Affective Leadership - Positivity Promotes Productivity

This week’s podcast welcomes David Michels from Bain & Company, a global management consulting firm. David works with executive teams of multi-national companies on leadership, transformation, and strategy related topics. He recently wrote a compelling article, The Return of Moral Leadership, and he will be discussing different aspects of the connection between morality and leadership.

This week’s podcast continues our look at some of the key reasons and omissions that frequently hinder successful leadership initiatives.  In Part 2, we focus on the causes and impact of mismanagement of time and poor personnel decisions.  These two important topics highlight that leaders need to routinely make optimal use of their time, and allocate a considerable amount of this time on the recruiting, hiring, and promoting of the best employees for their company.

This week’s podcast switches our vantage point, as instead of looking at what leaders should do, we explore some of the key reasons and omissions that frequently derail leadership initiatives. In Part 1, we focus on personal and professional exclusion, poor communication and the failure to clarify goals and how to avoid these missteps. Our examples show that leaders need to be inclusive, strong communicators, and clearly focused to sustain success in the organization.

This week’s podcast concludes our discussion around the Leadership Blueprint focusing on the final stage, the process. The process includes two key components of encouraging employee growth and celebrating successes and accomplishments within the organization.  Affective leaders know that these components, when aligned with the organization’s goals and vision, help motivate the team to strive and move forward.

This week’s podcast continues our discussion around the Leadership Blueprint focusing on the third stage, the people. This stage explores assembling a team; assuming different roles with the team; and, monitoring the impact of the change process.  Affective leaders know that it is working with people effectively that ultimately makes change happen in the organization.

This week’s podcast continues our discussion around the Leadership Blueprint focusing on the second stage, the plan. The plan includes the two very important components of first, laying the foundation with the team, and then, initiating the change required for future success.  Affective leaders know that developing a specific and coherent plan is essential for overall improvement for the team and the organization.

This week’s podcast continues the discussion around the Leadership Blueprint focusing on the first stage, the connections.  These connections with the group include: establishing one’s identity; seeking understanding; and, building credibility.  Affective leaders know that focusing on each of these connections helps establish a foundation for future success with employees and the organization as a whole.

Today’s podcast begins a series this month that will focus on the concept of a Leadership Blueprint, or a plan for success within the organization.  We have very much focused on the ‘whys’ of leadership in previous podcasts and now, we go deeper by exploring the ‘hows’ of leading affectively.  In this overview podcast we discuss the key components for success, as together they form the basis of a quality Leadership Blueprint.

This month we welcomed to the podcast Garth Cressman, CEO of Walter Fedy and AEC in Kitchener, Ontario, Dave Yonkman, president of DYS Media in Grand Rapids, Michigan and Bruce Fikowski, the founder and CEO of Get Assist Inc., in Calgary, Alberta. Their commitment to embracing change and challenges; prioritizing structure; encouraging collaboration; assuming reasonable risk; and, providing both practical and emotional support sustains organizational success and demonstrates affective leadership in action.

Our latest podcast continues the series that welcomes leaders of the most successful small to medium size companies across North America.  We continue to discuss different key aspects of affective leadership through their insights and experiences.  Today’s guest is Bruce Fikowski, the founder and CEO of Get Assist Inc., in Calgary, Alberta.  Bruce will be discussing his five keys to situational leadership.