Leadership Qualities
LEADERSHIP IS PERSONAL
Rudolph C. Hirzel,
Chair, ASQ Human Development & Leadership Divivion
General Manager, IdeaWorks
Benton Harbor, MI
ABSTRACT
Three years ago the Human Development and Leadership Division published a primer on leadership that discusses leadership in terms of the actions needed to lead people. In 2002, through the efforts of the Division’s BoK Committee, HD&L adopted six leadership competencies as the basis for the HD&L Body of Knowledge. Even as the Division was discussing these
“roles” of leadership, however, there was an awareness that the roles are only actionable if they are supported by personal characteristics. This paper is intended to provide an overview of the results of the Division’s efforts. Those who attend the presentation will gain insight into what it takes to be an effective leader. Attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in an interactive discussion of this sometimes difficult, and always intriguing, subject.
INTRODUCTION
When we talk about leadership, what do we mean? Is it big - the kind of leadership that moves a people or a nation to action?
Or is it personal - what we do everyday to help others do their best? Is it the directing of operations or activities or performance? Is leadership the guiding of people on a way? Is organizational leadership the same as management? Or is it apart and separate?
These are interesting if not perplexing questions. And a clear single definition of leadership, although discussed and pondered for centuries, somehow remains beyond our grasp. What we do know is that leaders are identified by what they do.
HD&L’s goal in defining leadership competencies is to define leadership in terms of the roles leaders have to assume. Based on the primer, A Meta-Analysis of Current Thinking on Leadership, written in 2000, the HD&L Division’s BoK represents a consensus view of the six roles of leadership. Where the primer represented a summary of the of over 50 authors
Rudolph C. Hirzel,
Chair, ASQ Human Development & Leadership Divivion
General Manager, IdeaWorks
Benton Harbor, MI
ABSTRACT
Three years ago the Human Development and Leadership Division published a primer on leadership that discusses leadership in terms of the actions needed to lead people. In 2002, through the efforts of the Division’s BoK Committee, HD&L adopted six leadership competencies as the basis for the HD&L Body of Knowledge. Even as the Division was discussing these
“roles” of leadership, however, there was an awareness that the roles are only actionable if they are supported by personal characteristics. This paper is intended to provide an overview of the results of the Division’s efforts. Those who attend the presentation will gain insight into what it takes to be an effective leader. Attendees will also have an opportunity to participate in an interactive discussion of this sometimes difficult, and always intriguing, subject.
INTRODUCTION
When we talk about leadership, what do we mean? Is it big - the kind of leadership that moves a people or a nation to action?
Or is it personal - what we do everyday to help others do their best? Is it the directing of operations or activities or performance? Is leadership the guiding of people on a way? Is organizational leadership the same as management? Or is it apart and separate?
These are interesting if not perplexing questions. And a clear single definition of leadership, although discussed and pondered for centuries, somehow remains beyond our grasp. What we do know is that leaders are identified by what they do.
HD&L’s goal in defining leadership competencies is to define leadership in terms of the roles leaders have to assume. Based on the primer, A Meta-Analysis of Current Thinking on Leadership, written in 2000, the HD&L Division’s BoK represents a consensus view of the six roles of leadership. Where the primer represented a summary of the of over 50 authors