The “Dutch” Style

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Die-hard Democrats disliked is Die-hard Democrats disliked is political beliefspolitical beliefs

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Republicans loved is political Republicans loved is political philosophyphilosophy

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But most everyone would But most everyone would agree that this personagree that this person

had excellent leadership skillshad excellent leadership skills

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Video “American Experience”Video “American Experience”

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This video is not about the political This video is not about the political ideology of Reagan, nor his ideology of Reagan, nor his economic, social, or foreign policies. economic, social, or foreign policies. It is about Ronald “Dutch” Reagan’s It is about Ronald “Dutch” Reagan’s ability to lead people. ability to lead people.

Leadership does not imply correctness Leadership does not imply correctness in choice of the desired goal, only in choice of the desired goal, only that the desired goal is reached.that the desired goal is reached.

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What is leadership? (Defined)What is leadership? (Defined) What are leadership qualities?What are leadership qualities? Why Reagan as a leader?Why Reagan as a leader?

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What is leadership?What is leadership?

Dictionary definition: 1. The position, Dictionary definition: 1. The position, function, or guidance of a leader. 2. function, or guidance of a leader. 2.

The ability to lead. –American The ability to lead. –American College DictionaryCollege Dictionary

The truth is that leadership is difficult The truth is that leadership is difficult to define in a single definition.to define in a single definition.

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Leadership can be thought of as Leadership can be thought of as the means involved in harnessing the means involved in harnessing the skills, abilities of a group in a the skills, abilities of a group in a variety of situations towards a variety of situations towards a defined goal.defined goal.

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As complex a subject as leadership As complex a subject as leadership is, how well someone does at is is, how well someone does at is

often easily identified.often easily identified.

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To borrow the words from Supreme To borrow the words from Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart, Court Justice Potter Stewart, speaking on pornography:speaking on pornography:

"I can't define pornography, but I "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it“know it when I see it“

Although leadership is difficult to Although leadership is difficult to define, most people think they define, most people think they know know a good one and bad one a good one and bad one when they see one.when they see one.

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““The greatest leader is not The greatest leader is not necessarily the one who does the necessarily the one who does the greatest things; he is the one who greatest things; he is the one who gets the people to do the greatest gets the people to do the greatest things.”things.”

-RONALD REAGAN-RONALD REAGAN

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What are leadership qualities?What are leadership qualities?

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Communications SkillsCommunications SkillsReagan: The “Great Communicator”Reagan: The “Great Communicator”

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Reagan’s philosophy for being a good Reagan’s philosophy for being a good communicator:communicator:

– Always be honest in what you present. The Always be honest in what you present. The more you believe your own message, the more you believe your own message, the more believable that message becomes to more believable that message becomes to others.others.

– Be sure to keep watch of your nonverbal Be sure to keep watch of your nonverbal communications.communications.

– Personify your message. When you do, it will Personify your message. When you do, it will have more impact on your audience, be that a have more impact on your audience, be that a large group or a small one.large group or a small one.

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communicator:communicator:– Criticism:Criticism:

Confront Criticism directly and honestly.Confront Criticism directly and honestly. Don’t personalize criticism when giving it or receiving Don’t personalize criticism when giving it or receiving

it. Respond to the message of the criticism and the the it. Respond to the message of the criticism and the the critic. When giving criticism, focus on the message and critic. When giving criticism, focus on the message and not the person.not the person.

Emphasize the Affirmative rather than the Negative: Emphasize the Affirmative rather than the Negative: Focus on what you are for as opposed to what you are Focus on what you are for as opposed to what you are against. against.

When criticized unfairly, react in a calm, detached When criticized unfairly, react in a calm, detached manner as opposed to an emotional manner. The last manner as opposed to an emotional manner. The last thing you want to do is inadvertently add your own thing you want to do is inadvertently add your own credibility to the attackcredibility to the attack

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Communication ContinuedCommunication Continued

Video from American Experience: Video from American Experience: Responding to criticism.Responding to criticism.

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Confidence and OptimismConfidence and Optimism Reagan was notable for optimism. It was Reagan was notable for optimism. It was

the foundation to his political philosophy, the foundation to his political philosophy, approach to leadership, and his personality.approach to leadership, and his personality.

He used a disciplined approach that used He used a disciplined approach that used optimism to encourage himself and others optimism to encourage himself and others to reach their potential.to reach their potential.

His confidence in the future was without His confidence in the future was without boundaries. “Like most Americans, I live for boundaries. “Like most Americans, I live for the future.”the future.”

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““Optimism and Pessimism are Optimism and Pessimism are infectious and they spread more infectious and they spread more rapidly from the head downward rapidly from the head downward

than in any other direction.”than in any other direction.”

-RONALD REAGAN-RONALD REAGAN

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Video from American Experience: Video from American Experience: Example of optimism.Example of optimism.

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AuthenticityAuthenticity Regardless of socioeconomic Regardless of socioeconomic

background, leaders are self-made.background, leaders are self-made. Great leaders are the ones who are the Great leaders are the ones who are the

most authenticmost authentic Authenticity allows group members to have Authenticity allows group members to have

trust in their leader. America was in bad trust in their leader. America was in bad times, but they saw Ronald Reagan as times, but they saw Ronald Reagan as someone they could trust and believe in.someone they could trust and believe in.

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Empathy, Grace, and CharmEmpathy, Grace, and Charm ““By developing a knack for putting By developing a knack for putting

yourself in someone else’s shoes, it yourself in someone else’s shoes, it helps you relate better to others and helps you relate better to others and perhaps understand why they think perhaps understand why they think as they do, even though they come as they do, even though they come from a background much different from a background much different

than yours.”than yours.” –Ronald Reagan –Ronald Reagan

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Empathy, Grace, and Charm Empathy, Grace, and Charm continued.continued.

On a trip to dedicate the Jimmy Carter On a trip to dedicate the Jimmy Carter museum (a delicate situation given museum (a delicate situation given the personal attacks given by Carter) the personal attacks given by Carter) Reagan said, “We have made up our Reagan said, “We have made up our minds that no matter what happens, minds that no matter what happens, we are going to be gracious.” we are going to be gracious.”

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HumilityHumility Requiring great self confidence and self Requiring great self confidence and self

discipline that is often found at high discipline that is often found at high levels of leadership, often time humility levels of leadership, often time humility is overlooked.is overlooked.

Reagan on Maintaining humility in Reagan on Maintaining humility in leadership. “otherwise the power goes leadership. “otherwise the power goes to your head, and the history books are to your head, and the history books are littered with such un savory people.”littered with such un savory people.”

DutchDutchDistance and Dignity of PositionDistance and Dignity of PositionReagan had an rare combination of Reagan had an rare combination of distance and approachability. This distance and approachability. This was at the cornerstone of his was at the cornerstone of his leadership style. leadership style. His goal was to protect the dignity of His goal was to protect the dignity of the positions he held.the positions he held.

He was very approachable by He was very approachable by members of Washington and by the members of Washington and by the American people, but at the same American people, but at the same time looked at presidency from afar. time looked at presidency from afar.

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Why Reagan as a leader?Why Reagan as a leader? Reagan governed in some very Reagan governed in some very

tough and scary times.tough and scary times.

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When he took office, When he took office, inflation was roaring, inflation was roaring, unemployment was unemployment was high, interest rates high, interest rates were going up, people were going up, people could not buy a home, could not buy a home, and if you were old and if you were old enough to drive you enough to drive you could remember that could remember that you couldn’t buy gas you couldn’t buy gas not matter how much not matter how much money you had.money you had.

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The United States was living with the The United States was living with the threat of nuclear war as something that threat of nuclear war as something that could happen at any time. The future of could happen at any time. The future of not only the United States but the not only the United States but the human race was at best, a little human race was at best, a little doubtful.doubtful.

Threat of all out nuclear war, the end Threat of all out nuclear war, the end mankind, loomed over the world like a mankind, loomed over the world like a black cloud. black cloud.

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With all of the doom and gloom that With all of the doom and gloom that filled the air, somehow Reagan filled the air, somehow Reagan could lift the hearts of a nation could lift the hearts of a nation with his sense of style.with his sense of style.

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Video from American Video from American experience:experience:

““The Day After”The Day After”

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When situations are favorable, When situations are favorable, leading can be easier. It is much leading can be easier. It is much easier to lead down the mountain easier to lead down the mountain than up it.than up it.

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With all of the unfavorable With all of the unfavorable environmental or situational environmental or situational factors present, he won his 1factors present, he won his 1stst presidential campaign against the presidential campaign against the sitting president. sitting president.

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Through tumultuous times in his first Through tumultuous times in his first presidency he emerged to to win a presidency he emerged to to win a landslide victory in his second landslide victory in his second term, but his vision of the term, but his vision of the American dream remained. He American dream remained. He knew his audience was and he knew his audience was and he spoke to them with a message he spoke to them with a message he believed.believed.

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He continued to push the American He continued to push the American Dream with this reelection video of Dream with this reelection video of his second presidential campaign.his second presidential campaign.

-Video from American Experience.-Video from American Experience.

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Reagan’s advice on making meetings useful:Reagan’s advice on making meetings useful: Encourage broad participation in decision making Encourage broad participation in decision making

meetings, including nonexperts who can input meetings, including nonexperts who can input judgment and common sense where technical judgment and common sense where technical expertise sometimes blurs the overall goal.expertise sometimes blurs the overall goal.

Keep written information simple, clear and Keep written information simple, clear and concise.concise.

Remember that all meetings become sources of Remember that all meetings become sources of management issues that go far beyond the topics management issues that go far beyond the topics under direct discussionunder direct discussion

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Reagan’s Philosophy on ManagementReagan’s Philosophy on Management Personnel is Job one.Personnel is Job one.

““Successful companies have a consensus Successful companies have a consensus from top to bottom.” from top to bottom.”

Everyone does not have to agree on the Everyone does not have to agree on the policy, but they must be onboard and willing policy, but they must be onboard and willing to support it.to support it.

Direction Without Orders.Direction Without Orders. This style of leadership as many advantages This style of leadership as many advantages

largely from empowering team members to largely from empowering team members to work on behalf the the broader vision of the work on behalf the the broader vision of the companycompany

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Backing up the Staff.Backing up the Staff. Given that you have empowered Given that you have empowered

individuals, be prepared to backup individuals, be prepared to backup subordinates when challenged. (Don’t subordinates when challenged. (Don’t hang them out to dry)hang them out to dry)

Leadership actualization.Leadership actualization. If it is to be realized through results, it If it is to be realized through results, it

must be done so with a strong must be done so with a strong management approach.management approach.

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Closing thoughts:Closing thoughts:Whether or not your political views Whether or not your political views

agree or disagree with Ronald agree or disagree with Ronald Reagan’s, he will be remembered as Reagan’s, he will be remembered as a man with excellent leadership a man with excellent leadership skills.skills.

This results primarily from his ability to This results primarily from his ability to communicate with his audience and communicate with his audience and ability to empower others below him.ability to empower others below him.

ENDEND

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Notes:Notes: Reagan on leadership : executive Reagan on leadership : executive

lessons from the Great lessons from the Great Communicator by James M. Communicator by James M. Strock. 1998Strock. 1998

Reagan: The American Experience Reagan: The American Experience aired by PBS in 1998aired by PBS in 1998