Management Blog

The Distinction Between Personality and Behaviour

There is a key distinction is between personality and behaviour. The word "personality" has many uses (many of which are wrong!) and many definitions. Essentially, personality is taken to mean a mix of values, world-views, set responses and characteristics which are relatively enduring aspects of the person. Personality is taken to be what we are while behaviour is what we do. We cannot change what we are but we can change what we do - for short periods of time at least. The ability to change behaviour is at the root of the concept of management style.

As Robin Stuart-Kotze says,

"... it has been maintained ... that personality becomes virtually fixed at about age five. Current research indicates that we are more flexible than that but that changing one's attitudes, values, beliefs and aspirations - the substance of personality - is difficult"

Behaviour, on the other hand, is what we do. While much of our behaviour (see Theory X and Theory Y) is of course the result of our values and beliefs, it is much easier to behave differently (if only for a short while) than to change beliefs. Moreover, if we try out different behaviours - different ways of doing things - and find that they are a success, this in itself may cause us to change even deeply held views and values.

 

For more information on our programmes looking at behaviour, leadership and team development  then visit Call of the Wild's website

10 Attributes of An Effective Leader

1. An awareness of self

2. An awareness of others and that an effective leader takes people with them

3. Balanced decisions weighing up information to hand

4. Readiness to make changes with persistence and patience

5. Willingness to learn no matter how experienced

6. Enthusiasm for CPD for staff

7. Preference for working in a systematic and ordered manner.

8. An ability to set objectives and devise plans to meet them

9. Readiness to face problems and deal with them swiftly and efficiently

10. Willing to move away from the "coal face"  give up the technical work which they enjoy and are good at in favour of managing and leading the team.

For more information on leadership visit the Call of the Wild website.

15 Inspiring Biographies for Aspiring Leaders

I have come across this good article entitled 15 Inspiring Biographies for Aspiring Leaders. So if you have cleaned out your reading material over the Christmas holidays here are some excellent ideas for you. Thanks to Rose King for the information.

"Leadership isn't a quality only reserved for CEOs and presidents, once they're voted into office. Individuals who have found success in business, politics, entertainment and other industries have cultivated their leadership skills and natural talent for positively influencing others, even when lucrative job opportunities were scarce. You'll learn from these biographies that men and women like Steve Jobs, Estee Lauder and Andrew Carnegie weren't perfect. But what stood them apart from mid-level managers and ordinary dropouts was their ability to accept their weaknesses, obstacles and challenges, and move on, helping them to become some of the most revolutionary and inspirational leaders of all time.

   1. The Snowball: Warren Buffett and the Business of Life by Alice Schroeder: Even though Schroeder was selected by Buffett to be his biographer, this book reveals an honest and candid look at Buffett's indulgences, as well as his accomplishments. It's an inspiring read for anyone who's frustrated by his or her own weaknesses, proving that everyone's got their own issues to get over.

Read on to read the full article.

How to Measure Effectiveness of Management Development Programmes

There has been and ongoing debate as to whether it is possible to measure the quantitative effect of management development courses. The existing evidence is somewhat contradictory and therefore Call of the Wild, as with all our courses, sought to find out if such a measure can be made in order to provide reassurance for the client that they would get a real rather than perceived return on investment.

 Background

The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in work performance after completion of a typical three-day  management development  session organised by “Call of the Wild”.  This session involved participants working as members of a team in a variety of challenges, in order to develop skills that would prove valuable if they could be transferred back to the workplace environment.

For results visit http://www.corporate-training-events.co.uk/clients/Leadership-Articles.htm

Launch Of Leading Wales Awards 2011

The Leading Wales Awards is the only established, prestigious, pan Wales’ awards that recognise and celebrate individual people in Wales whose leadership makes a real difference. The Consortium of organisations who have conceived, developed and drive forward these awards believe passionately that good leadership is the  key driver to economic success in Wales.

 

 

The Leading Wales Awards:

• Are entering their 7th year
• Have pan Wales coverage and participation
• Identify, recognise and celebrate the impact of real leadership atall levels in business, the Public Services, not for profit organisations and the community
• The 2011 Leading Wales Awards are in association with Real Radio Wales

The focus for the 2011 Leading Wales Awards is:  “Leaders making a real difference in Wales”.
The awards’ nominations will explore how an individual’s leadership has made a difference: what has changed since s/he took up his/her leadership role? How did s/he achieve these changes for the better? What exactly has s/he done to bring the changes about? What has been the impact of his / her leadership? The Leading Wales Awards:

• Are entering their 7th year
• Have pan Wales coverage and participation
• Identify, recognise and celebrate the impact of real leadership atall levels in business, the Public Services, not for profit organisations and the community
• The 2011 Leading Wales Awards are in association with Real Radio Wales

The focus for the 2011 Leading Wales Awards is:  “Leaders making a real difference in Wales”.
The awards’ nominations will explore how an individual’s leadership has made a difference: what has changed since s/he took up his/her leadership role? How did s/he achieve these changes for the better? What exactly has s/he done to bring the changes about? What has been the impact of his / her leadership?

Interesting Sayings

Came across these today in an article by Marcus Bailie in Horizons magazine.

"Flying isn't dangerous crashing is"

"What you know is not what is important as what you do with it"

"Learn from the mistakes of others - you won't live long enough to make them yourself"

"Experience is the knowledge that enables you to recognise a mistake when you make it again!"