Leadership is All about People
Leadership is not a science, although engineers often approach it that way. Sometimes management skills such as planning, strategizing or controlling are mistaken for leadership. But true leadership is not about following a pre-defined process with predictable outcomes. Today’s leaders spend their time with aligning and motivating people, developing excellent performers, and creating positive change. At the core leadership is about people.
This issue of the IEEE TEMS Leadership BRIEFS includes four compelling contributions on diverse leadership issues. While conflict resolution skills have always been important, the recent shift to remote work made them even more crucial for successful leaders. Serena Keith in her BRIEF examines causes of workplace conflict and explores conflict resolution as a skill that takes intentional practice. David Espindola addresses leadership issues in the current, highly dynamic business environment driven by exponential technology platforms: should leaders risk current, still-profitable, but declining business in order to build a promising, yet-unproven business model that could lead to exponential growth? In his BRIEF Gus Gaynor explains the role of career expectations as a Manager-Leader and provides insights on how to develop the relevant skills. Finally, Stephen Wilbers demonstrates the importance to practice certain physical skills until they become habitual so that leaders can keep their focus where it should be – on their message and their audience.
The TEMS Leadership BRIEFS are a free membership benefit for all TEMS members. If you would like to contribute to the IEEE TEMS Leadership BRIEFS please contact me at sabine.baumann@jade-hs.de. I do hope this issue of the IEEE TEMS Leadership BRIEFS provides you with new ideas and actionable insights. Step up as a leader. It’s your people that matter most.
Sabine Baumann, Editor-in-Chief
In this Issue
Serena Keith – Let’s Talk About Conflict
While conflict resolution skills have always been important, the recent rise in demand is caused by the shift to remote work. This BRIEF examines causes of workplace conflict and explores conflict resolution as a skill that takes intentional practice.
David Espindola – Should Business Leaders Risk the Present in Order to Intercept the Future?
The current business environment is changing at unprecedented speeds driven by exponential technology platforms that are converging and disrupting existing business models. This Leadership BRIEF addresses the question whether to risk current still-profitable but declining business in order to build a promising, but yet-unproven business model that could lead to exponential growth.
Gus Gaynor – Role of the Manager: Manage, Lead, or Manage and Lead?
Are you a manager who thinks only of the tasks on today’s plate or do you consider future requirements? Do you have any responsivity for innovation? Technology-based organizations require managers to manage and lead within the purview of their assigned responsibilities. This Leadership BRIEF explains the role of career expectations as a Manager-Leader and provides insights on how to develop relevant skills..
Stephen Wilbers – Executing the Physical Skills and Behaviors of Effective Public Speaking
There’s a lot going on when you’re presenting, a lot to keep track of, so it’s important that you practice certain physical skills until they become habitual. This Leadership BRIEF will help you keep your focus where it should be – on your message and your audience.
