January 2009

Academy News

Welcome to the fourth edition of the Academy Newsletter and an exciting new year. The Academy was designed for you to grow, connect, and communicate with other members of the energy industry.

The Academy is sponsoring MEA's OQ and Technology Conference 2009 and attendance is growing, so don't miss your chance to participate in Las Vegas, NV -- February 10-12, 2009.

Please feel free to join the Leadership Forum to share your ideas as well as log on to www.utilityleadershipacademy.com for additional resources and courses. Thank you for your continued support of MEA and the Leadership Academy!

If you have any questions about the future of the Academy or the conference please feel free to give me a call at (651) 289-9600 x131.

Dianne Felty
Director of Member Relations
Midwest ENERGY Association

Values

Excerpts from Jeff Balin, MBA, CPCC, "During Hard Times, Lean Into Your Values," December 8, 2008 <http://www.kevineikenberry.com/blogs/leadership.asp>, accessed on January 16, 2009.

Values accompany us through boom and bust, promotion or layoff, IPO or bankruptcy. But having our values along for the ride has no potency unless they are enacted upon and utilized—in good times and bad.

Values are not merely a list that you put on a flipchart or the blank spaces on a personality assessment. Values are not words; they are the DNA of a healthy human being. In order to live, they must live. Not on a list, but in ones everyday actions, conversations and thoughts.

Again and again, I am amazed at how little effort is required to move forward when ones actions are aligned with their values. Conversely, when these values are forgotten, or even worse, when one goes directly against them, the individual deflates and collapses back into confusion, frustration, depression and a host of other undesirable and unproductive states. For leaders, this has significant implications. Strong leaders that I have worked with realize this correlation and make serious efforts to clearly understand who they are, what are their values and how they can integrate them into their work, lives and organizations.

Values-based action is recession proof, and positions one very strongly when external circumstances improve again.

Book Review: The Human Equation

A great argumant for promoting solid people-management skills versus downsizing to save money. The Human Equation by Jeffrey Pfeffer and published by Harvard Business Press may have been around for awhile, but it's lessons are important for today's business leaders.

E-Coaching

Excerpts from Marshall Goldsmith, "E-Coaching : Using New Technology to Develop Tomorrow's Leaders", Leader Values, 2005 <http://www.leader-values.com/Content/detail.asp?ContentDetailID=938>, accessed on January 16, 2009.

A technological breakthrough is occurring that will dramatically change leadership development.  Within the next twenty years, instant download, television quality, audio-video transmission will be commonly available to leaders around the world.  People will be connected, synchronously and asynchronously through both wired and wireless networks.

The Global Mind: A Fantastic Opportunity

Accessing the “Best in Class” Thought Leaders

The executive of the future will be able to readily access thought leaders who are the world’s experts on almost any relevant issue.  As of this writing, many of the world’s greatest thought leaders are available through video conferencing (on an ISDN network).  Within a few years thought leaders will be available for high-quality video conferencing that is streamed to the desktop.

Getting Help When and Where It Is Needed

Traditional courses can be a very inefficient method for learning.  They may not be designed to fit the leader’s specific need.  Everyone in the room has to hear the same content, delivered in the same way, at the same time.  The leader of the future will be able to take online courses that are tailored to specific developmental needs. 

Learning from Around the World

Traditionally, almost all training or coaching has been done by professionals or co-workers who live in the same country.  In fact, in most cases professionals who live in the same region of the country have done this work.  New technology will enable expertise to come from around the world.  Geographical boundaries will no longer be a constraint. 

Using “Push” Technology to Help Leaders Change

Research on behavioral change for leaders has shown a clear pattern.  Leaders who identify desired behavior to change, involve their co-workers in the change process and follow-up are much more likely to demonstrate long-term improvement than those who don’t.  “Push” technology can be used to give leaders an ongoing stream of reminders and ideas for change.  This type of reinforcement has been shown to dramatically increase the probability that leaders will “stick with” their change effort. 

Coaching for Many Leaders, Not Just the Privileged Few

Traditional coaching is very expensive.  In most cases the coach has significant in-person interaction with the leader being coached.  Even in cases where the coach is local, travel time can exceed the actual time spent coaching.  New technology will allow leaders to receive asynchronous coaching that is much more efficient.

Marshall Goldsmith has co-authored the book: The Many Facets of Leadership with Vijay Govindarajan, Beverly Kay, and Albert A. Vicere.

Peak performers develop powerful mental images of the behavior that will lead to the desired results. They see in their mind's eye the result they want, and the actions leading to it. ~ Charles Garfield