Office of the Vice President for Research Extraordinary Times Call For Extraordinary Leaders Lisa Carlson-Warren Chief of Staff to the Vice President for

Office of the Vice President for Research

Extraordinary Times Call For Extraordinary Leaders

Lisa Carlson-WarrenChief of Staff to the

Vice President for Research


Objectives:At the end of today’s session you will know more

about…• What leadership is and is not• Challenges and opportunities University

leaders face• Leadership skills U can apply every day• Leadership “derailers”• Qualities that make research administrators

effective leaders• Leadership concepts

“How to become better leaders in our process of research administration.”


Leadership – Dispelling the Myths

• Leadership is a behavior• Leadership is learned• Leadership skills can be developed through

personal and professional experience, self-study, and education

• The term “leadership” is challenging to define• Leadership is better described

We are not born leaders


“Leaders aren't born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that's the price we'll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal.”

-Vince Lombardi


Leadership – Dispelling the Myths

"Leadership occurs any time one attempts to influence the behavior of an individual or group, regardless of the reason. Management is a kind of leadership in which the achievement of organizational goals is paramount."

-Hersey and Blanchard

Leadership is not synonymous with

management


Leadership Challenges

• MANY stakeholders: combined with consultative and inclusive nature of the decision making process

• Tough economical times: do more with less• Highly regulated, complex and changing

environment: the unfunded mandate• Progress on our previously stated goals is

slowing or even stopped


Leadership Opportunities• Stakeholder management – effective client

communication, overcoming difficult clients • Decentralized environment – knowledge and

authority resides locally• Goal: “Top 3 Research University”• UMN is a role model: we already are a top ten public

research university • Economy: focus on being more effective, improve

alignment and optimize resources. Be creative, find innovative solutions and partnerships.

• Learn about change management


Research Administrators: Leadership Skills U Can Use Everyday

• Role modeling

• Collaboration

• Positive Attitude

• Challenge the Status Quo

• Listen Attentively


Applying The SkillRole Modeling:

research administrators lead the way

• Interpret and translate rules, regulations, policies• Creating forms, business processes• Developing or delivering training programs• Reviewing proposed budgets• Providing appropriate protection to research subjects

All of these activities are leadership functions.Do these well and you teach others how to do research

responsibly.


The price of greatness is responsibility.

-Winston Churchill


Applying The SkillCollaboration:

The work of one person can rarely match that of an aligned team

• Network and build relationships/community – “bridging the gap”

• Seek out and volunteer for group opportunities to discuss issues and find solutions

• Share best “effective” practices• Value diversity (differences) – realize they make us

stronger


Applying The SkillPositive “Can Do” attitude:

Research administrators “set the tone” for their organizations.

• focus on the issues rather than the people• define the problem, focus on the solutions• attitude is “contagious”• believe in the vital importance of research• celebrate small wins


“The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it.”

-Michelangelo


Applying The SkillChallenge the Status Quo (Process)

• “5 Whys”: a technique to explore the cause/effect relationship of something.

– By repeating “why” five times, the nature of the problem as well as its solution becomes clear

• Seek out unjustified resistance– We have always done it this way– If it is not broken, don’t fix it– MUTE: “Militant University Transcendental Exceptionalism”

• phrase invented and used by Mark Yudof• means resistance to business or foreign non-University concepts.

Because we are a University- everything is different and non-university ways of doing things cannot be applied.


“You always have power, if you just know where to find it.”

-Frances Hesselbein, CEO Girl Scouts of AmericaWhen asked how she accomplished so much

without the concentrated power like that of a business.


Applying The SkillListen Attentively:

A foundational leadership skill

• Assess yourself – do you talk more than listen?– do you interrupt? show impatience?– do you think about your response instead of listening to the

speaker?– do you misinterpret what was said?– do you predetermine solutions before problem is fully

explained or understood?• Ask others

– choose people who will give you the unvarnished truth


What Derails Leaders?

• Impulsiveness• Risk adverse (avoidance)• Low tolerance for ambiguity• Arrogant• Approval dependent• Self-promotional / ego-centric• Defensive• Volatile


Effective Leaders …• Strive for public trust• Collaborate• Build community• Manage risk• Model the way• Guide• Unravel bureaucracy• Share information• Challenge the

process

• Embrace change• Interpret and translate• Value differences• Reflect• Observe• Learning continuously• Listen• Be creative• Adapt


Leadership Concepts:Fill your toolbox

• Servant Leadership• Emotional Intelligence• Evidence Based Leadership• Situational leadership• Leading Up:

– Decentralized organizations recognize that to accomplish goals, you must exert greater influence on superiors


Resources

Lisa Carlson-Warren, OVPR– [email protected]

See Symposium web site:

• presentation

• resource list


Thank You

Documents

Office of the Vice President for Research Extraordinary Times Call For Extraordinary Leaders Lisa Carlson-Warren Chief of Staff to the Vice President for