Ep. 37 - Sharpening Your Leadership Skills
Are you an effective executive? If you’re not sure, or even if you think you are, you can learn something from this episode of the Successful Barrister. In this conversation, Marc and Diana discuss leadership skills as conceptualized by Peter Drucker in his book The Effective Executive. Importantly, Drucker conceptualizes leadership as different than management; and argues that while many of us learned how to manage, that does not mean we know how to lead. Learn how to treat leadership as a skill, manage your time effectively, lean on your strengths, and more.
For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:
[2:14] Today’s episode is about something essential – how to be effective at what you do. Diana and Marc will be looking at The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker to organize their thoughts.
[5:31] Drucker’s thesis is that you can improve at being an executive, and that the process to improve is not complicated, though it may be difficult.
[8:17] Drucker mentions five principles throughout the book, the first of which is time management. Interestingly, Drucker separates the concept of management from leadership.
[12:08] Marc did not realize that as a leader his biggest job would be resource allocation – determining where money, time, and people have to go to support the firm.
[16:23] Time is the most precious resource – while you can make more money, you can’t make more time. As an executive, you have to learn new time management skills.
[22:45] The second concept is choosing what to contribute to the organization. What are your basic functions? Once you have chosen what to contribute, you can better allocate your time.
[25:55] Drucker’s third point is to make strengths productive – to determine the strengths of your team, and to allocate tasks in accordance with those strengths.
[30:16] The fourth point is to exploit your opportunities. For Marc Whitehead & Associates, this has involved moving into elder law. This concept has both visionary and operational applications.
[33:07] When the status quo will lead to disaster, it’s time to make a decision. This concept is key to decision making for Drucker. As a leader, you have to be willing to make the unpopular call.
[39:41] Running a firm, specifically a contingency fee firm, is a risk business. To make money, you have to be willing to take risks. Making money in the practice of law is about taking bigger and bigger risks.
[44:20] Diana notes the importance of coaching your staff to help them reach their potential and avoid poor decision making.
Read The Effective Executive The Definitive Guide to Getting the Right Things Done by Peter Drucker: https://www.amazon.com/Effective-Executive-Definitive-Harperbusiness-Essentials/dp/0060833459
Listen to The Effective Executive: https://www.audible.com/pd/The-Effective-Executive-Audiobook/B01N40AUFG
Visit the Successful Barrister website: https://www.successfulbarrister.com/
Visit the Marc Whitehead & Associates website: https://disabilitydenials.com/
Email Marc Whitehead: marc@marcwhitehead.com
