Season 6 Episode FOUR of the Intrepid Way podcast series, Leadership on the Ground, with Erica Peitler and co-host Todd Schnick
The Context Skill Set
[Tweet “The differentiator #Skill Set is the ability to #communicate #Context”]
SEASON 6 EPISODE FOUR – The Context Skill Set!
Discussion Guide for this episode:
First, who is your audience? Or, what is their situational need? Frame the context so THEY can take action, to be IN SERVICE to them.
The differentiator skill set is the ability to communicate context.
You need a mastery of communication. The two currencies of leadership are communication and relationship building.
Out of context, leadership communications can appear self-serving. In context, they appear in service to the organization.
The need for a strategic and big picture orientation, the classic “on” verses “in” the business. Periscoping and telescoping are good, but you don’t want to get caught up in microscoping.
Take uncertainty and have the agility to take advantage of the opportunities there.
Operate in real time. You want positive forward movement, at the speed of business.
Courage is an important skill set too. Operating in context, you are freer to make bold moves.
Giving feedback, another skill, out of context is negative. Feedback in context inspires growth. When you better understand the WHY behind feedback, that’s far more impactful.
In an organization, if operating in context, then feedback can go BOTH WAYS, which is necessary. Leaders should want to get better too.
Improving decision-making skills requires context-reading and context-setting. Providing the why behind a decision makes it much more likely people will align with it, and why it might be important for you.
The six leadership styles, and how to use them in the proper context (Pacesetting, Directing, Coaching, Affiliative, Participative, Visionary). Knowing which style to use in a specific scenario and context, enables the leader to properly inspire and motivate people.
Context skill sets can be developed and learned, how do we do that? Help them with their agility.
We also want leaders to facilitate action and progress.