E-Leadership –Emerging Behavioral and Communication Issues ‘Kehinde Olagoke NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF BUILDING.

E-Leadership –Emerging Behavioral and Communication Issues

‘Kehinde Olagoke

NIGERIA INSTITUTE OF BUILDING

Have a Vision Harness the Talent and skills of Team

members and clients Communicate & Articulate the Vision

to Team members and your clients Delegate Function Monitor Progress, Mentor

Team/Followers/Clients Motivate by rewarding achievements

and reprimanding failure to meet the challenges of the clients.

Now significant human interactions are mediated throughinformation technology to produce new organizational formand new work environment termed E-environment and theemerging leadership is labeled as E-leadershipor Electronic leadership

The goals of leadership have not changed , but the e-leader needs to implement those goals electronically through computer mediated virtual teams that are dispersed over space and time .

Leadership patterns are beginning to reflect transition from industrial to post-industrial society. The new society variously called information society, is marked by rapid and far reaching changes in digitalization of information and communication technology.

The use of information technology over the years has been altering the way organizations areConducting their business. As a result neworganizational form -virtual organization - hasemerged. Leader and followers now communicate through E-technologies (telephone, e-mail, chatsocial media and video-conferencing etc).

Instant direct communication with employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders .

Access to clients irrespective of location Enhancement of organizational performance by

making use of multi-functional teams Cost Reduction Access to information/greater workforce

connectivity Rapid response to customers demands Increased or Improved Bottom-line as competitive

advantage is enhanced

Bridging the physical distance between the leader, his team and clients.

Communicating effectively with widespread team members who in turn make it simple for the clients.

Conveyance of enthusiasm and inspiration to followers and clients electronically

Building of Trust with team members and the clients you don’t see

Adaptive Structuration Theory - Human actions are guided by structures: Structures are rules and resources that serve as templates for planning and accomplishing tasks .

Technology creates organizational structures of which leadership is a part.

Leadership and technology have a recursive relationship .

Be prepared Develop New Skills Be adaptable to Change/Flexible Learn to Re-learn Learn to Motivate Learn to Build Trust Understand the value of e-technologies Experiment with ideas

Comunication is key in e-leadarship. It takes placethrough information technology.

Could be verbal, non verbal, Visual , non Visual etc The basic responsibilities of the leader do

not change; the only thing that change is how theleader can communicate with his people effectivelywhile they are not at the same office building.

Beliefs/Perception Information Overload Assumption

Knowing when to replace traditional work processes with virtual ones

Learn about cultural differences, if these could pose problems

Avoid the use of Jargons Avoid language that is confrontational or Judgmental

Analysis- Who is the audience ?Understanding- What is the audience’s Knowledge of the subjectDemographics- What is their age , gender , educational background

Interest- Why are they listening to me ?Environment- Where will this document be /presentedNeeds - How can I meet the needs of the audienceCustomization - How can I tailor my work to meet their needs?Expectations What would they learn from my presentation

Note that the results of your audience analysis that will determine the tool/channel of communication

Email Internet Forum Discussion Boards Weblogs RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Social Networking e.g Facebook, Yammer, Twitter, etc Conferencing Tools (Video or Telephone) e.g Skype Online Chat eg. Yahoo Messenger, Blackberry Flash meeting Application/Desktop sharing Intranet

A fairly informal business correspondence with a set of rules called Netiquette, Digital manners etc.

Be Concise and Unambiguous Be clear and Direct in the Subject Line Never think your email is totally Confidential If this is made public , would you be comfortable ? Do not torture your readers with abbreviations Use Uppercase for emphasis Only Don’t start with Dear Sir/Madam Use Informal Closing Don’t send one word emails Save a tree ! Use the address fields with care Politely Sign your messages