Entrepreneur. Educator. Influencer.

Thursday 21 February 2019

Female leadership, back to the basics (pt.2)

Last week, I concluded that a common thread in defining leadership roles is that the leader acts as a role model and inspires and influences others.
An analysis in the Harvard Business Review by Bartlett and Ghosal concluded that the most basic role for corporate leaders is “To release the human spirit that makes initiative, creativity, and entrepreneurship possible.” In addition, all these definitions include elements of what experts call “transformational” leadership, which is usually attributed to women as they are more likely than men to focus on encouraging and empowering employees, which they do by getting staff involved in the decision-making process, and generally by caring about their opinions and feelings. In addition, when decisions need to be made under pressure, there is also determination and an aptitude for action.
Researchers such as Henry Mintzberg, Kenneth Graham, Jr., William M. Mihal and others identified nine roles that are part of a leader’s job and function. A comprehensive summary of leadership roles is provided by A. J. Dubrin and highlights the following leadership roles:

Nine leadership roles

1. Figurehead: Leaders spend some part of their time engaging in ceremonial activities or acting as a figurehead.
2. Spokesperson: In relationships with five groups of people - namely upper-level management, clients or customers, and other important outsiders such as labour unions, professional colleagues, and the general public.
3. Negotiator: Researchers have identified three specific negotiating activities:
a. Bargaining with superiors for funds, facilities, equipment, or other forms of support,
b. Bargaining with other units in the organisation for the use of staff, facilities, equipment, or other forms of support,
c. Bargaining with suppliers and vendors for services, schedules, and delivery times.
4. Coach of team members: This includes three key behaviours:
a. Informally recognising team members’ achievements,
b. Providing team members with feedback concerning ineffective performance,
c. Ensuring that team members are informed of ways to improve their performance.
5. Team builder: Effectively building a team, facilitating cooperation between team members and involving everyone as appropriate. In terms of concrete behaviour, it includes:
a. Ensuring that team members are valued and recognised for their accomplishments
b. Initiating activities that contribute to group morale such as organising social events and sponsoring sports teams, empowering people, building relationships based on trust and mutual respect, creating a positive working environment in which people feel happy
c. Holding periodical staff meetings to encourage team members to talk about their accomplishments, problems and concerns.
6. Team player: Related to the team builder role, including three main behaviours
a. Lead by example: do what you say, model appropriate professional conduct, set an example for your team
b. Cooperate with other units in the organisation, allow people to express their views and opinions and get involved with the decision-making process, create a positive environment for work which values everyone and provides feedback,
c. Display loyalty to superiors by supporting their plans and decisions fully.
7. Technical problem solver: Serving as a technical expert or advisor, and also performing contributor tasks on a regular basis, such as making sales calls or repairing machinery.
8. Entrepreneur: Although not self-employed, leaders of large organisations have three entrepreneurial leadership activities:
a. Reading trade publications and professional journals to keep up with what is happening in the industry and profession
b. Talking with customers or leaders in similar organisations to stay aware of changing needs and requirements
c. Proactively following up opportunities outside the workplace that could help improve the organisation’s performance, such as visiting other firms, attending professional meetings and trade shows, and participating in educational programmes.
9. Strategic planner: Setting a direction for the organisation, helping the firm deal with external influences, and helping develop organisational policies.
Analysing the mystery of what leaders must do to succeed in “Leadership that gets results”, HBR, Daniel Goleman considers the fact that if you ask any group of business people “What do effective leaders do?” you’ll hear a variety of answers such as: “They set strategy, they motivate, they create a mission, they build a culture” and so on. But when you ask them “What should leaders do to be successful?” you will likely hear one response: “The leader’s only job is to get results…”
So, if you are a prospective leader, you should now understand a little more about the roles you may be expected to fulfil in your organisation.
To be continued next week…
About the author:
Daniela Clara Moraru is a serial entrepreneur, founder of Languages.lu and of the mobile app to learn Luxembourgish “365 Days Luxembourgish”, among others.
In addition, she has been highly involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship and leadership, especially among women. She was a founding member of FFCEL (Women Entrepreneurs Association), Femmes Leaders du Luxembourg, as well as Inspiring Wo-Men, an initiative aimed at inspiring people to inspire others, which included the “Inspiring Woman of the Year”, “Inspiring Man of the Year” and “Top Company for Gender Equality” Awards.
In 2013, Daniela Clara Moraru has been recognized as “Woman inspiring Europe” by the European Institute for Gender Equality of the European Commission.
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Tuesday 19 February 2019

Female leadership, back to the basics (pt.1)

In our fast-moving globalised world, people strive to emulate successful individuals and organisations with a view to replicating best practices and applying others’ rules for success.
Countless books and research articles have already been published on the subject of leadership development. So why the need for another article instead of continuing with the articles about the Luxembourgish language?
Well, not only because International Women’s Day (8 March 2019) is approaching fast, but also because there are very few articles, not to mention books, about women’s specific leadership issues – such as mental barriers, prejudices towards the role of women in society, opposition or resistance to female leadership styles, unequal access opportunities to entry and mid-level positions, and of course the demands of family life.
Until 2010 when I wrote “Women leadership in Luxembourg and the Greater Region”, there were no books available about the reality faced by many women in Luxembourg who are looking for guidelines to help them better understand the different roles, requirements, challenges and satisfactions of leadership, while taking into account the obstacles women still face in positions of power and authority.
If I look at the situation in 2009 and now, 10 years later, there is still a definite need to look at the successes of women from our region and to share their stories with a wider audience. We need to continue to encourage women in the Greater Region to connect with each other, advance their careers, balance their professional and family lives, and give leverage to the strengths and skill sets needed in order to be appointed to leadership positions.
Despite the positive role women have in companies, they are not participating equally at all levels in the business hierarchy. And, although there is no single profile of a leader, we are unfortunately still inclined toward a general concept of a leader as a heroic and powerful man. Consequently, we follow the wrong assumption that there is only one type of leader.
In reality, leaders come in all kinds of packages – just as people have very different approaches to leadership and leaders’ essential attributes, traits and qualities.
While there have been numerous definitions of what a leader is, and especially how a woman leader should ideally act and behave, I would like to share with you some of the visions shared by women I personally appreciate and who also hold leadership positions in Luxembourg and/or the Greater Region.
Léa Linster, the only woman to have received the highest cooking award “Bocuse d’Or”, believes that a woman leader is “A woman who assumes her responsibilities, has compassion for others and looks for excellence in whatever she does. She loves people, respects them, and understands how to find a balance between professional and family life.”
For Francoise Thoma, the director general of the state bank BCEE, a leader is “a person ready to take on responsibility for the whole, able to develop visions while keeping their feet firmly rooted in reality, and being truly interested in the individuals around them; a shield for the people you are responsible for and for the business you are supposed to run; an arrow  speeding towards the future and progress in every sense; a manager of change.”
“A leader should take and lead initiatives and dare to act, without fear of the consequences”, says Martine Reicherts, former general director of the Publications Office of the European Union. She also believes that a network of friends and acquaintances is essential and, in order to build and keep it, you have left the office to see and understand what is happening outside the company.
She recognises that this was one of her keys to success, along with having a partner who shares her choices and is an essential element of her life balance. Martine recommends strongly that you ask yourself if you are ready to become a leader - bearing in mind all the sacrifices that this decision could impose on you - and not forget that it is important to stay true to who you are and be authentic.
Valérie Piastrelli, Partner and Chief Data Quality Officer of PwC Luxembourg, believes that the essential qualities of a leader, whether man or woman, are to be able to surround yourself with collaborators who are complementary to yourself, and to trust them fully and delegate effectively.
It’s also vital to stay connected to reality and push for changes which will work in favour of a long sustainable life for your company and earn respect for the decisions you make. Be courageous and know how to motivate and inspire your stakeholders. Know how to develop your visions for the future – don’t just focus on the short-term (especially in a crisis). In addition, Valérie recommends developing and maintaining your networks, meeting different people and creating new contacts.
For Nadine Bogelmann, associate at a legal firm, a women leader is defined as someone who is a role model in her area of expertise – someone who guides, inspires and supports others, especially women, to pursue and accomplish their goals and dreams - but also someone who demonstrates that a work-life balance is really important.
A leader should inspire trust and be able to influence others to follow their personal vision, which they in turn are able to communicate in a clear and meaningful way. For Nadine, leadership is someone’s ability to stand at a distance and clearly evaluate the situation before making an informed decision, and also to win people’s commitment and inspire them to give their best towards accomplishing a common goal.
“A woman leader must remain a woman, and not try to be a man because she thinks she will be more accepted by her male colleagues. Taking on male qualities with the objective of being perceived as “one of the boys” is not a healthy recipe for a successful career”, says Monica Jonsson, founder of Coach Dynamix. “As women, we need to be confident, proud and remind ourselves that we contribute many valuable attributes that are complementary to those of men. By working together, we can create significant synergies based on the principles of win/win. In my experience, the most effective teams with the best working atmosphere are those with a good balance between men and women. This is a recipe for real success!”
A leader is, in Miriam Mascherin’s opinion, someone with a long-term vision and a special charisma that inspires people to follow them. Miriam is co-founder of Elite Advisers, an investment firm based in Luxembourg. She finds that being a successful woman is not easy, especially in the financial sector. Miriam aims to show through her work that women have complementary qualities to men’s and that working together in mutual respect makes them stronger.
Marian Miguelez is owner and managing director of a wellness centre in Capellen, Luxembourg. Marian has her own definition of a woman leader: “Someone who is dedicated body and soul to the job she has chosen to do”. She insists that the notion of choice is essential to success and urges the leaders of tomorrow to overcome the obstacles that the most unexpected people will put before your projects, ideas and visions. And, most importantly, “Never doubt your abilities!”
As we can see from this advice, a common thread in defining leadership roles is that the leader acts as a role model and inspires and influences others.
About the author:
Daniela Clara Moraru is a serial entrepreneur, founder of Languages.lu and of the mobile app to learn Luxembourgish “365 Days Luxembourgish”, among others.
In addition, she has been highly involved in the promotion of entrepreneurship and leadership, especially among women. She was a founding member of FFCEL (Women Entrepreneurs Association), Femmes Leaders du Luxembourg, as well as Inspiring Wo-Men, an initiative aimed at inspiring people to inspire others, which included the “Inspiring Woman of the Year”, “Inspiring Man of the Year” and “Top Company for Gender Equality” Awards.
In 2013, Daniela Clara Moraru has been recognized as “Woman inspiring Europe” by the European Institute for Gender Equality of the European Commission.
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Thursday 14 February 2019

Ech hunn dech gär!

Today is Valentine's day, a day people experience a variety of emotions. 
If you're in love with someone and lucky enough to wake up by his/her side, then you're one of those  happy people because loved by the person you love, and that's an amazing feeling and greatest gift of life! 
If you're not in love with someone else except yourself and happy with the situation, you might feel a bit annoyed by all the fuss about finding your better half or your "sweet half" if we were to literally translate the equivalent expression from Luxembourgish "séiss Halschent". 
If you're, however, looking for someone to love and share the beauty of life with, then being alone today might make you feel sad and/or frustrated. Last year -when I was single, happy but secretly wanting to meet someone special- I've organized a free Luxembourgish practice evening at Scott's in the Grund, like I have been doing on a monthly basis for the last 3 years. The event attracted around 20 beautiful souls; I offered them a list of vocabulary related to love and relationships in Luxembourgish. It was very nice to help them discover some new words and expressions, for some their very first words in Luxembourgish, and, by the end of the evening, if we didn't find, yet, that special connection we were longing for, we did achieve something remarkable: everyone knew how to say I love you in Luxembourgish: Ech hunn dech gär!

So today, whether you're in love or not, take this great opportunity to learn some (more) Luxembourgish ❤️🇱🇺 
And no matter if or how you will be celebrating Valentine's Day, make sure it includes some self love, self appreciation, some positive thoughts about the great things and people in your life! 
#365daysLuxembourgish
#Luxembourgish
#learnLuxembourgish
 #luxembourgeois

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Saturday 9 February 2019

Cette fois je vote!


Aujourd'hui c'était la journée nationale de l'inscription sur les listes électorales au Luxembourg. Les communes ont ouvert leurs portes afin que les citoyens européens non-luxembourgeois qui résident au Grand-Duché et souhaitent exprimer leur voix, puissent s'inscrire sur les listes électorales. 
Ensemble avec mes collègues de la Commission d'intégration de la Ville de Luxembourg ainsi que les bénévoles de la campagne #cettefoisjevote du Parlement Européen nous sommes allés à la rencontre des citoyens sur la Place d'Armes. Il faisait froid et le vent soufflait fort, mais nous avons résisté héroïquement jusqu'à 13h00. 
En parlant avec les gens, j'ai pu constater que beaucoup de personnes s'intéressent moins aux élections européennes qu'aux élections législatives. Une dame m'a dit qu'elle n'allait pas voter car elle était très déçue de l'Europe. Si j'étais à sa place, je ferais le contraire...

... jusqu'au 28 février on peut encore s'inscrire sur les listes électorales au Luxembourg pour voter aux élections européennes du 26 mai prochain.
RDV aussi samedi prochain sur la La Place d' Armes.
#jepeuxvoter
#echkawielen
#thistimeimvoting
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