Deputy Minister Leadership Reflections Series: Defining Leadership, Episode 2
Disclaimer: The summaries and interpretations provided on this page are unofficial and have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by the Canada School of Public Service (CSPS).
Summary
- Leadership fundamentally means setting an example and walking the talk, where leaders must actually live and demonstrate the values and principles they espouse rather than just talking about them.
- Effective leadership involves making positive change in the world and mobilizing people and organizations to achieve goals together.
- Successful organizations in business, government, or academia require leaders who encourage internal discussion and debate rather than stifling dialogue.
- Leaders must create decision-making environments where team members can bring their expertise to the table and contribute in the best possible way.
- Good leaders need to listen to what their team members are saying and accept input from those with relevant expertise.
- Leaders should demonstrate humility by not putting themselves front and center in a way that chokes off important discussions and contributions from others.
- Leadership is about taking the space provided at any level of an organization and working within that space to bring people together to find solutions to problems.
- The primary role of a leader in large organizations is creating an environment where people can do more and perform better than they would without that leadership.
- Leaders must recognize they cannot do all jobs and are not competent in many of the specialized roles within their organization, so they need to enable others to excel.
- Leadership involves facilitating good decision-making and effective action by all people in key positions throughout the organization.
- Being a leader means serving as the best example possible to enable others to be successful in achieving wider organizational goals.
- Leadership requires making difficult decisions and doing difficult things, acknowledging that it is not always easy or fun.
- Strong leaders are sufficiently open and listen well, not putting themselves into play too early in decision-making processes.
- While leaders must ultimately make final decisions, they should work to avoid mistakes and bring their teams along with them in the process.
- Leadership principles apply equally in both public and private sector organizations.
- Leadership can take many forms including taking charge, stepping back when appropriate, being caring, and being tough in difficult situations depending on the context.
- The ultimate goal of leadership is bringing positive change and helping the country or organization do whatever it needs to do.
Actionable Advice
- Walk the talk by living and demonstrating the values and principles you espouse rather than just talking about them.
- Encourage internal discussion and debate within your organization rather than stifling dialogue.
- Create decision-making environments where team members can bring their expertise and contribute effectively.
- Listen actively to what your team members are saying and accept their input, especially when they have relevant expertise.
- Practice humility by not dominating conversations or putting yourself at the center in ways that prevent others from contributing.
- Take whatever space is provided to you at your current level and use it to bring people together to solve problems.
- Focus on creating an environment where people working for you can perform better and accomplish more than they would without your leadership.
- Recognize the limits of your own competence and enable specialists and experts on your team to do their jobs effectively.
- Facilitate good decision-making processes throughout your organization rather than trying to make all decisions yourself.
- Serve as the best example you can be to help others succeed in achieving organizational goals.
- Be prepared to make difficult decisions and do difficult things when leadership requires it.
- Remain open and listen well before inserting yourself too early into discussions or decision-making processes.
- Work to avoid mistakes by gathering input before making final decisions.
- Bring your team along with you when making decisions so they understand and support the direction.
- Adapt your leadership style to the situation, knowing when to take charge, step back, be caring, or be tough as circumstances require.
- Keep the ultimate goal in focus of bringing positive change and helping your organization accomplish what it needs to do.