Leadership Links by Rose Mercier and Penny Werthner
TAKING ACTION - ANOTHER LEADERSHIP SKILL
In the past two columns, we've discussed specific communication skills that leaders need to use effectively. These skills are valuable alone or in combination. Some situations require good judgment as well as good communication skills. To test your leadership instincts, consider the following scenarios:
You're chairing a meeting and one person is dominating the discussion. The other participants look annoyed. What do you do?
a) When she takes a breath, ask the group if anyone else has another other point of view on the issue.
b) Do nothing and hope she won't be able to attend the next meeting.
c) Wait until the meeting is over and then approach her with a 'clear message' prepared: "No one else had a chance to speak on that last issue. I'm not sure that's such a great idea. I was reluctant to interrupt you; however I'm concerned that our decisions reflect a consensus. I need your help in making this work.
d) Begin talking loudly to whomever is sitting next to you and complain about how difficult it is to chair a meeting when one person talks too much.
It's the last game of the playoffs. Your team has just won the game and most of the players are whooping it up. One player is sitting on the bench, looking at the floor. As you approach her, her father steps in your way and loudly says, "You incompetent coach! You've ruined my daughter's confidence by your need to win. You don't belong in this sport and I'm going to see to it you're not coaching next year." Your team watches, paralyzed. What do you do?
a) Meet anger with anger. Explode at the father and demand that he leave the gym and take his daughter with him.
b) Ignore him and speak with the daughter. Leave the team on its own for the moment.
c) You stop, pause, and tell the father you'll speak to him outside in five minutes. When you mee
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