October 25, 2016
Working With People Who Are Different From You
Strengthening Your Leadership Style
The Leading the Leaders seminars are designed to develop current and next-generation leaders and managers. The second seminar, held October 25, was led by Barry Bowater, a Certified Adizes Associate with Adizes Institute Worldwide, for an audience of diplomats. Those who attended the seminar commented:
“It was very helpful to see how people are different in their reactions and how to deal differently with them. Please go on with this helpful series.”
“Barry has provided greater insight into the challenges of leaders with team dynamics. You cannot be a leader without an effective team.”
“Content was very enlightening and helps raise awareness on workplace situations.”
“It has been time well spent.”
“I really appreciate the insights that I learned which will certainly make me a better leader.”
The attendees were invited to answer or review a short Management Style Questionnaire. This exercise provided context for the presentation and can help lay the foundation for building complementary teams in the missions where they are posted.
Barry addressed the core management capabilities of the four leadership styles, asking, “What do we need to know about ourselves and those with whom we work?” He pointed out that leadership styles impact work pace, relationships, expectations, perceptions of reality, communication and decision-making. He also gave insights on how to recognize different styles and how to communicate most effectively with others of each style.
Mutual trust and respect are the vital threads that tie together any successful leadership team. Though no leader is a perfect manager, a complimentary team can provide excellent management. While conflict in any complimentary team is inevitable, Barry suggested that conflict can be harnessed for constructive good. Harnessing conflict requires a positive attitude and using tools such as: operating out of mutual trust and respect, being able to discern management style quickly, communicating effectively with that style and ensuring that the right people are in the right roles.
In conclusion, Barry compared leadership to a thumb. Like a thumb in relation to the other fingers on a hand, an effective leader integrates the individual parts toward a common interest. A change leader is an “integrator” or “thumb”, able to integrate a group of people with differing management styles to make effective, quality decisions and to discern common interest for the purpose of implementation. There are several timeless values that help a leader grow as an integrator and are essential in adapting to change and leading in uncertain times. These include belief in team, confidence, self-control and discipline, resistance to opposition, ability to coach/mentor/empower others, positive outlook, discernment, willingness to serve and teachability.
This seminar is part of a series of presentations on leadership hosted by the Christian Embassy in the coming months, making it a value-added opportunity for our guests. Our next Leading the Leaders Seminar will be offered on Tuesday, January 31, 2017.
Diplomats who could not attend previous seminars may request the material in pdf and video format, as subsequent seminars will build on this material.
Barry Bowater
Barry Bowater works in Canada and the United States to teach Adizes and guide clients to transform their organizations through these leadership principles. His specialty is not-for-profit organizations and small to mid-sized companies. Barry also utilizes Adizes in his responsibilities with the Government of Canada.
Barry was first introduced to Adizes in 1989 when he was chosen to deploy the methodology within his own organization. He and his wife Wendy founded the Christian Embassy of Canada. He also served as Chief of Staff for the Minister of Energy, Mines and Resources from 1991 to 1993.
He and Wendy have four children and ten grandchildren and reside in Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada.