authority Archives - Dennis E. Gilbert

07
Sep 21
-

Voluntary Leadership Is What Everyone Faces

Tags : authority boss employees leadership manager

Are you familiar with voluntary leadership? You may be, and you don’t even realize it.

Do you recognize that all leadership is voluntary?

Sure, some people are in positions of authority. Some of those positions are paid jobs.

There is a sharp contrast between the authority that a job or position grants you, and the leadership (or lack of) that is present with others.

Is there a difference between supervising, managing, and leading?

Being a supervisor or manager may provide you with some level of authority. Authority to make decisions, insist on quality, or even plan a work schedule for employees.

Is that leading?

While there may be shades of gray, in most cases the act of supervising or managing isn’t really leadership.

The reason is, leadership is a voluntary act.

Voluntary Leadership

Employees may decide to do what you say. They may even decide that commands are the method of how they receive their next job task or duty.

An employee may consider that they are paid for doing what the boss tells them to do. All of this is fine, and perhaps a cultural aspect of work for at least a few hundred years.

It is leadership?

When someone chooses to follow is there a leader? Likely, yes, of course.

When someone chooses to lead are there followers? Sometimes.

At the root of the matter, leadership is largely voluntary. People choose to lead and people choose to follow.

Receiving money for doing an instructed task is known as compensation.

It doesn’t guarantee leadership.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

23
Apr 21
-

Respectful Behaviors Keep People Engaged

Tags : authority behaviors respect workplace

Is your workplace filled with respectful behaviors? What are the perceptions or attitudes of designated leaders? Is it a good environment and culture?

There are rules everywhere, there is also a guideline for behaviors. Some of the rules and guidelines may be published and public. Some of them are unspoken but are a vibe that suggests the people who work here do it this way.

It becomes part of the culture. It is a sign post for visitors and guests.

Guidelines and Vibes

When you visit a friends house are you permitted to leave your shoes on? Do you eat or snack on the furniture? Are there pets and are they permitted on the furniture, on the kitchen table or countertops? What is the language and what do people wear?

When you go to work each day there is an assumed guideline. Your first day on the job, you know what you’ve been told but you really don’t have a vibe yet. You’re not completely comfortable while you observe, learn the ropes, and adapt.

One thing every employee or every guest has in common is that they all seek respect.

Respect is earned and it is a two-way street.

Respectful Behaviors

When you invite a guest into your home and strong-arm them with a culture that they are not comfortable with, they won’t be in a hurry to come back.

When you bring on new team members in the workplace there is a similar vibe. Sure, some will navigate the discomfort and adapt. They don’t mind too much if it isn’t too significant, yet everyone has their own personal threshold.

Having a designated position in your workplace may give you some authority. Your behaviors, how you treat people, and how you lead will determine if there is respect.

The simple act of respecting others first may give you the respect you seek.

The use of authority to solve a problem or push an agenda is typically not considered to be a two-way street. It is my way or the highway.

Authority is important. It is seldom an indicator of mutual respect.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

02
Dec 19
-

Ego Stumble and Getting Out of Your Own Way

Tags : authority ego leadership ego respect stumble

Have you ever had an ego stumble? One of those cases where you let your emotions guide your choices and it didn’t end well?

Emotion is critical in the workplace. Passion is an emotion. So is the excitement of launching a new marketing campaign, closing the sale, or achieving the goal. Emotion is important, yet it can also go wrong.

One of the biggest problems in the workplace with harassment claims is that ego got in the way.

A problem between two peers and you may find that ego played a role.

Supervisor to direct report, or the opposite, direct report to supervisor, and ego’s may be involved.

Leading by Inspiring

Leading today in a social environment that is much less about authority and much more about inspiration can be challenging. Inspiration means emotion and emotions are sometimes difficult to navigate.

When you make a choice about attending the meeting, participating in the meeting, or workplace respect you can bet that ego is involved.

Ego may feel like the right choice. Consider supervisor to direct report interactions. The supervisor, who clearly has the authority should lead, right?

Most would quickly say, “Yes.” However, the way we lead today may look a little different. Leading should be more pull and less push.

Navigating social climates and workplace culture has never been more challenging. We sometimes label this experience, workplace politics.

Yes, workplace politics, many people don’t like that game.

Ego Stumble

Blowing off the meeting may be about ego. The same is true for who gets credit for the project, the promotion, or even who gets the pay raise.

Sometimes you have to get out of your own way.

Making waves with the new hire, or the old regime, may feel satisfying for the moment. Yet, leading is going to require buy-in and buy-in is created by shared experiences.

If what you are sharing is mismanaged conflict there will be fewer opportunities for your future.

Don’t get in your own way.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

18
Sep 19
-

Workplace Navigation And Leadership Responsibility

Tags : authority behavior culture leadership responsbility workplace navigation

Workplace navigation is everyone’s responsibility. If you are identifying as a leader, or have the goal of being a better leader, it is even more important.

Many people quickly view the challenge of leadership as getting people to follow. Certainly, that is one idea. Yet, it is not the most important idea.

The most important idea may be the consideration of how you will navigate the environment, the culture, and set the example for everyone else. Then the following part develops more naturally. It isn’t forced.

Leadership Responsibility

Leadership is not as much about a position as it is about your behavior. Your position gives you a certain amount of authority. However, it is your behavior, even when no one appears to be watching, that gives you respect.

All eyes are on you when you are in a formal leadership role. Your boss, your peers, and even your direct reports. That isn’t everyone though, there may still be other employees, customers, and vendors who observe your behavior and style.

In today’s world and social climate, your authority often matters less. In addition to the observed behaviors it is about the relationships that you build.

The, “do it or die,” philosophy died long ago. Sure, there may still be pockets of that style of leadership. There may even be scenarios where that style is working. Yet, in the mainstream best practices approach, it is non-existent.

Workplace Navigation

Careful navigation is required. If you are in what may be labeled, middle management, you have important work.

You have to be able to bridge the gap between the front line and the C-Suite. Likely you won’t agree with everything. Likely you’ll face challenges, problems, and push back from both sides.

Winning is not about defeating the opponent, winning is about your careful and appropriate navigation. Being a bit diplomatic is a responsible and respectful approach.

Being a great leader is being a great navigator.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

29
Jul 19
-

Customer Service Authority, Do You Have It?

Tags : authority brand culture customer service

Nearly every business will tell you that they are in business because of the customer. Whether business-to-business or business-to-consumer, people often believe it is true. However, customer service authority may be missing. Have you found this to be true?

Most organizations are built on the premise of growth. They seek the wealth and riches of a thriving customer base and strong reputation. They are building their brand.

Many mission statements include a mention of the customer. The question is, “What happens when the relationship is tested?”

Service Focus

I’ve heard so many stories of customer service strategy. Including stories of a hands-off strategy that insists the more attention you pay to a customer in crisis, the more they’ll ask for, so don’t pay so much attention. Indeed, that is seeing things through a different lens.

What really happens when your brand is tested? Do your CSR’s (customer service representatives) have the authority to manage the crisis?

Customer service is often referred to, or culturally thought of as a department or work group within the organization. In a literal sense, it may be truth, in a cultural sense, it shouldn’t be true.

Things are often great if the system is never tested. People can rave about the quality, craftsmanship, or attention to detail. They can insist that the service is, the best!

What happens when it is tested?

Customer Service Authority

Everything may be fine until tested. Everyone may agree that the organization cares, has their back, and stands behind their product or service. Until they don’t.

The service your organization provides is about cultural attributes, not a department. Your CSR’s represent all that the organization is, and does. Pretending doesn’t work, talk is cheap, and promises are sometimes broken.

The organization that grants high authority to the people who directly serve the customer, especially the customer in crisis, will have better service. If they don’t have the authority, perhaps the culture is missing its mark.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

18
Jul 19
-

Change Authority, Do You Need It?

Tags : authority change inspiration pivot

When you take a seat on the committee, board of directors, or task force do you have any authority? Working with your peers, serving the marketing team, or getting information from a different workplace department, do you have change authority?

Many people and employee teams will quickly suggest that they want change but how does change occur?

Change Authority

Some suggest that navigating the workplace environment and creating change only happens when you have the authority?

Other people may suggest that the person who chirps the loudest or most often drives change. They are the squeaky wheel.

There is at least one more camp. That is the camp that suggests the last person who speaks before a decision is made is the true champion of change.

Authority can certainly make things easier, at least on the surface. Command a change and people will likely respond, that is, if you have the authority. Hire, fire, or resource allocation authority will usually spark some action. Authority means power.

The squeaky wheel sometimes gets greased and the last person to speak sometimes seems to win.

What is the alternative?

Other Alternatives

Change often happens without authority. It often happens without complaining and blaming.

You don’t need authority, you don’t need to be the squeaky wheel, and you can skip the blame game.

Taking responsibility and initiative may spark change. You can start by providing positive contributions, offering alternatives, or getting involved through generous actions.

Not everyone quickly jumps on board with the idea of something new, but when it becomes an idea in action, it sometimes becomes a good idea.

Good ideas are a compelling. They bring about change through inspiration, curiosity, and group dynamics. They cause action.

No one forced social media, cell phones, or smart eating habits and exercise, yet they all get their fair share of action.

-DEG

Dennis E. Gilbert is a business consultant, speaker (CSP^TM), and culture expert. He is a five-time author and the founder of Appreciative Strategies, LLC. His business focuses on positive human performance improvement solutions through Appreciative Strategies®. Reach him through his website at Dennis-Gilbert.com or by calling +1 646.546.5553.

Tag Archives: authority

Sep 21

-

Voluntary Leadership

Apr 21

-

Guidelines and Vibes

Respectful Behaviors

Dec 19

-

Leading by Inspiring

Ego Stumble

Sep 19

-

Leadership Responsibility

Workplace Navigation

Jul 19

-

Service Focus

Customer Service Authority

Jul 19

-

Change Authority

Other Alternatives

Search This Website

Subscribe to Blog via Email

Blog (Filter) Categories

Follow me on Twitter

Assessment Services and Tools

Recent Posts

Email Signup

Subscribe to newsletter

Contact Info