Richard R. Russey is the author of When the Sun Got Stuck: A Fable for Leaders and Their Teams. He has spent 40 years in the education field, including working as a classroom teacher, and he has a blog focused on leadership issues.
Q: What does the
fable about the sun getting stuck say about leadership?
A: “Leadership” is used to describe a dynamic in a wide
array of arenas – from political to social to educational to business – where
unique combinations of qualities are demanded of people who aspire to
supervise, manage, or officiate.
It is often the case that when a crisis looms,
the true qualities one brings to a leadership role come to the surface for
better or for worse. The sun getting stuck between two mountain peaks that
brings such anxiety and chaos in this fable to a small community is a metaphor, of
course, for working with the skills, experience, and knowledge of every member
of the team (the work force) contributing to the successful resolution of the
crisis.
So, the mountains, in this fable, represent impediments
to successful leadership. The sun breaking free of the mountains and popping up
into the sky represents the success of the team approach to leadership.
Q: Who are some of
the leaders--both historic and present-day--that you admire most, and why?
A: There is a small, but powerful, circle of leaders that
make my most admired list: Abraham Lincoln; Martin Luther King, Jr.; Nelson
Mandela; Eleanor Roosevelt; and Maya Angelou. All of these leaders share the
similarity of a few key traits: core belief in equity and diversity; being able
to go it alone when necessary; seeing a reason for the present; and a clear
vision for the future.
Q:
What are some
qualities that leaders should avoid?
A: It’s an interesting question, because we often think
only of the positive qualities of leaders. But leaders are people, and as such,
possess characteristics that they are still working on improving. What leaps to
mind as “qualities” or characteristics that leaders should avoid include:
putting staff in no-win situations; demonstrating a cavalier attitude;
exhibiting a querulous demeanor; providing amorphous guidance; leading with
narcissism and /or for ego needs; and operating in a unilateral vacuum, among
others.
Q: In the book, you refer to the "smart/heart leaders." What qualities do those leaders have?
A: “Smart/Heart Leaders” are those who are able to
achieve an appropriate balance between their head (cognitive, linear thought,
knowledge) and their heart (feeling, affective qualities, emotional
intelligence, creativity) in their work and interaction with others. These
include, specifically: team approach; dynamic likability; positive persuasion;
and imagining and creating the future with the staff (team), board, and
stakeholders.
Q:
What are you
working on now?
A: I have been working on the revision of a companion
piece to When the Sun Got Stuck: A Fable
for Leaders and Their Teams© It is a
book that explores the “Smart/Heart Leadership” concept in far greater detail.
Additionally, I have been receiving requests for work book companions to the
fable.
As I writer, I’m always looking to expand my universe.
So, another project I’ve had in the works for some time is a fictional memoir
covering the lifespan of a young-to-old man who grew up as a military brat,
then moving through the decades of his life living fully as a gay man. Each
decade brings challenges, lessons-learned, and laughs and tears along the way.
Q:
Anything else we
should know?
A: I am represented by Diane Nine Speakers, Inc., and she
is my literary agent as well. I encourage anybody reading this to connect with Diane should you have interest in booking me as a speaker, workshop leader,
panelist, or book signings.
My ongoing interest in leadership is explored in my
blog which can be seen here: http://richardrusseywrites.blogspot.com.
--Interview with Deborah Kalb
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