Leadership

Leadership Defined: Promotes a common purpose consistent with stated College goals; demonstrates a commitment to innovation, continuous improvement in organizational performance and fiscal accountability; invests in others to assist and help them reach and realize their potential; effectively bridges differences to facilitate consensus or agreement.

At Edison State College we believe that every employee has the ability be a leader and help others succeed.

Note: In this category, you will see the addition of an opportunity to indicate whether or not the employee manages or supervises others or engages in informal or formal leadership activities.

Category Word Cloud

A Word cloud for the Leadership Category

The Word Cloud text annotation indicator above was created from the definitions contained in the category Leadership and the related Critical Success Factors. Only those definitions under the levels of achievement for the Excels and On Target were included in the Cloud. Note how the words resources, employees, effectively and feedback are predominant.

NOTE: All employees and positions in the following exercises are fictional.

Leadership Exercise 1: Ability to Manage Conflict

Background information:

Picture of a Man Alfred is an Admissions Officer who has been with the College for 3 years. His primary responsibility is to recruit, evaluate and enroll an academically accomplished and diverse student body to the College through day-to-day communication with students, parents, secondary school officials and alumni.

To see how Alfred was rated on Ability to Manage Conflict, click on the Self Check below.

How would you rate Alfred on Ability to Manage Conflict based on the following scenario?

Alfred has demonstrated an ability to help people reach consensus throughout his employment at the College. In one example, over the last year Alfred worked with secondary school officials to develop a new recruitment program for Junior level honors students. Alfred anticipated that there may be some concern on the part of parents so he prepared a plan to assure informed consent.

Alfred was invited to present the plan at a School board meeting and it was questioned by several unhappy parents. Because he had already prepared a comprehensive informational packet, he was able to hand it out at the Board Meeting. Alfred answered the questions presented that evening and asked for contact information so that he could follow through the next day. After hearing their concerns, he formed an advisory group to move the project forward.

a. Excels:

Strong ability to detect and address conflict in its early stages; always sets a tone for interactions that are respectful and productive; consistently able to mediate workable agreements.
b. On Target:

Recognizes the potential for conflict; openly addresses conflict for resolution; looks for win-win solutions; helps find agreement on issues and follows through.
c. Acquiring:

Developing the ability to recognize and remain objective in situations that involve conflict; may be uncomfortable trying to negotiate agreements; would benefit from observing others who are effective at resolving difficult situations.
d. Needs Improvement:

Has difficulty recognizing the potential for conflict; when faced with challenging situations, will often respond defensively; has difficulty resolving conflicts in a positive and constructive manner.
e. Unsatisfactory:

Avoids or aggravates conflicts; frequently involved in confrontations and disagreements; often becomes defensive and emotional.

Leadership Exercise 2: Coaching/Developing Others

Background information:

Picture of a Woman Constantine is the Director of Alumni Programs and has been with the College for 5 years. She supervises one Program Planner and one Program Assistant. She is responsible for the development, marketing, and implementation and evaluation of a comprehensive array of experiential travel and educational programs and events to reach a diverse alumni audience.

To see how Constantine was rated on Coaching/Developing Others, click on the Self Check below.

How would you rate Constantine on Coaching/Developing Others based on the following scenario?

During the last year Constantine's department grew by one staff member. The addition of a Program Planner enabled her to concentrate her own efforts on marketing and program evaluation. Before the new staff member started, Constantine developed a comprehensive training plan including weekly activities and a list of resources. After the staff member joined her department, she made sure that she never let great work go unnoticed. If she noticed an action that could be improved upon, she always made sure to provide additional resources and feedback.

At the end of his first 6 months, the Program Planner wrote a note to Constantine's supervisor stating that he appreciated the extra effort and coaching.

a. Excels:

Able to identify when others are struggling; openly and willingly shares information and resources; regularly seeks to engage others in a constructive learning process.
b. On Target:

Promotes a positive and supportive environment; provides additional information, resources and support to others as needed; provides appropriate feedback to encourage growth and success.
c. Acquiring:

Is capable of providing support and development; learning to identify when others need help; developing confidence to approach others, provide assistance and share feedback to encourage growth.
d. Needs Improvement:

Inconsistent ability to identify when others are struggling; feedback lacks a positive and constructive tone; may become frustrated when others are learning.
e. Unsatisfactory:

Not willing to provide support or assistance to others; withholds information and resources; lacks empathy when others are learning.

Leadership Exercise 3: Human Resources Management

Background information:

Picture of a Woman Kira has been the Library Manager for 3 years. Her responsibilities include ordering books, supervision of the front desk staff, scheduling study room reservations and managing the budget.

To see how Kira was rated on Human Resources Management, click on the Self Check below.

How would you rate Kira on Human Resources Management based on the following scenario?

Overall, Kira has done a great job this last year. She has encouraged her front desk team to work together to find solutions before they bring them to her. Each week she holds a staff meeting and as part of the meeting, they discuss the problems they have encountered over the previous week, the solutions employed and how well those solutions worked. As a result, one team member volunteered to develop an operations manual for the front desk based on those experiences.

If Kira finds that a solution proposed by the team is not going to work, she has demonstrated the ability to intervene and redirect. That is, she has no trouble making independent decisions when necessary. She has received positive feedback from team members as well as the library patrons they serve.

a. Excels:

Intuitively knows when to use a team approach or to act independently; delegates authority in a way that empowers employees; gives effective feedback, even when the message is difficult to deliver; monitors progress and proactively removes barriers to help employees accomplish goals.
b. On Target:

Can discern when to use a team or individual approach; appropriately delegates authority; regularly provides feedback regarding both strengths and development needs; provides adequate resources for employees to accomplish their goals.
c. Acquiring:

Developing the comfort and skill to identify and use the appropriate approach when managing people and situations; learning when to delegate responsibility; may be reluctant to give feedback about performance; may benefit from regular meetings with employees to ensure goals are met.
d. Needs Improvement:

Micro-manages or takes a hands-off approach to many employee activities; does not appropriately delegate duties and responsibilities; has not fully established working relationships based on trust; inconsistently or inappropriately provides feedback to employees.
e. Unsatisfactory:

Does not manage employee activities; does not hold self accountable for employee and team performance; fails to provide employees with the resources needed to accomplish goals, does not provide appropriate feedback.

Leadership Exercise 4: Fiscal Accountability

Background information:

Picture of a Man Jack, the Cafeteria Manager has been with the College for two years. His responsibilities include supervising the staff, planning the menus, ordering supplies and managing the budget.

To see how Jack was rated on Fiscal Accountability, click on the Self Check below

How would you rate Jack on Fiscal Accountability based on the following scenario?

Over the last year Jack has implemented a new "green" program in the cafeteria. One of the largest expenditures in the cafeteria budget was the Styrofoam takeout boxes so popular with the students living in the Palms Tower dorm. After some research, Jack found a new product for takeout items. It is an inexpensive re-usable container that students return to the cafeteria for washing and re-use when they purchase their next meal. Jack has also set up collection boxes in the dorms so they have a convenient spot to drop them off. Jack's new initiative has saved the College 20% of the cafeteria budget.

a. Excels:

Proactively plans budgetary and financial efforts; maximizes existing financial resources and partners appropriately to identify new funding sources when needed; effectively manages College and departmental resources following financial goals, policies and procedures.
b. On Target:

Utilizes College resources wisely; is not wasteful; maintains, plans, and projects for budgetary and financial needs; manages budget and related paperwork within policy guidelines; demonstrates the ability to use financial resources effectively.
c. Acquiring:

Keeps within established budget guidelines; may need assistance in identifying ways to effectively utilize resources; will benefit from additional learning to ensure consistency and timeliness in completing paperwork.
d. Needs Improvement:

May be wasteful; has difficulty keeping within established budget guidelines; provides inconsistent management of financial resources; regularly submits budget and accounting paperwork incorrectly or late.
e. Unsatisfactory:

Does not keep within established budget guidelines; fails to use College resources wisely; decisions result in fiscal misuse or waste; demonstrates improper utilization of financial resources; does not follow financial policies and procedures.

From Managing to Leading: Leila's House of Corrections

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