Event details:
Who wants to be the leader?
CIPD Ireland Southern Region Event
A packed room of CIPD Southern Region members had the opportunity to get an inspiring view on the fundamentals of leadership from Dr. Phillip Matthews, Director of Executive Education at the Michael Smurfit School of Business, University College Dublin. As well as having a very extensive business career to draw on for examples of his own leadership style, he also briefed the attendees on the essence of leadership strategies from a sporting perspective as Philip is a former captain of the Irish Rugby team (late 1980s & early 90s).
Dr. Matthew’s own leadership influencers are his rugby experiences, his values system and his coaching experiences. He believes that the central themes for leadership success are twofold: firstly people must be open and honest about developing their own leadership capabilities and secondly leaders must be role models and live their leadership values: what is good for everyone else in the organisation is also good for leaders. He advised that in order to maximise productivity in these trying financial times employees need to be engaged in leadership concepts even before they have a formal leadership role and that organisations need to see the value of developing leaders.
In a survey to ascertain what people want from their leaders, the following factors were identified:
- Honesty 88%
- Forward Looking 71%
- Competent 66%
- Inspiring 65%
- Intelligent 47%
- Fair Minded 42%
- Broad Minded 40%
- Supportive 35%
The top four factors identified highlight that people want credible leaders: people who practice what they preach and whose actions are consistent with their words.
Matthews believes that successful leaders are those with a clear sense of “self”; have clarity in their own values and live these values by being good role models. He stated that it was the clarity of his own values that helped him to manage the challenging transition from the multinational sector to a public sector academic environment. Effective leaders need clarity in their value system to make the changes necessary to survive the turbulent times ahead. He feels that coaching plays a critical role to develop, stimulate and challenge leaders.
Dr Matthews also touched on leading with emotional intelligence. Four critical success factors are necessary: self awareness; self management (keeping emotions under control); empathy for others through social awareness and relationship management (cultivating relationships and motivation).
“ Various challenges exist in leadership: firstly knowing when to raise the heat enough that people sit up and pay attention”, he stated. “In tandem with this is knowing when to lower the temperature when required so as to reduce a counterproductive level of tension. Leaders need to be comfortable managing conflict and should not show discomfort. One needs to be confident in managing the relationship whether one is raising or lowering the heat levels!”
His final note: Leadership starts with your own personal journey, it is a continuous ongoing process and needs to be cultivated slowly-: it doesn’t just happen overnight. Look to your value system and be a role model to others.
This event was sponsored by Fastnet Recruitment and Search.