Being Human 101: Techniques for becoming a better leader... and a nicer human
"You do great work, but your team says you're very hard to get along with."
Many technical leaders have heard the above in a performance review or in a one-on-one with a manager. It's not that they don't want to enjoy life, or to collaborate, but somewhere along life's journey they missed out on learning how to put people first.
Often, in a rapidly growing technology organization, it is those who demonstrate the greatest technical competency, not the greatest leadership competency, who find themselves taking on the added responsibilities of leadership and management. These senior technologists can quickly find themselves struggling as junior leaders, and need to adopt a new approach to working with people in order to succeed. They are not alone.
Does this sound like you or someone you work with?
- Self-centered - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CNAQxgBi_CM
- Always correcting others - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_043nMnRgU
- Angry and judgmental - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Glf_Ln8-Xh8
Although the above are exaggerated examples, no one is immune from being hard to get along with.
In this session we will explore three approaches that can be taken to improving leadership competency: understanding team dynamics; practicing mindfulness; and awareness of self-deception. As we work through each approach, we will discuss its strengths and how it is complemented by the others.
Attendees will learn:
- What are common team dysfunctions, and how you may be contributing without being aware of it.
- What is "Mindfulness", and how to improve at self-awareness and self-regulation.
- What are self-deception and self-betrayal, and how putting people first is the single most effective way to improve at leadership.
The only prior knowledge required of attendees is the life experience of working with others.