a leader’s role in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment

A Leader’s Role in Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Work

EnvironmentMarch 17, 2009

9:00-10:15AM & 1:15-2:30PM

Workshop Presenter(s)• Karie Wolfson, Interim Director, Faculty Staff Assistance

Program• Aaron Ebata, Associate Professor, Department of Human and

Community Development and Extension Specialist, Family Life• Mary Ellen O’Shaughnessey, Executive Assistant Dean, College

of Fine and Applied Arts• L. Patricia Sherod, Director, Center for Training and

Professional Development• Susan Stewart, Assistant Director, Center for Training and

Professional Development• Tiy Goddard, Manager, Professional Development, Center for

Training and Professional Development2

Workshop Objectives

• Introduce elements that define a healthy work environment

• Define exemplary or superior leadership competencies and how they are applied to healthy work environments

• Facilitate self assessment, action planning, and follow-up analysis of team climate

• Provide strategies and identify resources available to help leaders maintain a healthy environment

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“ …the elements that define a healthy work environment [include] collegiality and sharing; recognizing employee’s contributions; having policies that are based on trust; doing what we say we will do, both individually and as an organization, [and] encouraging employees to have a balanced life.”

Beyond the Talk: Achieving a Healthy and Productive Work Environment, 1999

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Healthy organizations embrace change as a natural and continuous process… They are characterized by a climate of learning, curiosity, a sense of community and shared meaning, utilization of collective intelligence, and strong trusting relationships and empathically honest communications.

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Healthy Work Environment

• People are Valued• Priority is given to the Work and

the Services Performed • Shared Responsibility of

Everyone • Leadership Sets the Proper Tone

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Understanding Leadership A process by which a person influences others to

accomplish an objective and directs the organization in a way that makes it more cohesive and coherent.

Leaders carry out this process by applying their leadership attributes (beliefs, values, ethics, character, knowledge and skills).

Leadership differs in that it makes the followers WANT to achieve high goals, rather than simply bossing people around.

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Managing and Leading are Different

Power does not make you a leader, it simply makes you the boss.

Positional power as a manager, supervisor, head, etc. gives you the authority to accomplish certain tasks and objectives in the organization.

Managers encourage compliant behavior, leaders encourage commitment.

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The 5 Key Practices of Exemplary Leaders

• Challenging the Process• Inspiring a Shared Vision • Enabling Others to Act • Modeling the Way• Encouraging the Heart

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Do you consider your current work environment “healthy”?

1.6

4

4

3.2

4.9

21.8

18.5

25

59.3

54.8

55.6

51.6

34.1

19.4

21.8

20.2

0.0 10.0 20.0 30.0 40.0 50.0 60.0 70.0

Alignment withUniversity mission

Clear roles andresponsibilities

Productive teams

Effective top-downcommunication

Strongly Agree

Agree

Disagree

Strongly Disagree

How would you rate your current work environment on the following dimensions?

0.8

0.8

0.8

1.6

3.2

4.8

2.4

14.4

12

8.8

7.2

18.4

16.9

32

20

19.2

18.4

25.6

24.8

19.4

24

38.4

39.2

48

44

35.2

44.4

33.6

24

28.8

24

21.6

18.4

14.5

8

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Leaders set the tone and"model" productive behaviors

Employees are encouraged tohave a balanced life

High productivity ("We dowhat we say we are going to

do."

Policies are based on corevalues

Recognizing employeecontributions

Collegiality and sharing

Communications across alllevels

Excellent

Good

OK

Needs Improvement

Poor

32.8

40.5

35.3

32.8

39.7

0 10 20 30 40 50

Low employee morale

Minimal communication

Passive decision-making

Resistance to share information

Role/responsibility confusion

Response Percent (%)

As a leader, what obstacles, if any, do you face in creating and maintaining a healthy work environment?

Healthy Work Environment Leadership Sets the Tone

• Initiates Practices that Promote Organizational Wellness

• Develops and Articulates Criteria for Success • Empowers all of Us • Supports Play, Creativity and Team Problem Solving • Recognizes and Develops Vision • Provides mechanisms for speedy and complete

information

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Create a Healthy and Productive Climate

1. Disseminate information generously.2. Challenge and expand routine ways of

thinking and acting.3. Encourage communication and information

flow across formal hierarchies and functions.4. Cultivate a culture of curiosity.5. Enable a process of continuous, collective

learning. 14

2008 LEADERSHIP ABC’sAct with integrityBuild bridgesCommunicate openlyDevelop others Envision successFind your passionGive praise freelyHear others outInitiate casual conversationsJot notes of thanksKnow you are worthyLeap at opportunitiesMentor othersNever give up

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Open your mind to possibilitiesPause to reflectQuestion the status quoRead voraciouslySimplify your lifeTake risksUnderstand before actingVacation joyfullyWork smarter, not harderX-spect X-cellenceYield the need to control othersZealously protect time with family and friends

Thank You and Good Luck in Creating and Maintaining a Healthy Work

Environment!

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