construction Projects

Material Selection for Construction

Project Management Software (MS Project, Primavera)

PR Manager

Crisis Communication Planning

Media Monitoring Tools (e.g., Meltwater)

Online Reputation Management Platforms (e.g., Brand24)

Press Release Writing and Distribution

Data Scientist

Machine Learning Algorithms (e.g., Random Forest, Neural Networks)

Data Visualization Tools (e.g., Tableau, Matplotlib)

Natural Language Processing (NLP) Techniques

Big Data Technologies (e.g., Hadoop, Spark)

Statistical Analysis with R or Python

Salesman

Negotiation Strategies and Techniques

CRM Software Utilization (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot)

Sales Pipeline Management

Product Knowledge Training

Sales Performance Analytics

Now build your own table

Career Field

Possible Technical Topics

[Write the name or your carrer.]

[List relevant technical skills in your area.]


2. Matrix of Relevance versus Current Competence:

Assess the relevance of each technical skill to your career and evaluate your current competence level in each skill. Here's how you can create a matrix:

Technical Skill

Relevance to Career

Current Competence













Use this matrix to identify the skills that are both highly relevant to your career and in which you have the lowest competence level. Choose one skills you should prioritize for development.


3. Safe Environments and Real-life Situations:
  • Safe Environments: Online simulation platforms, sandbox environments, and virtual labs where executives can practice technical skills in a risk-free setting.

  • Real-life Situations: Encourage executives to take on projects or initiatives within their organizations that require the application of newly acquired technical skills. This could include leading a data analytics project, implementing cybersecurity measures, or optimizing digital marketing campaigns.


4. Reflection and Visualization:

After engaging in practice sessions or real-life situations, executives should take time to reflect on their experiences. This could involve:

  • Journaling: Writing down thoughts, observations, and lessons learned from each practice session or project.

  • Visualization: Imagining themselves successfully applying their newly acquired technical skills in future scenarios. This can help reinforce learning and boost confidence for future endeavors.


Part 2. From top to botton to relational leader.

Check out this clip from Richard Boyatzis at Case Western Reserve University on Coursera. It's from his course "Inspiring Leadership through Emotional Intelligence."



Exercise 2. Part 1: Identifying the Traits of a Good Leader

Think of real examples for both a good leader and a bad leader based on personal experiences. Fill out the table with concise and clear responses for each category, ensuring a direct comparison between the two leaders' behaviors and their effects on team performance and morale.


Example of a table.

Good Leader

Bad Leader

[Name]

[Name]

[What did he say or do?]

[What did he say or do?]

[How he made people feel when he was around?]

[How he made people feel when he was around?]

[How did you perform better because of him?]

[How did you perform better because of him?]

[Did the team function better because of him?]

[Did the team function better because of him?]

Watch below the analysis of the exercise.


In the video above, he mentions a book he co-authored



Exercise 2. Part 2: Developing a Plan to Become a etter Leader

Effective leadership relies on harnessing both tacit and explicit knowledge. Understanding and developing these forms of knowledge can significantly enhance a leader's capability and impact.


Tacit knowledge is the unspoken, intuitive, and experience-based knowledge individuals possess, acquired through personal experience and characterized by insights and hunches that are difficult to formalize and communicate. Explicit knowledge, in contrast, is the formal, codified information found in documents, databases, and manuals, easily communicated and transferred within an organization.


To develop tacit knowledge, talk to and observe great leaders, and put yourself in challenging situations to gain experience and insights. To develop explicit knowledge, study relevant materials and take courses to systematically acquire and understand formal information.


Select one leadership characteristic from the provided list that you feel is relevant to your role but are uncertain about implementing effectively or improving. Alternatively, choose a trait that you clearly lack or struggle with in your current leadership approach. Reflect on situations or challenges where enhancing this specific skill could benefit your leadership effectiveness. Be prepared to discuss your chosen characteristic and your strategies for improvement or development during the exercise.


List of leadership skills

  • Active listening

  • Empathy

  • Decision-making

  • Integrity

  • Adaptability

  • Vision

  • Team building

  • Delegation

  • Conflict resolution

  • Problem-solving

  • Accountability

  • Time management

  • Emotional intelligence

  • Motivation

  • Strategic thinking



Reflective Journaling and Feedback Sessions

Maintain a reflective journal to document daily leadership decisions, challenges faced, and the outcomes. Pair this with weekly feedback sessions with a mentor or peer.

Purpose: This exercise helps in developing self-awareness and critical thinking skills. By reflecting on actions and receiving constructive feedback, you can identify areas for improvement and develop better decision-making skills.


Role-Playing and Scenario-Based Training

Participate in regular role-playing exercises where you act out various leadership scenarios, such as conflict resolution, crisis management, or performance reviews.

Purpose: This practice enhances your ability to handle diverse situations, improve communication skills, and develop empathy by seeing problems from different perspectives.


Peer Coaching Circles

Form a peer coaching circle with a small group of colleagues. Each member takes turns presenting a current leadership challenge they are facing. The group then discusses and provides feedback and potential solutions.

Purpose: This exercise fosters collaborative problem-solving and peer learning. It helps you gain insights from different viewpoints, refine your approach to leadership challenges, and build a supportive network.

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