Team LeadershipWhat the Medici, Homer, and Michael Scott Can Teach Us

Brian Flanagan | Hauenstein Center | February 2, 2010

Review: Self-leadership

“The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.”

Lesson: Before we can hope to lead another person, we must first learn to lead ourselves.

Three premises

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership.

Three premises

Washington: Stately, disciplined leader who inspired unity.

Adams: Volatile, combative leader who stood on principle.

Franklin: Brilliant, diplomatic leader who won through common sense insights.

Three premises

Jefferson: Philosophical, calculating leader who did best with the written word.

Madison: Studious, meticulous leader who could frame a debate.

Hamilton: Genius, visionary leader who didn’t fair well in duals.

Three premises

There is no all-terrain approach to leadership.

Three premises

Thomas Jefferson

Levels: Local, state and national offices

Roles: Executive, legislative, and diplomatic responsibilities

Contexts: Colonial, revolutionary, and early republican contexts

Three premises

Leadership can be learned, but it cannot be perfectly taught.

Three premises

Team leadership concepts

Medici effect Tribal storytelling Emotional intelligence

Medici effect

Medici effect

Creativity & innovation

Directional vs. Intersectional ideas

Intersection of cultures & disciplines can … Reduce barriers to

creativity. Combine concepts in

original ways. Ignite an explosion of

ideas.

Medici effect

Great products, according to Mr. Jobs, are triumphs of “taste.” And taste, he explains, is a byproduct of study, observation, and being steeped in the culture of the past and present, of “trying to expose yourself to the best things humans have done and then bring those things into what you are doing.”

~NYT, 1/31/10

Medici effect

Lesson: Diversity – differences in culture and discipline – is essential to building teams capable of creativity and innovation.

Tribal storytelling

Tribal storytelling

Culture & values

Transmitting and renewing a team’s DNA

Tribal storytelling

Peter Cook’s story

Tribal storytelling

Lesson: Tribal stories are one of the most effective ways to transmit and renew a team’s culture and values.

Emotional intelligence

Emotional intelligence

Resonance

Limbic system = open loop

Implications Prefrontal cortex does

battle with limbic system

Limbic systems collide

Emotional intelligence

Mastering the battle Self-awareness, self-

regulation, motivation

Managing collisions Empathy, social skill Inspiring the best in

teams: enthusiasm, optimism, happiness, productivity

Emotional intelligence

Michael Scott on emotional intelligence

Team leadership

Lesson 1: Diversity – differences in culture and discipline – is essential to building teams capable of creativity and innovation.

Lesson 2: Tribal stories are one of the most effective ways to transmit and renew a team’s culture and values.

Lesson 3: Emotional intelligent leaders – those who master themselves and manage relationships – are the glue that holds people together.

Team leadership

Questions? Your examples?

Medici effect Tribal storytelling Emotional intelligence