Strengthening humanitarian leadership teams: Rethinking leadership?

Paul Knox Clarke, ALNAP

S t r e n g h t e n i n g h u m a n i t a r i a n l e a d e r s h i p t e a m s - Re t h i n k i n g l e a d e r s h i p ?

12 May 2014

Identify a personal example of

‘excellent leadership’

What were you

doing?

Drawbacks - individual

• Can be overwhelmed• Have limited information• Cognitive bias• Absence paralyses• Requires line of command

Vis ion

Clear vision and objectives

Consensus on how to achieve vision

Strategy

Acting together Implementat ion

elements to leadership3

Le

ad

er

Team

Process and Structure

So – what do we need to get right in terms of teams / processes to enable HCT to lead?

• Team Purpose• Information collection and management

process• Team and delegated decisions • Common operating procedures• Team training

1. Clarify team purpose

What is the HCT for in

this place,

at

this time?

2. Establish information process

Identify key decisions and min info set required

Identify who collects / analyses what, and how

Identify where ‘ big picture’ created

Establish mechanism to keep picture up to date

3.Share decisions with / among team

Identify elements that affect all (for shared decisions)

Delegate others (Agencies, ICC, Clusters)

Agree on joint responsibility for decisions

Agree on process

4. Introduce common ‘Simple rules’ procedures

1. Identify common operational situations

2. Derive ‘simple rules’ – what works, doesn’t

3. Periodically update them

5. Train together..

… then do it

again

• How applicable are these ideas to your HCT?

• To what degree are you already doing these things? Can you share examples of what works?

Thank you

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