Develop an inclusive, collaborative
strategy. My leadership style is
an inclusive style that relies
quite a bit on gathering information from a number of
sources and getting the whole
team involved in moving the
organization forward.
One of the first things is to
make sure you hire good
people, having talented people around you and then giving them the responsibility,
authority and the tools, and
then hold them accountable.
It’s a real team effort with a lot
of decisions being made but
moving in the right direction.
In many respects, it’s easy to
set an inclusive strategy, but
it’s difficult to implement it. If
you have people involved in
setting the strategy, then
they’re much more willing and
able to become implementers
of the strategy.
That goes to the whole heart
of the idea that you need inclusive leadership and an inclusive management style. People
should have a clear understanding of what they’re
required to do, and then you
hold them accountable.
If you have a strategy laid
out and everyone knows what
direction we’re going in and
how the pieces fit together and
align, we spell out a lot of
measurable goals, and people
know what they’re held
responsible for.
We also review on a regular
basis the progress in all areas
of the university. I have my
senior-level management team,
which I call my cabinet, including the vice president and some
of the key directors, and we
meet and review the different
aspects of the strategic plan.
It’s making sure you don’t
lose sight of things, that you’re
always staying on top of
things. It’s not a matter of
micromanaging; it’s a matter
of how do people talk about
where we are, where it’s coming together and where it’s not
coming together and what
corrective action might need
to be taken.
HOW TO REACH: Robert Morris University, (800) 762-0097 or www.rmu.edu
