Being exposed to, and influenced by, a great leader is one of the most important tools we can provide to young managers in our industry. To see first-hand an individual who demonstrates compassion and inspiration, leads with strength, grace, seemingly boundless energy, and a clear vision is a valuable experience for those looking to lead the next generation.
Sometimes leadership seems like an elusive trait, and the concept of a “born leader” versus a “learned leader” is highly debated. Emotional intelligence (EI) is just part of the recipe that makes a great leader. EI is the ability to express and control our own emotions, and it includes our ability to understand, interpret, and respond to the emotions of others. You can learn more about EI with a story recently posted on our blog, “Making Better Decisions Through Emotional Intelligence”.
I wanted to find out a bit more about leadership, so I reached out to Kate Walsh, PhD, an associate professor of organizational management at the School of Hotel Administration, Cornell University. Dr. Walsh is also an instructor for IAVM’s Senior Executive Symposium (SES), the association’s four-day, deep dive into leadership training held each year at Cornell University.
“Really good managers control, direct, and manipulate,” Walsh said. “Outstanding leaders do the opposite. They create a shared vision, and through how they share their power and ideas, as well as rewards, inspire others to work toward that vision.
“Lots of individuals make wonderful managers, and as they are promoted to more senior positions, still act as managers! They fail to understand that their role is to gradually let go and stop managing. Instead, they need to guide their organizations through how they connect with others. Their emotional intelligence is key to their ability to do so.
“EI is comprised of four components: Self-awareness, self-control, an understanding of one’s environment, and mostly importantly, relationship management skills,” she continued. “All these skills can be learned. And it’s exactly what we discuss in the Senior Executive Symposium. As these executives progress in their careers, they need to let go of some of the behaviors that got them to their success today. Instead, we focus on how these leaders can use their unique skill set to authentically lead in many of the ways discussed in the Forbes article. The class I facilitate is completely focused on the participants and through surveys, experiential exercises, applied discussions, and action plans, we have a lot of fun, developing meaningful takeaways that participants can immediately apply to their own venues.”
Senior Executive Symposium curriculum covers leadership culture, ethics, diversity and conflict management, and loyalty and brand management. It’s ranked as one of IAVM’s most valuable tools for leadership training. There is still time to apply for the Senior Executive Symposium taking place May 12-15 at Cornell University in Ithaca, NY. Apply today.
(photo credit: Brian Warren via photopin cc)
