Doing Engineering Leadership Differently
In many aspects of professional and technical leadership, Australians are at the forefront of innovation. But when it comes to people leadership, there is evidence that we are not doing as well. In this presentation I make the case for reflecting critically on our traditional leadership practices and I argue the importance of being open to doing leadership differently. Drawing on both my own experiences and my research of corporate and organisational leadership over several decades, I show how Australian organisations have been dominated by a heroic and combative leadership approach. While there are some circumstances where such leadership is needed, there are many other situations where this kind of leadership is an unsustainable model, disempowering followers, alienating young aspiring leaders and promoting conformity, not diversity - of ideas and people. The conclusion of my presentation will outline new insights into leadership, drawing on examples of leaders who create organisational environments where innovation people flourish and those who practice mindful leadership.