Empowering Leadership: NCSEA Leadership Symposium 2024
Last month, I had the privilege of attending a workshop titled “Empowering Leadership: Mastering Influence Without Authority in Human Services,” at the 2024 NCSEA Leadership Symposium. The session was led by an incredible team- Moderator Linda Rhyne-McKinley from Public Knowledge, and Presenters Sheree Reddick and Courtney Heneghan from the Georgia Department of Human Services.
The session started with a unique activity: identifying our “obscure superpowers.” We discovered that these hidden talents that we all possess play a significant role in our leadership styles. This self-awareness exercise was more than just an icebreaker; it highlighted the importance of understanding and leveraging our unique skills in our daily lives.
Key Takeaways
The session’s core objectives revolved around applying non-authoritative leadership skills, implementing strategic influence techniques, fostering effective communication, creating collaborative relationships, and integrating influential leadership concepts into process improvement.
Strategic Influence and Adaptive Leadership
One of the most impactful talking points centered on strategic influence, particularly through the lens of adaptive leadership. In today’s fast-paced environment, the ability to “remain flexible and responsive to changing conditions and challenges” is crucial. Adaptive leadership encourages proactive responses to change, leverages diversity, fosters a culture of innovation, and ultimately drives organizational success.
Some key elements of adaptive leadership discussed include resilience, maintaining a growth mindset, and fostering creativity in problem-solving. These traits are essential, not only for personal growth but also for maintaining morale, building trust, and driving continuous improvement within your team.
Implementing Non-Authoritative Communication
Effective communication is the cornerstone of non-authoritative leadership. Strategies discussed in the session included practicing active listening, encouraging open dialogue, providing constructive feedback, using inclusive language, and being transparent in all interactions. These techniques help to create an environment where all voices are heard and valued, regardless of titles or hierarchy.
The Power of Collaborative Relationships
Collaboration was the final theme that I took away from this workshop. The benefits of fostering strong, collaborative relationships are numerous: increased influence, higher productivity, enhanced innovation, and improved customer service. The presenters emphasized that while managers hold positions of authority, true leadership often comes from those who can inspire and influence without formal power.
Reflection
The final section of the workshop, the distinction between managers and leaders, is the one that left me thinking about my own future. Not all leaders are in management roles, and not all managers embody the qualities of a leader. Leadership is about influence, inspiration, trust, and the ability to drive positive change, regardless of one’s title.
This workshop was a great reminder that leadership is less about the authority we hold and more about the influence we wield. By mastering non-authoritative leadership, we can drive meaningful change, foster innovation, and build stronger and more collaborative teams.