Leadership Attributes for Women and Men: Leading Community in Disruptive Times

By vicky mcgahey

Want to improve your ability to lead? Unlock your potential and transform the world.

Interested in stepping up as a leader in your organization? Do you want to break free from your follower mentality? Dr. Vicky McGahey is here to show you how.

With 25 years of leadership experience, McGahey has discovered 15 Leadership Attributes that all potential leaders possess. Through extensive research findings, stories of famous leaders, and a series of mind-expanding questions, you'll finally learn how to reveal your true potential to lead.

In Leadership Attributes for Women and Men, you'll discover:

- How the attributes for leadership are already a part of who you are

- How to take advantage of transformational learning experiences to grow as a leader

- How to best provide your service to families, communities, and organizations

- How to once and for all make the choice to become a leader

- How to help others see leadership qualities in themselves, and much, much more!

When you learn that leadership isn't a quantity you memorize, but a quality you must embody, you'll become a better leader and a stronger person. McGahey's insightful, timely book will empower you to lead in any industry or organization. Through the book's wise words, you'll start the necessary changes within that will not only change you, but the world around you as well.

The world is lacking leadership. It's time to take your rightful place at the top.

Buy the book to reach your true potential today!

• Language: English
• Publisher: Vicky McGahey
• Release date: Jul 4, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386488798

vicky mcgahey

Vicky McGahey (b1960) was born in Perth, Western Australia. Vicky has lived most of her life in Sydney and has worked as a teacher, entertainer, speaker and lecturer. This book has emerged through continuous work in the field of leadership and community. Like Vicky's first fiction series it has emerged through her doctorate studies and the need to share the leadership attributes that help to make 'life itself' - each breathe we take - the most precious gift of all.

Book preview

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Also by vicky mcgahey

The Kingdom of Wizards

The Rock and The Rainbow Serpent

Standalone

Leadership Attributes for Women and Men: Leading Community in Disruptive Times

Lead With Grace

Watch for more at vicky mcgahey’s site.

Leadership Attributes

for

Women and Men

Leading Community

in Disruptive Times

Visit Vicky’s website to download your free journal to record your thoughts and reflections as you read this book (the journal includes mandalas to colour in).

www.vickymcgahey.com

Also available at the website are other helpful resources including The Leadership Attributes Game.

Leadership Attributes

for

Women and Men

Leading Community

in Disruptive Times

Dr Vicky McGahey

First published 2016 by

Vicky McGahey

ebook edition 2017

www.vickymcgahey.com

© Vicky McGahey

This book is copyright. Except for private study research, criticism or reviews, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without prior written permission. Enquiries should be made to the publisher.

Editor: Janet Parker

Designer: Stan Lamond

Proofreader: Brian Mayne

Printed in Australia

National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication Data

Creator: McGahey, Vicky, author.

Title: Leadership attributes for women and men : leading community in disruptive times / Vicky McGahey.

ISBN: 9780994467904 (paperback)

Notes: Includes index.

Subjects: Leadership.

Community leadership.

Executive coaching.

Executive ability.

Dewey Number: 658.4092

ISBN 978-0-9944679-0-4 (softcover)

ISBN 978-0-9944679-1-1 (e-book)

(Paper back paging)

For

Those who search within themselves

for happiness and peace

My mum

Contents

About the Author 7

Acknowledgments 8

Introduction 9

Part 1 Leadership: Simple Reflections 14

Chapter 1 Leaders are Born or Leaders are Made? 15

Chapter 2 ‘Becoming’ 33

Part 2 The Leadership Attributes 46

Chapter 3 The Model of the Leadership Attributes 47

Chapter 4 INTEGRITY – Trust – Trustworthy 50

Chapter 5 PROPHECY – Transcendence – Faith 71

Chapter 6 EMPATHY – Compassion – Passion 91

Chapter 7 INTUITION – Risk 114

Chapter 8 JUDGMENT – Diversity 133

Chapter 9 COMMUNICATION – Consistency 149

Chapter 10 The Leadership Attributes in Action 165

Chapter 11 Summary and Conclusion 172

Appendix A The Leadership Attributes 178

Appendix B The Conceptual Theories of the

Leadership Attributes Study 183

Appendix C The Shepherd Metaphor 194

Appendix D The Invitation by Oriah Mountain Dreamer 201

Appendix E Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues 204

Index 205

Additional Information 214

About the Author

Vicky McGahey was born in Perth, Western Australia. She has lived in Sydney for most of her life and has worked as a teacher, entertainer, speaker and lecturer. Vicky has a doctorate degree and several masters degrees, including one in Theology. Her doctorate focused on the subject of leadership and the attributes required to be a good and moral leader. Vicky is a high school teacher of religion, science and music. She has held several head teacher roles including Director of Human Resources.

Vicky is also the author of a Young Adult series titled The Kingdom of Wizards. The series features fantasy stories, each founded in reality and filled with mystery and adventure. The stories teach the young mind that the ability to lead lies within us all.

Vicky is an accomplished singer and a songwriter who is also a keynote speaker and presenter. As an active member of the community, her interests include politics, leadership theory and practice, theology, the Australian bush, scuba diving, self-reflection, writing and the study of the voice.

Acknowledgments

The writing of this book is another step in a continuing journey that has been shared with many people along the way. This includes the participants in the Leadership Attributes Study that formed part of my doctorate research, the students of the Australian Catholic University (ACU) in the field of educational leadership and the children I have taught as a secondary school teacher.

This book would not have begun without the inspiration, guidance and gift that is Matt Church. It would never have been completed without the critique, support and work of three people: Janet Parker, the ever-patient, knowledgeable and kind editor from whom I have learnt so much; Stan Lamond, who creatively and insightfully provided the graphics and overall design; and Brian Mayne, without whom the journey towards ‘becoming’ a writer would never have evolved. Brian’s creative editorial ability and belief in this work is a constant guiding force. I am grateful for his gift of time and the wonderful hours shared in making this and other works a reality.

Acknowledgment to significant others includes Dr Barry Harris, my doctorate supervisor, who first critiqued the Leadership Attributes; colleagues at ACU for the opportunity to develop and share the attributes in our work; and the community that is Mater Maria Catholic College, who display the attributes beautifully and most fully in the lives they lead with our students. You are a source of inspiration and hope.

Special thanks to my mother, who remains my source of love and is my greatest fan, and to my friends, many of whom have listened patiently and then thought to themselves: ‘She’s off again.’

To you, the readers, I hope you come to realise that leadership is service. To do it well you need to lead with grace. Leadership is not a position, leadership is a choice. And once chosen, leadership is a journey that has no ending … so let your Leadership Attributes shine.

Introduction

Sensing Camelot

I have never regarded myself as someone who seeks perfection, but the reality is that deep down I do. This underlying need has led me on a grail-like quest to find the foundation stones for building a Camelot. Famed in Arthurian legend, Camelot is a mythical place where all are considered equal, decision-making is shared through open dialogue and all voices are heard. In the words of Sean Connery’s King Arthur of Camelot in the movie First Knight, as he assembled the Knights of the Round Table:

May God grant us the wisdom to discover the right

The willingness to choose it

and the strength to make it endure

(Lowry & Zucker, 1995)¹

This yearning started to emerge while clinging to the rail of a ship heading for sheltered waters during a raging storm (the worst ever recorded in the Mediterranean in the 1980s). It is amazing what 24 hours of seasickness can do to a person’s body, mind and soul! I was working as a solo female entertainer on board the luxury ship MV Orient Express (yes, the big sister to the famous train) during 1987. The wide blueness of the ocean and its changing moods has long been the source of inspiration for poets and musicians. The months at sea, with its endless ‘waters moving beneath my feet’ experiences, stimulated the birth of a dream: the establishment of a Specialist Music School (SMS), located in the western suburbs of Sydney, for talented and gifted young musicians. Unfortunately, the school was not to be. Though it did achieve general recurrent funding from the Australian Government of $5 million over 3 years, along with the go-ahead from the necessary organisational bodies, the start-up requirements of student numbers and other secured funds made it unfeasible. So it remains an unfulfilled dream for now.

At the time, I did not realise the true purpose of this yearning, which was the need to establish a caring and nurturing community … a Camelot … a community that erred on the side of goodness and goodwill. The realisation of this purpose occurred many years later, while trying to splice together various areas of study as I worked on my doctorate. The findings of two research studies (1993–2000) – including an extensive literature review and the storyteller nature of that work – has stood the test of time. Not much has changed in the field of leadership. There is still the need for leadership and learning to be transformational so that good (moral) communities can emerge.

My experiences and my reflections on those experiences caused a change and growth within me. I have undergone a number of transformative learning experiences that have been a significant disruption and challenge to my thinking and my way of doing things. In simple terms, transformative learning is a shift in thinking that can change one’s actions. It signifies a movement to a new knowing and a new outlook on the way things can or cannot be done. Transformative learning is one of the foundation stones upon which this book rests. The others are transformational leadership and moral community. I have defined a moral community as ‘a community that values the heart, soul and mind of its people through the growth and development of shared principles, values and beliefs.’²

Transformational leadership is a style of leadership where the leader manages meaning, creates vision and empowers others towards becoming self-leaders. This perspective assumes leadership potential in everyone.³

With this in mind, I could not, with all due respect, neglect to mention the plight of women in leadership. There is a significant gender imbalance within many walks of life at present, but especially in leadership roles within organisations, government, politics, local groups and, often, the family. There seems to be an acceptance within society that women should not be in leadership roles – that a woman’s place is in the home or doing the more menial tasks – and that we should leave the men in charge. Quite sad and very limiting and not truly celebratory of the gifts and talents women can bring to leadership per se. Yes, there are a chosen few who have broken through the barriers (the glass ceiling), however, I feel there are people who merely tolerate women in leadership roles because, at best, it is seen as the right thing to do by male and, sadly, other female counterparts. Also, there are women in leadership roles that are more ‘behind the scenes’. These women leaders are not so visible or in the public eye. This reality continues to have a detrimental effect upon the potential growth of a just and moral society. The world suffers because of gender imbalance.

You have to ask yourself why this state of affairs, this gender imbalance in so many fields, continues to exist and is perpetuated. Why? Why? Why? The answer is simple! Conditioning … hundreds of years of conditioning!

I was told that a ‘problem is only a solution waiting to be found’. This problem deserves serious consideration by every one of us as we face the onslaught of fundamentalism – be it religious, cultural or political. There is a need for leadership that transforms humanity through tolerance, authenticity and respect. In this way, good and moral communities – ones that encourage learning and sustainable growth – can be built. Such growth also requires a balance between all things, such as desires, needs and gender. Sadly, as previously stated, there is a lack of female representation in leadership roles within our world. Within the pages of this book are the stories of both men and women who, in their own way, were leaders of their time.

Part 1 discusses the very fluid concept of leadership (Chapter 1). Hopefully, this will establish a reason or purpose to continue to read and reflect upon what is needed to ‘become’ (Chapter 2).

Part 2 presents the Leadership Attributes, which are the main focus of this book (Chapters 3–9). It describes the Leadership Attributes as a call to action, with a strategy for implementation (Chapter 10). In this way, a sustainable community can be built (Chapter 11).

It is important to note that when the word ‘community’ is used in this book, it means community within an organisation, including not-for-profit organisations like Rotary; local groups; in the family; or in any setting where two or more people gather together. The formation of a community rests at the heart of leadership. You are not a leader without followers and a leader needs to nurture and foster relationships that build community.

Appendices A–E provide in-depth references to and descriptions of the concepts presented in the chapters, and each appendix is cross-referenced where appropriate. The appendices are as follows:

Appendix A The Leadership Attributes

Appendix B The Conceptual Theories of the Leadership Attributes Study

Appendix C The Shepherd Metaphor

Appendix D The Invitation, by Oriah Mountain Dreamer

Appendix E Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues

The Leadership Attributes (Appendix A) are the qualities that lie within each and every one of us. They are given a voice through our words and brought to life through our actions. The attributes can help to make every human life one of purpose, service and fulfilment. An eight-year study uncovered 15 Leadership Attributes.⁴ These are discussed more fully in Part 2.

Appendix B presents several of the conceptual theories underpinning the work that led to the formation of the Leadership Attributes – the main topic of this book. These are learning, leadership and community. Both learning and leadership are seen as needing to be transformational in order to establish communities that are essentially moral.

Appendix C presents a summary of ‘The Shepherd Metaphor’. This is a metaphor for leadership that establishes sustainable and moral communities among people in families, local groups and organisations. Indeed, the Leadership Attributes evolved through the early work on this metaphor and subsequent research study.

Appendix D presents the full version of a most unique and poignant verse by Oriah Mountain Dreamer.

Appendix E presents Benjamin Franklin’s 13 Virtues, which he used as a means of daily reflection.

The Leadership Attributes have evolved into a number of new and different ways of learning for people of all ages. The following products are available through my website: www.vickymcgahey.com:

The Leadership Attributes Journal: intended as a companion to this book, this free journal has been created for you to use as you reflect upon the attributes and the questions raised within this book.

The Leadership Attributes Game: focusing on the 15 key attributes, the game engages participants in a pursuit that acknowledges their potential to help humankind. The process and subsequent reflection upon the cards encourages rich dialogue that encourages participants to be listening learners.

The Leadership Attributes Cards of Reflection: designed to provide additional reflection upon the meaning of each of the 15 attributes, these cards can be used as a daily/weekly reflective practice tool for use by individuals or groups.

Young Adult series of books: The Kingdom of Wizards.

I wish you well as you journey through the pages of this book on leadership. Take your time – give yourself the gift of time. If you need to do a quick read of it, do so … but do come back and spend some reflective time.

Sincerely,

Vicky McGahey

The lessons learnt on the journey

are more important

than the final destination.

For the lessons will determine

the right destination.

~Vicky McGahey~

Chapter 1

Leaders are Born or Leaders are Made?

Since humankind began to come together to form community, this question on the concept of leadership has been debated in many forums. It presents the yin and yang, the black and white, the hot and the cold nature of leadership. Leadership is a double-edged sword and offers two different sides of the coin. The argument given in this book supports a positive and resounding ‘yes’ to both possibilities.

Leaders are born

and

Leaders are made

Leaders are born, because each and every one of us is born with innate attributes that can be revealed by our actions through the goodness of spirit. These attributes are called Leadership Attributes.

Leaders are made, because each and every one of us can develop these attributes within ourselves to release our leadership potential. It begins through the discovery of our own vision and mission. Then, it is lived through our actions. It is through our actions that relationships are formed, which, in turn, build community.

At some point in time, every one of us will be called to lead. This can be in the smallest of situations or events of life. It is as simple as when someone asks us for advice or when we see a need that requires action. First and foremost, leadership is service.

The following is an adapted story taken from The Little Brown Book by Sue and Leo Kane.⁵ This book brings the essence of St Mary MacKillop to life through the stories of courage, compassion and kindness that made Mary a formidable and much-loved leader.

Mary MacKillop and the Pub

St Mary MacKillop (St Mary of the Cross) is Australia’s first and only saint (canonised on 17 October 2010). Mary is as close to a contemporary saint as one is likely to find. Along with Father Julian Tenison Woods, she founded the Institute of the Sisters of St Joseph at the tender age of 24. The Sisters have worked with the very poor and underprivileged people of the new and growing colonies of Australia and New Zealand since the late 1800s until this present time.

One place the Sisters