Middle Leaders and Aspiring Middle Leaders 1

Aims for the course

• This course is for current and aspiring middle leaders who have not undertaken external middle leadership training.

• The sessions will link the theoretical principles to practice, so you can integrate your learning into your current strategic practice and job roles.

Objectives for this session

• To explore the differences between leadership and management

• To consider some models of leadership and leadership styles

• To identify key characteristics of effective leaders

Leadership

• Delegation, yet maintain overview of vision• Influence– Up = SLT– Across = CLs– Down = NQTs

Aspects of the middle leader role

• Direction setting

• Leading the way

• Inspire & Motivate

• Knowing the right things to do

• Following the agreed path

• Doing the right things

• Tidying the path

• Maintaining processes and systems

• Doing things

Thinking about your current role, what sort of tasks do you carry out under the 3

different headings?• Path making– Knowing the right things to do• LEADERSHIP

• Path following– Doing the right things• MANAGEMENT

• Path tidying– Doing things• ADMINISTRATION

As a leader, you are expected to manage some, if not all of these

InformationResources

People

Timetable

Time

Priorities

One strategy to help manage time & priorities…

URGENT NOT URGENTIMPORTANT Emergencies

DeadlinesPlanned meetingsComplaints

Planning, preparationResearch, thinkingNetworking

NOT IMPORTANT Ad-hoc interruptionsFinding solutions for others

Comfort activitiesOver-long breaksUnnecessary ‘tidying’Over production

Personal reflection

• Based on your own experiences, whom have you admired as a ‘leader’?– What qualities did they possess?

Effective leaders need a high level of self-awareness of their own skills and areas for development.

NCSL identified 5 characteristics and 7 strategies used by effective middle leaders:

Characteristics of…1. A focus on learning2. Consistency3. Care4. Commitment5. High expectations

Strategies of…1. Modelling 2. Monitoring3. Dialogue4. Structures and systems5. Retention of staff6. Professional development7. Culture

Which of these, for you, are • well-established?• present, but not consistent?• an area for development?

Hay / McBer Leadership Styles – 6 models used by NCSL

• Coercive / Directive• Authoritative / Visionary• Affiliative• Democratic• Pacesetting• Coaching

Keys to success

• Self-awareness– confident,; honest; not ruled by their emotions

• Self-regulation– Mindful, not impulsive; integrity; comfortable with change

• Motivation– Focused on long term success; love a challenge

• Empathy– Ability to recognise feelings of others; open, honest

listeners• Social skills

– Easy to talk to; team player; help others shine; build and maintain relationships

Emotional Intelligence

Next steps

• Complete the audit, reflecting on your leadership

• Access this link and explore Leadership and You and Leadership Theories– http://

forms.ncsl.org.uk/mediastore/image2/lgresources/lskills/bbcpl/ncsl.htm

– What do you find to interest you?• How are you a Bridge