What the Medici, Homer, and Michael Scott Can Teach Us

1. Team Leadership What the Medici, Homer, and Michael Scott Can Teach Us Brian Flanagan | Hauenstein Center | February 2, 2010

2. Review: Self-leadership “The ancients who wished to illustrate illustrious virtue throughout the kingdom, first ordered well their own states. Wishing to order well their states, they first regulated their families. Wishing to regulate their families, they first cultivated their persons. Wishing to cultivate their persons, they first rectified their hearts. Wishing to rectify their hearts, they first sought to be sincere in their thoughts. Wishing to be sincere in their thoughts, they first extended to the utmost their knowledge.” Lesson: Before we can hope to lead another person, we must first learn to lead ourselves.

3. Three premises There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership.

4. Three premises Washington: Stately, disciplined leader who inspired unity. Adams: Volatile, combative leader who stood on principle. Franklin: Brilliant, diplomatic leader who won through common sense insights.

5. Three premises Jefferson: Philosophical, calculating leader who did best with the written word. Madison: Studious, meticulous leader who could frame a debate. Hamilton: Genius, visionary leader who didn’t fair well in duals.

6. Three premises There is no all-terrain approach to leadership.

7. Three premises Thomas Jefferson Levels: Local, state and national offices Roles: Executive, legislative, and diplomatic responsibilities Contexts: Colonial, revolutionary, and early republican contexts

8. Three premises Leadership can be learned, but it cannot be perfectly taught.

9. Three premises

10. Team leadership concepts Medici effect Tribal storytelling Emotional intelligence

11. Medici effect

12. Medici effect Creativity & innovation Directional vs. Intersectional ideas Intersection of cultures & disciplines can … Reduce barriers to creativity. Combine concepts in original ways. Ignite an explosion of ideas.

13. Medici effect Great products, according to Mr. Jobs, are triumphs of “taste.” And taste, he explains, is a byproduct of study, observation, and being steeped in the culture of the past and present, of “trying to expose yourself to the best things humans have done and then bring those things into what you are doing.” ~NYT, 1/31/10

14. Medici effect Lesson: Diversity – differences in culture and discipline – is essential to building teams capable of creativity and innovation.

15. Tribal storytelling

16. Tribal storytelling Culture & values Transmitting and renewing a team’s DNA

17. Tribal storytelling Peter Cook’s story

18. Tribal storytelling Lesson: Tribal stories are one of the most effective ways to transmit and renew a team’s culture and values.

19. Emotional intelligence

20. Emotional intelligence Resonance Limbic system = open loop Implications Prefrontal cortex does battle with limbic system Limbic systems collide

21. Emotional intelligence Mastering the battle Self-awareness, self-regulation, motivation Managing collisions Empathy, social skill Inspiring the best in teams: enthusiasm, optimism, happiness, productivity

22. Emotional intelligence Michael Scott on emotional intelligence

23. Team leadership Lesson 1: Diversity – differences in culture and discipline – is essential to building teams capable of creativity and innovation. Lesson 2: Tribal stories are one of the most effective ways to transmit and renew a team’s culture and values. Lesson 3: Emotional intelligent leaders – those who master themselves and manage relationships – are the glue that holds people together.

24. Team leadership Questions? Your examples? Medici effect Tribal storytelling Emotional intelligence