Iowa State University Extension Mentoring Program
Leadership Greatness
* Maintain your integrity 100% of the time.
* Know your stuff and be able to prove it.* Declare your vision and know the vision of your organization/business.* Show commitment to your organization or business.
* Expect positive results from yourself and others and look for those opportunities.
* Take care of your people.
* Put duty before self.
* Stand out in front in whatever you do.
Adapted from The Stuff of Heroes: The Eight Universal Laws of Leadership by Linda Marie Manton, UCCE Central Valley Regional Director.
Getting to Consensus: Is it real or???
If a group, like your staff, reaches censuses too quickly, it may be because they do not like to face conflict. As a leader you should ask the group why they agree with the decision. This may begin dialogue between individuals and help you get an handle on whether people, like employees, are agreeing to keep peace or because they genuinely believe in the decision/idea.
Adapted from Communication Briefings by Linda Marie Manton, UCCE Central Valley Regional Director.
Dealing with Employee Absenteeism
1) Inform in written form and educate (make sure they understand the policy) your employees of company/organization policy on sick, vacation, family, medical leaves and absenteeism.
2) Monitor the attendance of your employee. Remember routine lateness to work is a form of absenteeism.
3) If you have a problem with an employee and their routine absenteeism, counsel them immediately. Make sure they understand the policies.
4) If the problem persists have another private meeting with the employee. See if you can find out why the employee has be routinely absent or late/tardy. Work with your Human Resource Department should the situation persist. They can guide you on what corrective actions should/need to be taken.
Adapted from SAM Advanced Management Journal by Linda Marie Manton, UCCE Central Valley Regional Director.
Encourage Risk Taking
Help employees take risks - use the following statements to show your support and encouragement:
Adated from Secrets of Breakthrough Leadership by Capezio and Morehouse by Linda Marie Manton, UCCE Central Valley Regional Director.
Increase the Value of Praise
Increase the value of your praise by giving as much specific information as possible. Statements such as, "This is outstanding work!" may be pleasant, but the giver doesn't give enough detail to be really helpful. Be specific in telling the person what they did that was outstanding. Say something like, "The way you color-coded the different product lines made my job a lot easier."
Adapted from Communication Briefings, Vol. 23, No. 3 by Linda Marie Manton, UCCE Central Valley Regional Director.
Marketing Cooperative Extension at the Local Level
Cooperative Extension in many states is struggling to survive under budget cuts and changing legislative priorities. The guidebook Marketing Cooperative Extension at the Local Level was written to help Cooperative Extension staff increase, or, at the very least maintain, critical local funding and support. This guidebook offers strategies to “market” Cooperative Extension.
“Marketing”, for the guidebook’s purposes, refers to a combination of methods such as public relations, communication and networking to broadly increase visibility and understanding of the importance, role and value of Cooperative Extension. The guide makes the case that marketing is the responsibility of all staff members, not just the local CE County Director, and provides ideas for volunteer and clientele involvement.
By Sonya Varea-Hammond, CE County Director, Monterey Co.