Leadership is a choice, not a rank

Are you waiting to be promoted to a leadership position?

Well, did you know that you can promote yourself by simply choosing to lead?

Leadership is a critical factor to the success of digital products. I’ll debunk myths commonly held about leadership and managers and explore practical steps for you to start leading your community, your co-workers, and yourselves, even without having a leadership role in your title.

In my talk I’ll also reveal why you should choose leadership and why it’s critical for the future of technology.

After this talk you’ll leave knowing how to start choosing yourself to be a leader today.

Presented on April 15, 2016, at ACE Conference in Krakow, Poland

Transcript

1. Leadership is a choice, not a rank
2. Myth 1 You need institutional backing or a title to start leading.
3. Who’s this? - Gives honest & direct feedback of your work
4. Who’s this? - Gives honest & direct feedback of your work - Manages the budget & can give you raises
5. Who’s this? - Gives honest & direct feedback of your work - Manages the budget & can give you raises - Hires & fires people
6. Manager - Backed by an institution - Gives honest & direct feedback of your work - Manages the budget & can give you raises - Hires & fires people
7. Who’s this? - Identifies with something bigger
8. Who’s this? - Identifies with something bigger - Sees something other people don’t
9. Who’s this? - Identifies with something bigger - Sees something other people don’t - Makes people feel good about themselves
10. Leader - People choose who inspires them - Identifies with something bigger - Sees something other people don’t - Makes people feel good about themselves
11. Myth 1 Alternative Choose yourself to lead through wanting it, sharing it, & making it happen.
13. #FOMO
14. Malwine Jelle Arne Nicola Bettina
15. #FOMO
17. #FOMO #FOMO
18. Guardian
19. Myth 2 Leaders have to tell others what to do down to the exact last detail.
20. Myth 2 Alternative Offer people a bigger purpose, a chance to make an impact, & let them choose their own path to it
21. Additive Culture
23. Additive Culture - Learning & experimentation - Collaboration through trust & belief - Not knowing → creativity
24. Good Citizen
25. Myth 3 Only one person can lead, and that role has no expiration date.
26. The team CEO VIP Dir. of Sales VIP North America Lead VIP Asia Lead VIP Europe Lead VIP Dir. of Engineering VIP Front End Lead VIP Back End Lead VIP
30. Myth 3 Alternative Build other leaders and a framework so that the community / product is sustainable.
31. Where’s Bettina?
33. Diplomat
34. Diplomat
35. Myths Alternatives 1. You need institutional backing or a title to start leading.
36. Myth Alternatives 1. You need institutional backing or a title to start leading. 2. Leaders have to tell others what to do down to the exact last detail.
37. Myth Alternatives 1. You need institutional backing or a title to start leading. 2. Leaders have to tell others what to do down to the exact last detail. 3. Only one person can lead, and that role has no expiration date.
38. How to choose leadership
39. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers.
40. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. - Get to know people.
41. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. - Get to know people. - Thank them.
42. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. - Get to know people. - Thank them. - Start with 1 person.
43. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. 2. Grow additive mindset.
44. 2. Grow additive mindset. - “How did you come to that conclusion?”
45. 2. Grow additive mindset. - “How did you come to that conclusion?” - “Have you considered it from X perspective?”
46. 2. Grow additive mindset. - “How did you come to that conclusion?” - “Have you considered it from X perspective?” - “What if …”
47. 2. Grow additive mindset. - “How did you come to that conclusion?” - “Have you considered it from X perspective?” - “What if …” - Ask self: Does this really matter?
48. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. 2. Grow additive mindset. 3. Share what you believe in with people you believe in. 4. Make it happen.
49. 1. Treat everyone, even employees, like volunteers. 2. Grow additive mindset. 3. Share what you believe in with people you believe in. 4. Make it happen.
50. Choose leadership
51. Choose leadership
52. Did you? Tweet me @thatbettina