WRPPA Conference: Ian Narev - Snakes and Ladders of Leadership

“No a didactic “How to” guide” on leadership – but talking as someone who has been on the spot / in the heat

In Commonwealth Bank Australia - experience of highs-of-highs, then hit bottom-low.

The snaked is very close to the ladder. Knife-edge of success and failure. Two sides of a coin – which side of the coin you end up on will be vary, and be as conincidental as throwing a 3 or a 4.

Learning about three levels of leadership:

1.      Team

2.      Stakeholders

3.      Self

Team

Snakes and ladders on either side. Relationship between:

 delegation and empowerment                   vs              control and accountability – most difficult

Ladder -  The momenet as a leader you find yourself with a good team around you – you motivate and delegate to them = the power of the school is emplified – ditribution of leadrship enables things to happen at the school.

Chances are – makes job great for most who are empowered.

Once aligned with a vision – made clear what good looks like and you expect – off you go!

EG – 10 min meeting every Friday – quickly whipping through what everybody needed to get done and where they were at – took load off Principal’s shoulders immediately.

Snake  - cede control while maintaining all accountability – tough for a leader. With best endeavours – if problems happen, you are accountable. If you’re the leader, you’re the leader. Brutal snake.

How balance?
Self-awareness critical stake – are you good at ceding control? Or not? Might protect yourself from largest snake. If are – might get the biggest ladder, but open yourself to snakes.

If you have a bad feeling about something / someone – you are probably right. That probably won’t go away.

Stakeholders

               So complicated. Lots of difference and commonalities between banking industry and education

Ladder – a whole community of stakeholders working together is fabulous. Schools are hubs of their community – of their stakeholders.  We  all of these people come to gether and align – the human rresource you have at your disposal as a leader multiplies. Community comes together – ultimate beneficiaries – the kids.

Snake – They want really different things. Modern environment – available new communications, ability to voice concerns / complaints, published complaints – problem is particularly acute in world of social media / intense scrutiny.

How balance?

“If you can trust yourself when men doubt you, but make allowance for their doubts too” (Rudyard Kipling) = have trust in yourself, and the openness to realise that your prejudices, thoughts, conclusions may be wrong.

You need the wise consellors around you  - you cannot survive without them. Find the people you can turn to very openly.

              

Self

               Leadership is very personal

Ladder – it’s cool. You can maje decisions. You can make stuff happen. Enormous priviledge as a leader. If that is not what drives you, being a leader is really tough.

Snake – “lonliness” of leadership. As leaders at top of pyramid - sit as a team of one. Board off to the side. Staff / leadership team alongside. Doesn’t need to be lonely – need to share your vulnerabilities as leaders with trusted consellor.

Can’t say, “This is a disaster, I don’t know what to do” to your team – as this would exaserbate the situation. “I am calm. I will see us through this. Trust your team”

Turn to your inner sanctum – share, then work backwards.

Reality of self – the primary responility for your wellbeing will always lie with you. When push comes to shove – natural insticnts kick in and people who should look after you look after themselves. Family – friends. Taking a day out of school, etc.

 

If you can learn to love the tough stuff and not fear it – you have learned to master the snakes and ladders.