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Be Agile! Using the right mix of leadership styles for your team

13 May 2019

TRIGGER Workshop

Be Agile! Using the right mix of leadership styles for your team

Sponsored by Taylor & Francis

May 7 2017

Birkbeck, University of London


This pragmatic and interactive workshop was the third event in a series of six on gender and leadership sponsored by Taylor and Francis.

As the concept of leadership has so many dimensions it was essential that the different perspectives of the participants were heard by the group and the workshop leader, Jeanne Le Roux. The ambition, fully achieved, was to introduce the participants to useful tools and models that can be used in developing leadership skills.

In defining leadership the group suggested that a good leader be motivating, inspiring, a listener, a good role model, embrace change and be able to rescue from difficult situations.

Tips from the workshop ranged from:

  • Know the audience before setting out your role in a situation
    • Be aware of cultural differences in different context
    • Use words which will keep an audience on side
  • Know your own style
    • The commanding style is out of favour
    • ones based on collaboration which uses ‘we’ rather than ‘I’ work better
  • Recognise who you are
    • not everyone wants to be the CEO
  • Understand the needs of your followers

When asked ‘who has had had the most influence on you and how?’ group responses ranged from the family experiences – an inspiring mother and an aunt, to a company director who was compassionate, listening, motivating, to a senior government official who has given support to a young scholar to a an unconventional woman in authority who gave a 30 something mother an opportunity to study at the highest level.

Finally, unlike men who tend have a limited range of role models, women have several.

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