Leadership is often discussed in the context of things
such as providing a role model for other people in the team, delegation, effective
decision making, dealing with performance issues and so on.
In all these areas there is an implication of lateral
or downwards leadership in the context of what is normally the traditional
pyramidal shape to team structure.
However much this team structure is being questioned
in favour of a matrix management models, the reality of life is that it still
continues to be by far the commonest collective enterprise structure around.
Yet what is sometimes overlooked is that the effective
leader also typically has a relationship with stakeholders. Sometimes they may be the people who are
sponsoring or expecting to get some benefit out of the activity concerned and
who expect to have a strategic controlling interest as a result.
In other cases the relationship may be rather more
conventional and simpler, being upwards to an immediate boss or two.
What this means is that an aboriginal and Torres islander leadership development programme may need to examine some of the techniques
available for effective upwards leadership.
To take just one example, typically the stakeholders,
sponsors or steering group associated with any sort of activity will expect to
be kept fully informed by the activity leader.
That includes being made aware of the key metrics associated with the
activity and any actions being taken to address issues. Needless to say, they will also expect to be
kept fully aware of progress against plan.
Little is more likely to undermine the confidence of
the stakeholders in an activity than when they have to go looking for
information about what is going on as opposed to having it presented to them in
a cohesive and timely fashion.
So, exemplary leadership skills are not just about
being a centre of visible excellence for other people in your immediate
team. It also involves the need to
manage a public relations and executive management communication strategy on
behalf of the team as well.
