Leadership

Week 1 - Introduction

About this course

This is a six-week mini-course on leadership. Leadership is a very personal skill and cannot simply be learnt – it needs practice. Leadership does not always mean standing at the front and shouting instructions. Nowadays we often refer to leaders as managers and the most successful managers are hardly ever heard giving direct instructions.

With practice anybody can work well as a leader. This course aims to make you aware of the issues and responsibilities of leadership. It is not possible to give specific solutions to leadership problems - these are unique to the situation and to you.

Programme

  1. Wk 1 - Introduction
  2. Wk 2 - Team Working
  3. Wk 3 - Planning and Briefing
  4. Wk 4 - Execution and Evaluation (inc. team development)
  5. Wk 5 - Personnel and Motivation Issues
  6. Wk 6 - Assessment and conclusion.

These notes…

Nigel Bessant 01/02/2002
(Nigel@1stBmthBB.org.uk)

Functions of a leader

Planning

  1. Obtain all available information
  2. Define the group’s task
  3. Make a workable plan

Briefing

  1. Explain the aim and plan
  2. Give reasons why
  3. Allocate tasks to individual
  4. Set work quality standards

Control

  1. Maintain work standards
  2. Influence tempo
  3. Ensure all actions contribute to the aim

Supporting

  1. Encourage group/individuals
  2. Discipline group/individuals
  3. Create team spirit

Informing

  1. Keep the group in the picture

Evaluating

  1. Help the group evaluate its performance
  2. Engender a corporate sense of achievement.

Problem:

There are nine circles placed in a line along the ground. Counting from the left, there are four circles each containing a person facing towards the centre; likewise four circles from the right also contain people facing towards the centre. The central circle is left empty. The aim is to swap all the people on the left with the people on the right. The rules are: