a leader’s role in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment march 17, 2009 9:00-10:15am...
TRANSCRIPT
A Leader’s Role in Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Work
EnvironmentMarch 17, 2009
9:00-10:15AM & 1:15-2:30PM
Workshop Presenter(s)• Karie Wolfson, Interim Director, Faculty Staff Assistance
Program• Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor, Department of Human and
Community Development and Extension Specialist, Family Life• Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessey, Executive Assistant Dean, College
of Fine and Applied Arts• L. Patricia Sherod, Director, Center for Training and
Professional Development• Susan Stewart, Assistant Director, Center for Training and
Professional Development• Tiy Goddard, Manager, Professional Development, Center for
Training and Professional Development2
Workshop Objectives
• Introduce elements that define a healthy work environment
• Define exemplary or superior leadership competencies and how they are applied to healthy work environments
• Facilitate self assessment, action planning, and follow-up analysis of team climate
• Provide strategies and identify resources available to help leaders maintain a healthy environment
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“ …the elements that define a healthy work environment [include] collegiality and sharing; recognizing employee’s contributions; having policies that are based on trust; doing what we say we will do, both individually and as an organization, [and] encouraging employees to have a balanced life.”
Beyond the Talk: Achieving a Healthy and Productive Work Environment, 1999
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Healthy organizations embrace change as a natural and continuous process… They are characterized by a climate of learning, curiosity, a sense of community and shared meaning, utilization of collective intelligence, and strong trusting relationships and empathically honest communications.
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Healthy Work Environment
• People are Valued• Priority is given to the Work and
the Services Performed • Shared Responsibility of
Everyone • Leadership Sets the Proper Tone
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Understanding Leadership A process by which a person influences others to
accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.
Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes (beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge and skills).
Leadership differs in that it makes the followers WANT to achieve high goals, rather than simply bossing people around.
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Managing and Leading are Different
Power does not make you a leader, it simply makes you the boss.
Positional power as a manager, supervisor, head, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization.
Managers encourage compliant behavior, leaders encourage commitment.
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The 5 Key Practices of Exemplary Leaders
• Challenging the Process• Inspiring a Shared Vision • Enabling Others to Act • Modeling the Way• Encouraging the Heart
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Do you consider your current work environment “healthy”?
1.6
4
4
3.2
4.9
21.8
18.5
25
59.3
54.8
55.6
51.6
34.1
19.4
21.8
20.2
0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0
Alignment withUniversity mission
Clear roles andresponsibilities
Productive teams
Effective top-downcommunication
Strongly Agree
Agree
Disagree
Strongly Disagree
How would you rate your current work environment on the following dimensions?
0.8
0.8
0.8
1.6
3.2
4.8
2.4
14.4
12
8.8
7.2
18.4
16.9
32
20
19.2
18.4
25.6
24.8
19.4
24
38.4
39.2
48
44
35.2
44.4
33.6
24
28.8
24
21.6
18.4
14.5
8
0 10 20 30 40 50 60
Leaders set the tone and"model" productive behaviors
Employees are encouraged tohave a balanced life
High productivity ("We dowhat we say we are going to
do."
Policies are based on corevalues
Recognizing employeecontributions
Collegiality and sharing
Communications across alllevels
Excellent
Good
OK
Needs Improvement
Poor
32.8
40.5
35.3
32.8
39.7
0 10 20 30 40 50
Low employee morale
Minimal communication
Passive decision-making
Resistance to share information
Role/responsibility confusion
Response Percent (%)
As a leader, what obstacles, if any, do you face in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment?
Healthy Work Environment Leadership Sets the Tone
• Initiates Practices that Promote Organizational Wellness
• Develops and Articulates Criteria for Success • Empowers all of Us • Supports Play, Creativity and Team Problem Solving • Recognizes and Develops Vision • Provides mechanisms for speedy and complete
information
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Create a Healthy and Productive Climate
1. Disseminate information generously.2. Challenge and expand routine ways of
thinking and acting.3. Encourage communication and information
flow across formal hierarchies and functions.4. Cultivate a culture of curiosity.5. Enable a process of continuous, collective
learning. 14
2008 LEADERSHIP ABC’sAct with integrityBuild bridgesCommunicate openlyDevelop others Envision successFind your passionGive praise freelyHear others outInitiate casual conversationsJot notes of thanksKnow you are worthyLeap at opportunitiesMentor othersNever give up
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Open your mind to possibilitiesPause to reflectQuestion the status quoRead voraciouslySimplify your lifeTake risksUnderstand before actingVacation joyfullyWork smarter, not harderX-spect X-cellenceYield the need to control othersZealously protect time with family and friends