Achieving ‘The Champion Mindset’ Leadership psychology

What’s inside the mind of a great leader? In her latest Global Webinar ‘10 things business leaders should do’ Professor Hannah Greenwood  Ã¢â‚¬â€œÃ‚  leadership coach, former psychotherapist, and Professor of Leadership at Hult  Ã¢â‚¬â€œ looks at the psychological aspects leadership, and how to achieve ‘the champion mindset’ required to be a great business leader. Professor Greenwood clearly differentiates between managers and leaders, and identifies two essential elements of leadership: the key task of a leader, and the essence of leadership. Far from being those skills and abilities traditionally associated with good management – economics, marketing, operations – the attributes required for great leadership are far more fundamental, and far more human. The key task of  a leader Business leaders must have a clear personal vision, says Greenwood. They must have a strong sense of purpose and a desire to create a better future. Why? Because the key task of leadership is to bring hope to those that follow them. [Tweet The key task of leadership is to bring hope to those that follow them.] Professor Greenwood points to the example of Steve Jobs, one of the most visionary business leaders of our time, who told students at Stanford University: â€Å"Don’t let the noise of other people’s opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.† The essence of leadership To have a clear personal vision, you must first have clear self-awareness, says Greenwood. Dr. Douglas LaBier, the Director of the Center for Progressive Development in Washington, DC, is a business psychologist and psychoanalytic psychotherapist. Dr LaBier agrees that leadership must start with self-awareness: â€Å"The higher up you go in companies, the more youre dealing with psychological and relational issues. Successful CEO leadership requires astuteness about others†¦And you cant know the truth about another without knowing it about yourself†¦ Self-knowledge and the relational competencies theyre linked with are central to a CEOs ability to formulate, articulate and lead a strategic vision.† [Tweet The higher up you go in companies, the more youre dealing with psychological issues] This crucial skill of self-awareness is also central to how Professor Greenwood defines ‘the essence of leadership’: â€Å"The essence of leadership is trust. It’s about creating trust between you and your people. And to have trust, we have to become trustworthy. We have to start look to ourselves, we have to have self-awareness† The Champion Mindset Professor Greenwood has distilled the internal processes associated with great leadership into what she calls ‘The Champion Mindset’. Part of this is mastering the three qualities she identifies as crucial to achieving our highest potential: integrity, passion, and charisma. Passion is a familiar word in business; almost every resume will include the phrase â€Å"I am passionate about marketing/finance/the manufacturing industry.† But what is required of business leaders is to examine what truly ‘makes their heart sing’ as Greenwood phrases it. It is only once we have identified what brings us true joy in life that we can have the faith and courage to pursue it. And it is this that will inspire others to follow us. Unlocking charisma Charisma is also a word often heard in relation to leaders. Indeed, much of the early studies on leadership were devoted to trying to define this mystical quality, quite literally meaning ‘divine gift’ in Greek. In Professor Greenwood’s experience, this is a gift we all possess, but most of us haven’t learned to push through our innate shyness to communicate our passion and integrity – which is where charisma resides. For Greenwood, the key to unlocking charisma lies in letting go of what is known in psychological terminology as ‘the adapted self’ (the inner good girl/boy wanting to please others) and finding ‘the authentic self’ (your true and highest potential self). This is particularly hard for high achievers says Greenwood: â€Å"I see it all the time with people who have been great managers, great with this adaptive self – but now they’re being asked to be leaders. They’re being asked to be authentic, to be themselves. Often for high achievers who have excelled at being adapted – this is extremely challenging and causes a lot of confusion.† But authenticity, and the vulnerability it entails, is essential if people are to trust you, and follow you. Great leaders – born or made? It’s the age-old question and the subject of much research: are leaders born to lead, or are they taught to lead? Dr. Ronald E. Riggio, the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology and former Director of the Kravis Leadership Institute at Claremont McKenna College, reflects Professor Greenwood’s stance when he says: â€Å"Although certain qualities do predispose some people to attain leadership positions and be better at leading, effective leaders actually hone their skills through experience, conscious self-development, education, and training.†[Tweet Effective leaders hone their skills through experience, self-development, education, and training.] Greenwood points to ‘detached involvement’ and teamwork as being skills that not only can be, but often have to be, taught. ‘Detached involvement’ relates to good decision making, particularly decisions that have big, important consequences. Most people, most of the time, use cognitive intelligence, their IQ, to make decisions. But in order to make â€Å"faster, clearer, right decisions†, we need to employ all the intelligence at our disposal – emotional (EQ), physical (PQ), intuitive (NQ), and social (SQ – a discipline that takes practice. Similarly, being a great team player might not be something you automatically associate with leadership. Or you might think of it as a particular style of leadership. And that might be because you’re a high achiever. Professor Greenwood has herself struggled with teamwork and describes the realization that it plays a crucial role in good leadership as ‘a late lesson’: â€Å"High achievers love to lead and are happy to follow those they admire. But the team player aspect of leadership is often something that we have to learn.† Watch the full webinar ‘10 things business leaders should do’ or download the 3-minute read. Professor Hannah Greenwood is Professor of Management Skills at Hult International Business School where she teaches Visionary Leadership and  Leadership Teams. She is also an international leadership coach and speaker. She specializes in visionary leadership, personal presence, and communication. Professor Greenwood was formerly Head of Counseling Courses at the Metanoia Training Institute for Psychotherapy. Grow your leadership capabilities with an MBA in international business at Hult. To learn more, take a look at our blog A new model for leadership development in the 21st century, or give your career a boost with our Masters in International Business. Download a brochure or get in touch today to find out how Hult can help you to learn about the business world, the future, and yourself. Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Hult Rotation offers you a chance to study in a truly global way. Our rotation program allows you to study and be immersed in some of the finest cities in the world. 📠¸: @jasminmanzano . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . Each year, Hult seeks to enroll a talented and ambitious incoming class from all over the world. We look for diverse students with a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and interests—students who will thrive in our unique educational atmosphere. Are you ready for a truly global experience? 📠¸: @iambrunadiniz . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . We’re excited to start 2020 on a ranking high! Hult is proud to have been placed #28 in Poets Quants 2020 rankings for Best Undergraduate Business Schools in the US. Taking a huge leap of 32 places from our 2019 position, we’re also very happy to have secured top positions in key categories like: life-changing experience, practicality of the degree, and global immersion. . With five global campuses, a student body of over 130 nationalities, and a learn-by-doing approach—Hult offers a student experience like no other. . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . â€Å"I’m from an engineering background and needed a whole new skill set for the industry I wanted to switch to. I learned a lot about myself and how I deal with being out of my comfort zone. I learned both soft and hard skills, from how to work in very diverse teams to key accounting metrics and strategy. I was surprised by how weak I was at certain tasks in English or how strong I actually was in other areas. Hult gave me opportunities to try new things and meet people from places I never thought I would have friends. . My internship experiences gave me the chance to broaden my view of different cultures and different companies. I had the opportunity to work and live with people whose values differed from people in my home country. I thought that this would be difficult, but it gave me the chance to reflect on my own values and assess if they were a result of my home country environment or if they were intrinsically mine. . Diederick ter Kulve (@diederick.terkulve) Netherlands Masters in International Business . Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021 Say a big hello to our Bachelor of Business Administration program cover star, Elisa Orus Plana âÅ" ¨ . â€Å"I’m excited for the future—especially that I cant predict whats going to happen. Maybe Ill end up in Mexico working for a trading company or maybe in Africa, developing my own business. Everything is possible, and the options are constantly changing. I love the idea that Im never going to be stuck doing the same job until the end of my life if I dont want it to be like this. . Hult really supports me and my ambitions and truly believes that we deserve to be considered as professionals as well as students. Here, I get to express not just my opinions but all elements of myself. From my creative side with the Fashion Society to my finance and business sides in Trading Club and the Management Consulting Club. We get a different type of learning here. Not just essential knowledge and theory, but practical skills and mindset. The school is always evolving. We’re encouraged to innovate and to always look for new ways of doing traditional things. We learn how to be more confident and become aware of how we can impact our environment. The school aims to help you become a better version of yourself and to stand out from the crowd.â€Å" . Elisa Orus Plana French Bachelor of Business Administration Class of 2021"> During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. During the final days of 2019, you probably reflected on what you’ve accomplished this year—and even this decade—and what you’d like to achieve in 2020. Let us know in the comments below. â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"The first time we did group work on the program, I went head-to-head with a colleague. It taught me a lot about how I see people, how people see me, and how conflict can be resolved in a kind and productive way. The best feedback you get, when delivered constructively, is the most critical because it really feeds into how you lead. I’ve completely reversed my leadership style—the result is so much richer and more powerful when you lead from behind and lead with strength. . Studying in tandem with working, whilst challenging, gave me the perfect platform to directly apply learning concepts into my business environment, the competitive landscape, and the real-estate industry as a whole. When I started the program, I was very happy in my corporate role. But my courage and aspirations grew to the point that I took on a whole new direction. Having my career coach, Joanna, as a sounding board allowed me to really be strategic and get to know myself. She coached me thro ugh all the interviews, the research, and the questions. It went in parallel with what I was doing academically and after six months everything just clicked. . I went into the EMBA knowing I had nothing to lose and I’ve come out with everything. Great strength, global friends, amazing learning, mentors from professors, a job I love, and the knowledge that I can set my mind to achieve anything and with the right support and resources I’ll get there.† . Kashani Wijetunga British, New Zealand Sri Lankan Associate Director Senior Strategy Consultant CBRE EMBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . â€Å"It was now or never. I knew that I’d have likely stayed in my neighborhood for years to come if I didn’t take this opportunity. I’d not lived or studied outside of the U.S. before. So I left my job as a global strategist at an advertising agency and moved halfway around the world. I’ve come back a more culturally aware, well-versed person. I’ve realized that everything is a learning experience and an opportunity for growth. Ill definitely carry this mindset with me into the future. Technology and social media allow us to be different people in several places at once. Im excited to see how I can establish myself in whatever city Ill be lucky enough to call home and still maintain deep connections with people all over the world. I’m inspired by my classmates every day. Hearing some of their life stories and how getting this degree fits into their greater mission has been very humbling. My biggest challenge has been finding the ‘right’ path for me. There have been rooms Ive felt like I shouldnt be in, but now Im proud to feel as though I truly belong, wherever I am.† . Dwayne Logan, Jnr. American MBA Class of 2019 . Happy New Year, Hultians! . Happy New Year, Hultians! .