February 2009

Academy News

In today's world of change we can still learn from those who have gone before us. Great men like Abraham Lincoln and football coach Tony Dungy believe in humor and being uncommon. Doing something great and new - trying something just a little different. I hope you enjoy this month's edition of Academy News.

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

Dianne Felty
Director of Member Relations
Midwest ENERGY Association

Abraham Lincoln and a Little Humor

Excerpts from Michael McKinney, "Lincoln’s Lessons: Humor Communicates Like Nothing Else" Leadership Now, February 12, 2009 <http://www.leadershipnow.com/leadingblog/>, accessed on February 12, 2009.

To look at the photographs of Lincoln, we might get the impression that he was a stern and humorless man. Although he did preside over one of the most difficult times in American history and suffered from bouts of depression, he was known for his humor and storytelling. The grim expression of his photographs probably have more to do with the need to hold his expression during the 15 to 30 seconds it took to expose the photographic plate, than to his demeanor. .

Lincoln used humor to communicate more effectively. He used it to make a point, to motivate or just to make people feel at ease. He knew people were more easily persuaded with a story or a joke than in almost ay other way. He said, “I believe I have the popular reputation of being a story-teller, but I do not deserve the name in its general sense, for it is not the story itself, but its purpose, or effect, that interests me. I often avoid a long and useless discussion by others or a laborious explanation on my own part by a short story that illustrates my point of view. So, too, the sharpness of a refusal or the edge of a rebuke may be blunted by an appropriate story, so as to save wounded feeling and yet serve the purpose. No, I am simply a story-teller, but story-telling as an emollient saves me much friction and distress.”

Not everyone appreciated his many jokes or thought they were appropriate. But Lincoln used them to good effect.

Book Review: Uncommon

These words by Coach Cal Stoll to Tony Dungy helped lead him to being the first African American coach to win the Super Bowl. Uncommon by Tony Dungy and Nathan Whitaker is a guide to building character and integrity.

Strategic Leadership

Excerpts from Steven J. Stowell, Ph.D., "Helping Others Grow Strategy", Leadership In Action, March 10, 2008 <http://www.cmoe.com/blog/building-a-strategic-workforce.htm>, accessed on February 12, 2009.

If the whole purpose of leadership is to leverage talent and achieve results through the efforts of others, then leaders have a very special stewardship when it comes to igniting the strategic spark in others.

For many leaders, building a strategic workforce can be a very real dilemma. On one hand, leaders face an onslaught of pressures and demands to achieve the task at hand or be successful in the moment. Leaders have been taught to pay attention to current activities and have learned how to squeeze the organization operationally (reduce costs, eliminate errors, and improve service). So, many leaders pass these priorities and pressures on to their workers, absent any coherent strategy. On the other hand, some leaders lack the understanding and discipline to direct time, energy, and attention to the strategic side of work.

It is critical for teams to perform now, in the moment, or there won’t be a “later on.” But the fact is “later on” won’t be optimized unless you get strategically ready now. “Later on” won’t be any different than now if your people are still doing the same things in the same way.

The first task of a strategic leader in helping others grow strategies is to convey expectation by explaining to others that strategic thinking is part of the work like any other requirement.

This first strategic task leads to the second strategic task. That is, a leader has to teach and lead by example.

The third task is to provide the time and resources for people to act on their strategic ideas and initiatives.

The fourth task is to empower others to be strategic. This means giving people some creative latitude and discretion in the area of strategy.

We are learning to win another way. ~ Tony Dungy