Is There a Cookie-Cutter Mold for Leaders?

Over the last 13 years, thanks to social media, I have had the privilege to meet a variety of amazing marketing, leadership, and customer experience experts. One of these experts is Lori Dernavich from New York. We recently had a discussion about leadership, and highlights follow below Lori's bio.

Lori Dernavich is a Leadership Development Advisor and Executive Coach. She partners with leaders and their organizations to develop the skills they’ll need to scale. With additional background as a food scientist and psychotherapist, Lori’s background gives her an in-depth understanding of a wide variety of personalities, functions, and industries. Connect and follow on Twitter (@LoriDernavich), and on her website at  www.loridernavich.com.

QUESTION: Since the Covid-19 pandemic began in early 2020, how has it impacted the role of leadership?

LORI DERNAVICH: COVID has certainly required more from leaders. They’ve had to go well beyond managing day-to-day activities and become laser-focused on clearly communicating vision, context, intentions, expectations, and accountability. Great leaders have recognized the necessity of paying attention to employee mental and emotional well-being too. I often coach leaders in the lifescience and biotech industries. Many of these leaders come from academia, where they weren’t taught how to be strong leaders. The COVID silver lining is watching these folks step up their leadership game quickly and wonderfully.       

TWEET THIS: Great leaders have recognized the necessity of paying attention to employee mental and emotional well-being too. -@LoriDernavich #LeadershipTip #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: How do you differentiate between management and leadership?

LORI DERNAVICH: In my opinion, management is about the work people are doing. Leadership is more about the people doing the work. Management is about taking care of the day-to-day management of work, like creating and managing timelines and tasks. Leadership is about caring and growing the people you hope will want to follow you.

TWEET THIS: Leadership is about caring and growing the people you hope will want to follow you. -@LoriDernavich #LeadershipTip #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: How can people without grandiose titles lead others and/or make a positive impact in the workplace?

LORI DERNAVICH: People can become leaders long before they ever have direct reports. To make a positive impact, build your network within the organization to build your personal brand. Great leaders get rid of obstacles so their direct reports can focus on their jobs.

Think about how you can be of value and remove obstacles for others. That could be as simple as offering to schedule meetings, taking and distributing meeting notes, or staying late to help finish a project.

TWEET THIS: People can become leaders long before they ever have direct reports. -@LoriDernavich #LeadershipTip #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: How can a CEO be an effective brand ambassador?

LORI DERNAVICH: A CEO needs to be passionate about their company to the outside world, but it’s just as necessary for a CEO to show that passion internally too. Whether you’re charismatic or not, meet with employees. Ask them what they like about working there, what they wish they could improve, and whether they’d recommend the company to a friend. Show employees you care about them and that they’re integral to the company’s success.

QUESTION 5: To quote Peter Drucker, “There may be born leaders, but there surely are far too few to depend on them. Leadership must be learned.” What does this quote mean to you?

LORI DERNAVICH: We must invest in employees at every level of a company. There is no cookie-cutter mold for leaders. Give me someone who is open to always learning, shows humility, and exhibits empathy, and the rest can be taught. Actually, while empathy comes naturally for some, I even think it can be learned.

TWEET THIS: There is no cookie-cutter mold for leaders. -@LoriDernavich #LeadershipTip #EmployeeExperience #DebbieLaskeysBlog

QUESTION: One of my favorite leadership quotes is from author and consultant Mark Herbert (@NewParadigmer on Twitter): “Leadership doesn't require you to be the smartest person in the room. It requires you to block and tackle for others.” What does this quote mean to you?

LORI DERNAVICH: Empathy, removing obstacles, believing in your people, and being willing to go to bat for them.

My thanks to Lori for sharing her inspiring leadership insights and for appearing here on my Blog. Is anyone else craving cookies now?

Image Credit: Wordswag app.