NPM702 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Ricardo Semler
Courage and Servant Leadership
Intro
Three elements of Successful Leadership
1. Mind (Mental Models; Way of thinking)
2. Heart (Emotion)
3. Spirit (The ability to look within, consider what is right, what
matters, and then act with courage )
Leading Involves
Knowing who you are
Knowing what you stand for
Having the courage to act on principle, especially at the risk of
personal loss
BUT if you stand on principle and lose influence, then how can
you be effective as a leader?
The Importance of Practical Wisdom
Intro to Courage and Servant Leadership
Leadership when things go wrong (shows who you are –
courage and principles)
The concept of Servant Leadership
Important given that many business leaders seem to be in it
for themselves
Serving others versus using them
Empowering others to reach full potential
Acting as servant to people/company for the long term
Courage
What is Courage?
Does being an effective Leader mean being courageous?
Courage
Courage
Involves Your attitude towards risk and failure
Involves Acting on something you believe in strongly
Courage often means non-conformity
Courage
Involves WELCOMING Responsibility and Accountability;
Knowing that lasting freedom comes with responsibility
and obligations (eg. Semco employees)
Problems of bureaucracies and hierarchies:
Diffusion of responsibility; finger pointing, lack of courage.
Courage and Your Attitude
Something to remember about attitude:
Choosing your ATTITUDE in any given situation is your LAST
freedom when all other freedoms are taken away.
Servant Leadership – See Colleen Barratt Video
From Authoritarian to Servant:
1. Authoritarian Management
Leaders set strategy and goals
Stability and efficiency
Employees have little say defining work and purpose
Note that the Authoritarian has a different Mental Model of
Leadership than the Servant Leader has.
What is the Reality of Participative Management?
Document Summary
Spirit (the ability to look within, consider what is right, what matters, and then act with courage ) Having the courage to act on principle, especially at the risk of personal loss. Leadership when things go wrong (shows who you are courage and principles) Important given that many business leaders seem to be in it for themselves. Acting as servant to people/company for the long term. Involves your attitude towards risk and failure. Involves acting on something you believe in strongly. Knowing that lasting freedom comes with responsibility and obligations (eg. semco employees) Diffusion of responsibility; finger pointing, lack of courage. Choosing your attitude in any given situation is your last freedom when all other freedoms are taken away. Employees have little say defining work and purpose. Note that the authoritarian has a different mental model of. Employee has more responsibility for her job than under. Managers give up some control; but still direct outcomes directive management and performance measures.
