Accepting the Challenge to Lead Regional Conference 11-9-06

Accepting the Challenge to LeadPerspectives for the Professional Community Manager

 Presentation for the

Community Associations InstituteRegional Conference – November 9, 2006

 Presented by:

Thomas L. Willis, CMCA, PCAM, Vice President, Zalco Realty, Inc.

&Raymond B. Via, Jr., Esq., Linowes and Blocher, LLP

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Leadership

Your face here?

The Big Buy-in

Leadership

How did we get here and where are we going???

Challenges & opportunities

It’s PERSONAL

Basics

Dispelling myths

Basics

Dispelling myths

Leadership is a rare skill

Basics

Dispelling myths

Leadership is a rare skillLeaders are born, not made

Basics

Dispelling myths

Leadership is a rare skillLeaders are born, not madeOrganizations must have only one leader

Basics

Dispelling myths

Leadership is a rare skillLeaders are born, not madeOrganizations must have only one leaderAll leaders are charismatic

Basics

Dispelling myths

Leadership is a rare skillLeaders are born, not madeOrganizations must have only one leaderAll leaders are charismaticLeaders control people

Basics

Three foundation blocks

Ambition

Competence

Integrity

Basics

The Leader as “Social Architect” – Creating an atmosphere for growth, learning, cohesion

Structures

Acknowledgment

Creativity

Basics

The “Servant Leader”

Fail to honor people,

They fail to honor you.

But of a good leader, who talks little,

When his work is done, his aim fulfilled

They will all say, “We did this ourselves”

- Lao-tzu

Applications

Manager vs. Leader –

contrasting perspectives

Applications

Jim Collins – “Level 5 Hierarchy”

Applications

Community Manager as Social Architect

Structure – Communication of vision - “why”

Acknowledgement – Association cheerleader

Creativity – Setting the table & sublimating ego

Applications

Community Manager as Servant Leader

Leaders by definition

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Are they inspired and creative?

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How to others relate to you?

Do they feel free to make an occasional mistake?

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Are they hesitant to take a stand?

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Are they inclined to speak up

when you are wrong?

(are you EVER wrong?)

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Do they feel a part of the process or

removed from it?

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Do they feel significant and that they are making a meaningful contribution?

Self Examination/Self Awareness

How do others relate to you?

Do you get a sense that they feel pride

in the community?

Self Evaluation/Self Awareness

Characteristics of successful leaders (note paradoxes and balances)

SELF TEST

Self Evaluation/Self Awareness

SELF TEST RESULTS – “360” EXERCISE

Challenge yourselves & your group members

“My best friend is the one who brings out the best in me” – Henry Ford

(marginally controlled creative chaos happens here)

Positive Self Regard

Know your strengths and weaknessesSet goals for yourself“Fire the yes men”See how your & others’ strengths fit into

the organizationDon’t reinvent the wheel – find mentors,

acknowledge sources of learning

“Four Lessons of Self Knowledge”from Warren Bennis

You are your own best teacher

Accept responsibility, blame no one

You can learn anything you want

True understanding comes from reflecting on your own experience

The Vision Thing

The Vision Thing

The

Social Architect

The Vision Thing

Vision can take

many forms

The Vision Thing

For a vision to be successful,

it must be meaningful to the

STAKEHOLDERS

The Vision Thing

There is no one right way

to develop vision

The Vision Thing

A “pragmatic dreamer”

makes persons feel

significant

The Vision Thing

“Get the horses out

of the barn first”

The Vision Thing

Once goals of the community are articulated AND there is

general agreement, the vision is really speaking to people,

THEN the process begins to take care of itself

The Vision Thing

Vision

communicates

MEANING

Concluding Thoughts

Effective Leader = Full Integrated Person

Manage yourself – lead others

“A person really doesn’t become whole

until he becomes a part

of something bigger than himself”

-Jim Valvano

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

SIMPLE, CLEAR PLAN

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

NOBLE, PURPOSEFUL GOAL

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

ENGAGE

COMMUNICATE

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

PICK GOOD PEOPLE

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

LEAD BY “LOVE”

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

VIGOR!

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

MASTERY OF SKILLS

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

WORKAHOLIC

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

LEAD BY EXAMPLE

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

AVOID FEAR OF FAILURE

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

BE LUCKY

Admiral Horatio Nelson’s Dozen

TRUST YOUR GUT – SEIZE THE MOMENT