Marisa Rivera-Albert

1

Exercising Leadership
Network of Latino Meeting Professionals Washington
, DC September 24, 2008

• Marisa Rivera-Albert
• President
• Mpowerment Works, LLC
• www.MpowermentWorks.com

2
You are the Architect, Builder of YOUR LIFEThe
Author of Your Life Story
Dont let anyone else do it for you.
3
Who is Your Leadership Role Model? What
qualities does that person have?
Describe the best leader you have ever know.
Describe what qualities you admire of
them. 1._______________ 2._______________ 3.______
_________ 4._______________
4
What is Leadership?Leadership is the process
of persuasion or example by which an individual
(or leadership team) induces a group to pursue
objectives held by the leader or shared by the
leader and his or her followers. John Gardner
Leadership is influence- Nothing more, nothing
else. The ability of the leader to influence
others, both their followers and those outside
their circle. John Maxwell
Leadership is about passing onto others the
knowledge of success and accepting greater pride
in knowing that you played a key part in someone
elses success. Consuelo Kickbush, LTC
5
What is Servant Leadership?

• Servant Leadership
• True Leadership emerges from those whose primary
  motivation is a desire to help others
• Robert Greenleaf
• Serving others- employees, customers, and
  community- as the number one priority
• Leadership is not about YOU- Its about THEM

6
Servant Leadership

• Is NOT about YOU
• Is about SERVICE to Others
• Is about recognizing Everyone Has Value
• Is about sharing Power/Auhtority
• Share the stage
• Is about listening and seeking to understand
• Is about seeking Leadership influence and looking
  for opportunities to help other succeed!
• Is about being authentic Comfortable with who
  you are
• Is about leaving a legacy

7
Exercising Leadership

• Leadership development begins with YOU, and is a
  process that is only complete when you develop
  the leaders around you. Be a river of wisdom and
  encouragement, not a reservoir.
• John Maxwell

8
Exercising Leadership

• Leadership is worth the risk because the goals
  extend beyond material gain or personal
  advancement. By making the lives of people
  around you better, leadership provides meaning in
  life. It creates a purpose
• Exercising leadership can get you into a lot of
  trouble
• Perspiration is a given!
• Source Leadership on the Line, Staying Alive
  through the Dangers of Leading- Ronald Heifetz
  and Marty Linsky, Harvard University

9
The Demands of Leadership

• Vision
• Leaders inspire others by imagining and
  frequently articulating vivid pictures of the
  future. Through their ability to visualize and
  share possibilities, they bring together hopes
  and values and ignite the confidence, passion,
  and direction of their entire constituency. By
  visioning, leaders unite, motivate, and propel
  others to success.
• You must be able to see the bigger picture
• If you dont know where are you going, you will
  never get there!!!!!!
• Source The Seven Demands of Leadership- The
  Gallup Organization

10
Exercising Leadership

• Know who are your Allies
• (Allies are people who share many of your
  values, see your value, but can also call you to
  task.
• Find Partners - Join forces You cant do it
  alone!
• Keep the Opposition Close-
• You need to comprehend them, learn from them,
  challenge them productively, and certainly, be
  alert to attack. (Heifetz)
• Patience is a virtue-
• Maintain your poise so that you can plan the
  best next step. Holding steady in the heat of
  action is an essential skill for staying alive
  and keeping people focused on the work.
• Heifetz Linsky

11
Exercising Leadership

• Get on the Balcony
• To gain both a clear view of reality and some
  perspective on the bigger picture by distancing
  yourself from the issue.
• (You need to get off the dance floor go to the
  balcony).
• Maintain the capacity for reflection
• Self-reflection does not come naturally
• Source- Ronald Heifetz Marty Linsky-
  Leadership on the Line, Staying Alive through
  the Dangers of Leading

12
Exercising Leadership

• The Strengths Theory
• Focus on Strengths and Manage the Weaknesses
• Find Out What You Do Well and Do More of It
• Find Out What You Dont Do Well and Stop Doing It

Gallup Organization Soar With Your Strengths,
Donald Clifton Paula Nelson
13
Marketing Yourself
Share with others what you LOVE DOING!
14
Marketing YourselfShifting Perspectives

• YOU From Employee to Service Provider
• Your Employer From Company to Marketplace
• Know Yourself Via Your Market
• Who am I at work?
• What am I selling?
• Have I created a following for what I sell?
• What should I do about it?

Source The Personal Brand Company, 2003
15
Demands of Leadership

• Knowing Yourself
• Be true to yourself and be comfortable with who
• you are
• Be Authentic
• Be Vulnerable - (Be honest with your feelings,
  confront fears, doubts and worries)
• Exercise
• Who Am I?
• 1.___________ 6.____________
• 2.___________ 7.____________
• 3.___________ 8.____________
• 4.___________ 9.____________
• 5.___________ 10.___________

16
Marketing YourselfFor Your Next Promotion

• Be a Team Player- Employers value candidates who
  excel in a team-oriented environment.
• Work on your communications
• Work on your teamwork skills
• Reflect Team work abilities in your resume
• Do Your Research- Know the company or the
  department you are applying to.

17
Rules for Getting Ahead

• Network, network, network
• Make sure to use your connection (Business cards,
  T.Y. letters)
• Get Yourself Noticed-
• Do good work- Business executives prefer to hire
  people who come recommended by those they trust
• Take Risks Positioning yourself often means
  taking risks.

18
Getting Ahead

• You have to outwork everyone
• Work with a Headhunter
• Be Flexible
• Employers want employees who are flexible to
  adapt to changing workplaces
• Adopt a Positive Attitude
• Get a mentor

19
Are you Stressed Out?
Are you tire all the time, have trouble sleeping,
feel anxious and unhappy, do you feel
overwhelmed, do you see everything negatively?
20
We take care of everyone else first and usually,
nurturing others gets in the way of caring for
ourselves.
Remember If you dont care for yourself, you
are less able to care for others! Learn to say
NO.
21
Pearls of Wisdom

• Give Yourself permission to nurture yourself
  without feeling guilty. (85 of working moms said
  they felt guilty about combining work and family,
  compared to 0 of working dads).
• Make your family part of your job
  activities/events/travels
• Ensure a good night sleep. (Read, listen to
  music, pray, do yoga, meditation) Turn-off your
  body.

22
Pearls of Wisdom

• Take opportunities that are presented to you and
  seek new ones (i.e.- education, promotions,
  travels, relocation)
• Learn to take calculated risks
• Go back to school, beef-up your credentials
• Challenge yourself to do more and better
• Built Strong Support Groups
• Seek high visibility and difficult assignments

23
Pearls of Wisdom Key to Success

• Surround yourself with positive people
• Attitude- Have a positive attitude
• Be comfortable with who you are
• Remember to give a voice to those who dont have
  a voice!
• Be Accepting- Embrace
• disagreements-Its okay to disagree.

24
Pearls of Wisdom

• Volunteer! Volunteer! Volunteer!
• Network, carry cards, write notes
• Join a speakers Club (Toastmasters)
• Read books, journals, etc.
• Moving is a given!
• Continue to improve your bi-lingual abilities
• Source Educational Achievement Services, Inc.

25
Leadership is about how you react to LIFE

• Be Impeccable with your word
• Dont take anything personally
• Dont make assumptions
• Always do your best

Don Miguel Ruiz
26
Be Proud of Who You areNo one can make you feel
inferior without your consent.
Learn from your mistakes and learn from the
mistakes of others. You cant live long enough
to make them all yourself.
Eleanor Roosevelt
Yesterday is History Tomorrow is a mystery Today
is a GIFT
27
Remember

• Holding a Leadership position is a privilege
  position that carries responsibilities to serve
  others for the greater good.
• To live an ethical life, you must hold to your
  principles as you make tough decisions.
• Remember the Golden Rule
• When Dealing with others, seek first to
  understand, then to be understood

28
Leadership Through Our own Hispanic Culture
Dichos

• Dime con quien andas y te dire quien eres
• El que madruga Dios lo Ayuda
• No hay mal que por bien no venga
• Crea reputación y acuestate a dormir
• Crea fama y echate a la cama
• No todo lo que Brilla es Oro
• Asi viene asi conviene
• Ojos que no ven corazón que no siente

29
Key to Success

• Persistence
• (Learn not to take no for an answer)
• Performance
• (Have high work ethics and do excellent work)
• Y Mucho Corazon
• (Be passionate about what you do)
• P.S. Perspiration is also a given in leadership

Marisa Rivera-Albert
30
Your are the Architect, Builder of YOUR
LIFEThe Author of Your Life Story
Remember
Dont let anyone else do it for you.
Keep Believing in Yourself and your special
dreams!
31
Mpowerment Works WebsiteWWW.MpowermentWorks.comM
arisa_at_MpowermentWorks.com
Thank you!
Consulting For Global Change