Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering How I was misunderstood by my managers and now I am probably doing the same Christopher Ward ILM Level 3 Award in Leardership & Management

Slide 2 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering Talk overview Context: my background The ‘situational leadership’ model My experience of ‘being managed’ Being a ‘leader’ What am I going to change? Conclusions

Slide 3 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering History of being lead and leading University of Liverpool Mechanical Engineering Erlson Engineering, Skelmersdale Production Engineer University of Liverpool PhD Loughborough University Research associate Lecturer

Slide 4 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering The situational leadership model (Hersey & Blanchard) Coaching High task and high relationship Supporting Low task and high relationship Directing High task and low relationship Delegating Low task and low relationship LOW HIGH Task behaviour (directive) Relationship behaviour (supportive)

Slide 5 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering My first ‘proper’ job Erlson Engineering (Making bits for car engines) Shop floor Into the office Boss 1 (!) Boss 2 (!) Conclusion I left! Coaching High task and high relationship Supporting Low task and high relationship Directing High task and low relationship Delegating Low task and low relationship

Slide 6 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering ‘Escaping’ back to academia University of Liverpool Car engines PhD supervisor (!) Loughborough University Trains Post-doc supervisor (!) Coaching High task and high relationship Supporting Low task and high relationship Directing High task and low relationship Delegating Low task and low relationship

Slide 7 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering Becoming an academic (‘proper person’) I was now a ‘research leader’ Responsible for Post-doc’s PhD’s Final year project students The style I tried to employ Consulting/empowering (Tannenbaum & Schmidt continum) Because this had suited me!

Slide 8 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering Where it worked !, the post-doc Competent, knowledgeable and committed Two journal papers !, the project student Highly capable and hard working Top of the year Coaching High task and high relationship Supporting Low task and high relationship Directing High task and low relationship Delegating Low task and low relationship

Slide 9 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering Where it failed spectacularly! !, the PhD student Lacking confidence and used to didactic learning Still unsure of ability !, the project student Low capability and poor work ethic Failed the year Coaching High task and high relationship Supporting Low task and high relationship Directing High task and low relationship Delegating Low task and low relationship

Slide 10 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering What am I going to change? 1.Treat everyone as an individual Make no assumptions and adapt style 2.Create a better dialogue Regular meetings 3.Review regularly 4.Don’t be too downbeat about failures Some people are just rubbish!

Slide 11 Control Systems Group School of Electronic, Electrical and Systems Engineering Conclusions I have a lot of experience of being lead Trying to draw on good and bad practice Analysis informed by the situational leadership model Leadership tailored to the individual