Enthusiastic leaders: their self concept

Would you like to be a leader who is serious, analytical and strategic? Or one who is visionary, energetic and enthusiastic? Or does your self concept as a leader include all of these facets?

I have recently spent some time as the leader of a large non-for-profit organisation. My leadership skills were tested at every turn and I learnt an enormous amount about what type of leader I was, (and wasn't!)

I had no clear concept of my leadership skills when I started. However, each time I found myself in a new situation (almost daily!) I was able to clearly define myself and what mattered as a leader.

One incident stands out strongly to me. We'd been trying to raise funds for one of our projects. We'd gone to considerable effort to produce some beautiful merchandise for sale. Each item cost us somewhere in the region of say $10.00 and we were selling them for around $25.00. Or so I thought.

That was certainly the price that had been set by the leadership team and that everyone had been instructed to ask for.

Unknown to me, a group of people involved in the sales thought the price was too high. They didn't tell me and I only later found out. This resulted in a group of staff not promoting the merchandise fully and just keeping it "in the background" should anyone want it.

It came as no surprise, therefore, that the merchandise wasn't selling very well. Worse still, people had started asking our administrative assistant whether they could have discounts. They were challenging why they should have to pay so much for the products. This had got to the point that the group of staff who were mainly involved in the sales had reduced the price to $15.00.

I was surprised and disappointed. Relative to other donations we had collected for similar projects, $25.00 was a very small amount to ask for.

What a group of us began to realise was that people had become focussed on the merchandise itself and not on the fundraising aspect.

How was I as leader to deal with this? I was very determined to raise the money we needed, and even additional money if we could. I believed strongly in our cause.

I spoke to the staff and asked that the price be returned to its original amount. There was some reluctance. I talked to them not about the items for sale but how wonderful it would be to raise the money for our project. In the end I secured their agreement and the price returned to its initial amount. How long the full price would stay was still uncertain, however.

Then I took a box of the merchandise and went to address our people. On previous meetings they had heard me mention the items we had for sale. This night was going to be different. With a great grin I said we were fundraising that night. I explained how fabulous the project was, and how wonderful it would be to raise the money. There was a murmur of enthusiasm in agreement.

Then I said "... and if tonight, you give us just a mere $25.00 towards this venture, then I have something very special to give you. You will get this beautiful item completely FREE". 

As I held up a sample of our merchandise there was a glorious outburst of laughter! Some had got my message and caught my enthusiasm.

Even better, they went and bought our products. Some people even gave money without wanting anything in return. And one woman gave so much money it was equal to an entire box of merchandise!

The best bit, though, was later when I saw the staff. I walked in and they were laughing. "We've sold heaps tonight. I love your enthusiasm" the team leader said, "there is no way we're reducing these items. I reckon we'll sell them all easily."

Enthusiasm as a leader is contagious. Yet it's so often lost in the busy-ness of the job, in the pressures of leading so many, and in the enormity of the decisions that have to be made.

However, whatever your self concept as a leader is, please make sure you add enthusiasm into it. It could make your success as a leader so much easier.

How do you show enthusiasm to the people you lead? How do you show enthusiasm in your families?

Comments

[Kath Mazzella]

I see a gap in confidence in women/leadership. I have been personally researching over 15 years to understand why women who are leaders/academics/high profile women, Disability women, Aboriginal Women, Corporate Women who are very powerful yet when mentioning anything “below the belt” it seems to make them uncomfortable. I see women lack a certain power when they leave this gap in their progress.

All I want is for all women's groups and society to celebrate International Gynaecological Awareness Day 10 September annually and my job will be done

Keep on keeping on.

Viva La Vulva!!
Kath

Details of GAIN (Gynaecological Awareness Information Network) can be found here: http://www.gain.org.au

[Rachel Green, Confident Woman]

Last night I watched Therese Rein speak on the ABC, 7.30 report. She had a very clear self-concept - a delight, and she says:

Find your field of fascination, to find the thing that you find really intriguing. Then put your energy into that because that creates its own energy.

Read the full transcript here: http://www.abc.net.au/7.30/content/2009/s2726856.htm

Keep on shining
Rachel.