TAFE Stuff

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What it takes to be a great leader

There are many leadership programs available today, from 1-day workshops to corporate training programs. But chances are, these won't really help. In this clear, candid talk, Roselinde Torres describes 25 years observing truly great leaders at work, and shares the three simple but crucial questions would-be company chiefs need to ask to thrive in the future.

leadership in the 21st century is defined and evidenced by 3 questions: ANTICIPATE: where are you looking to anticipate the next change (to your business model or your life) answer is on your calendar - who are you spending time with? on what topics? where are you travelling? what are you reading? how are you distilling this into understaning potential discontinuities and then making a decision to something right now so that you're prepared and ready. DIVERSITY: What is the diversity measure of your network? (personal and professional stakeholder network) - capacity to build relationships with people very different from you. - that they connect with you, trust enough in you to cooperate to achieve a shared goal. Having a diverse network is a source of pattern identification of greater levels anf of solutions because you have people thinking differently than you are. DARE TO BE DIFFERENT: Are you courageous enough to abandon the past?

Preparing themselves not only for the comfortable predictability of yesterday but also for the realities of today and all of those unknown possibilities of tomorrow.

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Topic 3 Make Informed Decisions Readings (3)

Reading 3: Communicating and reviewing decisions Reading for performance criteria: 3.6 Use feedback processes effectively to monitor the implementation and impact of decisions

Communicating decisions Reviewing and evaluating decisions

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 8

Make Informed Decisions - Attitudes to risk

The benefit of being aware of our own attitudes to risk – that our personal biases will affect to some extent the way we approach risks in our professional lives.

Consider a current or recent situation that you face or have faced that presents a risk. Use the following questions to reflect on your attitude towards the risk:

What are the consequences of not taking action? What will it cost you? What is the pain? How does the pain make you feel now?

What are the benefits of taking action? What will you gain? What is the pleasure? How does it make you feel now?

These questions are handy tools to use to check your frame of mind when managing risks in your personal and professional lives.

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Topic 3 Make Informed Decisions Readings (3)

Reading 3: Managing risks Reading for performance criteria: 3.3 Examine options and assess associated risks to determine preferred course/s of action

What is risk management? Benefits The risk management process Australian Standard for risk management Communication and consultation

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 7

Make Informed Decisions - Use the problem-solving/decision-making model

Consider a problem you have had, or are having, in your work or personal life.

Work through the steps in the model, applying them to the problem you have identified.

Use the information and understanding of the problem & its solution you have gained to complete the Action Plan Template.

Describe how you could review and evaluate both the process you used to make your decision, and the effectiveness of the solutions you implemented. Consider how you would gather feedback and use this to monitoring and evaluating your decision.

Problem solving & decision making tool

1a Describe the problem • What do I think is wrong? • What is the issue or situation that needs to improve? • What are the signals that tell me there is a problem or issue?

1b Identify the outcome you want • What result do I want? • Is this a realistic goal?

1c Ask for help Consult and involve other people in your problem solving: • my team members • my manager • other team leaders • customers or suppliers.

2a – 2c Your decision tool

The problem • What are the key things you found out about the problem

Develop options • Different ways to deal with the same problem • Think of two or more options so you can make the best choice • Think about how you can use the input you got from other people

Consider the consequences • Resource implications • The positive and negative things that could happen if you implement any of these options

Make your decision Look at your options and weigh up the consequences and resource implications. What is the best decision?

2d Develop your action plan (how, who, what resources, when)

3 Review Ask yourself these questions: • Did things go according to plan? • How did I deal with the unexpected? • Did I feel OK with the result? • What feedback did I get from my staff, manager, customers and suppliers? You may also like to talk about these things with your trainer, a mentor or a friend.

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Topic 3 Make Informed Decisions Readings (2)

Reading 2: Solving problems and making decisions

Reading for performance criteria: 3.3 Examine options and assess associated risks to determine preferred course/s of action 3.4 Ensure decisions are timely and communicate them clearly to individuals and teams 3.5 Prepare plans to implement decisions and ensure they are agreed by relevant individuals and teams

A simple model for problem solving and decision making Step 1: Consider the problem 1.1 Describe the problem 1.2 Identify the outcome you want 1.3 Ask for help Step 2: Find a solution 2.1 Develop options 2.2 Consider the consequences 2.3 Make the decision 2.4 Develop an action plan Step 3: Review Problem solving in the workplace

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 6

Make Informed Decisions - Using consensus

List possible situations when you would use the consensus approach to decision making in your team.

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 5

Make Informed Decisions - Meetings – leading with a purpose

Consider the attitudes you have towards meetings. Are they less positive than you would like? If so list the possible reasons why.

What could you do to address these problems and make meetings more effective and enjoyable?

Ask people you know the same questions. Are there common experiences? Different experiences?

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 4

Make Informed Decisions - Communication and consultation

Benefits and Limitations of:

Lead with a purpose (through effectively leading meetings)

Empower your team to participate in decisionmaking (through asking different types of questions)

Aim for agreement among team members (through helping people understand each others’ points of view)

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: The parking lot

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: The T chart

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: Negative assessment

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: Nominal group technique

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: Brainstorming

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: SWOT analysis

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: The fishbone diagram

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: The rating scale

Direct the team interactions, through tools such as: De Bono’s coloured hats

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 3

Make Informed Decisions - Develop a questionnaire

Develop a short questionnaire to investigate how other people make decisions.

decision-making process (businessballs.com)

Define and clarify the issue - does it warrant action? If so, now? Is the matter urgent, important or both. See the Pareto Principle.

Gather all the facts and understand their causes.

Think about or brainstorm possible options and solutions. (See brainstorming process)

Consider and compare the pros and cons of each option - consult if necessary - it probably will be.

Select the best option - avoid vagueness or 'foot in both camps' compromise.

Explain your decision to those involved and affected, and follow up to ensure proper and effective implementation.

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 3 Activity 2

Make Informed Decisions - Gathering Information

Think about a problem you’ve had and a decision you’ve made recently.

What methods did you use to gather information to help you make this decision and solve the problem? These methods could include direct observation, survey questionnaires, interviews, focus groups and reading.

If possible you could discuss this with other people, for example, work-mates, your friends or family members.

Do a web-search and list the sites that might contain useful information to help you solve this problem.

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Topic 3 Make Informed Decisions Readings (1)

Reading 1: Information and Team Involvement

Reading for performance criteria 3.1 Gather and organise information relevant to the issue/s under consideration 3.2 Facilitate individuals and teams active participation in decision making processes

Information gathering techniques

Introduction

Observation

Survey questionnaires

Interviews

Focus groups

Reading

Communication skills for fostering consultation

Lead with a purpose

Empower to participate

Aim for consensus

Direct the process: The parking lot; The T chart; Negative assessment; Nominal group technique; Brainstorming; The SWOT analysis; The fishbone diagram; The rating scale; De Bono’s coloured hats

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Make Informed Decisions - Case Study

Scenario 4 team members, one of whom is often absent from work. Besides this, the team member has to be asked repeatedly for work to be done, often over a period of weeks. The team member shows no initiative and their work is shoddy, leading to ill feeling from other staff in the organisation. Asked to improve the team’s productivity, as sales figures are down by 15% and have been for the past two months.

Question 1 Advise on the types of information he will need before beginning the decision making process.

Question 2 Use the Problem solving & decision making tool. Consider different options for solving the problem, and develop an action plan for the option you recommend.

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Assignment 2

Make Informed Decisions to Enhance the Organisation's Image

Part 1: Topic 2 Activity 9

a. TAFE Assessment Policies & Procedures

b. TAFE Discipline & Behaviour Policies and Procedures

Part 2: Based on scenario in Topic 2 Case Study

For one of the incidents, analyse the problem and develop an appropriate solution.

In Topic 3 Make informed decisions review the problem-solving model outlined in Reading 2.

Then complete and record the following steps: 1. Ensure that you use the model to describe how you: a. Gathered relevant information. b. Involved others in the decision-making process. c. Developed options and analysed the risks to determine the best course of action d. Decided on the most appropriate solution. What challenges you might face in implementing this solution, and how you would handle these challenges so that your performance in this instance contributes to the Car Company’s integrity and credibility. e. Consulted with others to develop a plan to implement the decision. In this part of your answer, ensure that you include a description of how would you encourage Bill or Kosta to use the Car Company’s standards & values in their work. 2. Use the information and understanding of the problem & its solution you have gained to complete the action plan template.

3. Describe the methods you would use to communicate the plan to others in a timely manner. Why did you choose these particular methods?

4. Describe how you could review and evaluate both the process you used to make your decision, and the effectiveness of the solutions you implemented. Consider how you would gather feedback and use this to monitor and evaluate your decision.

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 2 Activity 9

Enhancing the organisation’s image - Policies and procedures

Collect two examples of policies and related procedures from your organisation or an organisation with which you are familiar.

Alternatively, go the website of the Department of Education & Training www.det.nsw.edu.au, follow the ‘Our policies’ and the ‘TAFE policy’ links and find & print examples of two policies and related procedures relating to student administration.

Then answer these questions:

What values might be reflected in each of these policies?

How might the implementation of each of these policies and procedures enhance the image of the organisation, both to people from within and outside of it?

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 2 Activity 8

Enhancing the organisation’s image - Identifying your personal values

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Show Leadership in the Workplace - Topic 2 Activity 7

Enhancing the organisation’s image - Prisoners, whingers, survivors and volunteers

What is meant by these team member types: the Prisoner, the Whinger, the Survivor and the Volunteer?

Consider the behaviours of one of the following types: the Prisoner, the Whinger, or the Survivor. Describe how you might question or challenge these behaviours?

How does your organisation, or an organisation with which you are familiar, address breaches of code of conduct or behaviour that is not aligned to core values?