Events
Recent Events
'Metaphors We Lead By'
May 2011
It is with great pleasure that we welcome Andre Spicer, Professor at Warwick Business School, to the New Zealand Leadership Institute. Originally from New Zealand, Andre is spending a few days ‘back home' and will be giving a seminar on the ‘Metaphors We Lead By' following the release of his recent book by the same title.
Professor Spicer believes that we live in a leadership-obsessed society. The result is that we assume nearly any social or economic ill can be mended through better leadership. Sometimes, this commitment to leadership is followed by hero worshipping, wishful thinking and misplaced hope. This means we have often unrealistic expectations of leaders. It also means our ideas about leadership are closer to make-believe than reality.
In his new book Metaphors we Lead By (Routledge, 2010), Professor Andre Spicer prompts us to ‘get real' about leadership. Cutting through the management-speak, this book presents an enlightening and refreshing understanding of an important topic.
Andre Spicer is an emerging thought leader in the study of organisations. His work explores alternatives to mainstream management and leadership. Originally from Whangarei, he studied at the University of Otago and then the University of Melbourne. He has been a visiting professor or fellow at the Universities of Paris, Innsbruck, Sydney, Lund, St Gallen and the Central European University. He has published four books and many journal articles and book chapters. He is also an associate editor of the Journal of Management Studies.
During the lecture, Andre will explore a number of in-depth studies of managers trying to "do" leadership. In each of these cases, leaders faced huge uncertainty about what 'good' leadership is, how they should do it, and whether it was needed at all. To navigate this uncertainty, leaders found comfort in a range of metaphors for the leader: as gardener, cosy-crafter, saint, cyborg, commander and bully.
'The Power of Framing: Challenging the Language of Leadership'
April 2011
The New Zealand Leadership Institute is delighted to be hosting Gail Fairhurst, Professor of Organisational Communication at the University of Cincinnati, Fellow of the International Communication Association, and Fulbright Scholar. Whilst in Auckland, Gail will be holding a seminar on ‘The Power of Framing: Challenging the Language of Leadership'.
Historically, the topic of communication has been a key focus in the leadership literature, but new research is now emerging that specifically addresses the role of framing in effective and credible communication. In today's business environment, an awareness of our language and framing as ‘meaning making' is critical in understanding the impact we can have through our interactions with others. Gail Fairhurst proposes that when we connect with others through our framing of people, situations and events, we shape reality, and when we help provide meaning when others are unable to do so, we demonstrate leadership.
Professor Gail T. Fairhurst is an award-winning author and researcher, international speaker, and consultant specializing in leadership and organizational communication. She has written over 60 articles and book chapters in the organizational and communication sciences. Her books include The Power of Framing: Creating the Language of Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 2011); Discursive Leadership: In Conversation with Leadership Psychology (Sage, 2007); and The Art of Framing: Managing the Language of Leadership (Jossey-Bass, 1996, with Robert Sarr). She has also worked as a process consultant, executive coach, and trainer for a number of Fortune 500 firms.
In her presentation, Gail will consider some of the guiding principles for shaping reality as she explores framing as a skill, a science and an art form. She will also reflect on its emotional and ethical components, drawing on examples of high-profile leaders who created unintended realities from their communication that only served to exacerbate existing problems.
Date: Tuesday 26th April
Time: 5:30 - 6:45pm
Venue: Lecture theatre OGGB5
Level 0, Owen G Glenn Building
12 Grafton Road
Seats are limited for this invitational seminar, so please ensure you RSVP by Tuesday 19th April.
'The Aesthetics of Leadership'
January 2011
The New Zealand Leadership Institute is delighted to be hosting Donna Ladkin on Wednesday 26th January, Donna is a Professor of Leadership and Ethics at Cranfield School of Management, and will be holding a seminar that evening on 'The Aesthetics of Leadership'.
The aesthetic approach to leadership takes us beyond both instrumental explanations (i.e. ‘how does it work'?) and ethical understandings (i.e. ‘what is the right way?') by bringing to the fore the sensory experience and the felt meanings that are produced by and guide our interactions with leadership (i.e. ‘how should it be?'). As with art with which is it is closely associated , aesthetics enables us to ask new and unexpected questions of leadership in all its dimensions. While we rarely talk about the aesthetic experience of leadership, it is more significant and influential than we generally care to admit. In addition to providing an overview of this emergent field, Donna will talk to how we might go about developing leaders who are endowed with aesthetic abilities.
Professor Donna Ladkin is one of the UK's foremost leadership scholars, whose work has been cited as ‘ground-breaking' and ‘innovative' within this crowded field. By focusing on the lived experience of leadership her research highlights its ethical and aesthetic dimensions, demonstrating that ‘how' leaders take up their role is as important as ‘what' they do. Informed by her background in Western philosophical traditions and music, her work seeks to bring a renewed appreciation of the importance of art and beauty in our daily lives. She is the author of Rethinking Leadership: A New Look at Old Leadership Questions, published by Edward Elgar in 2010. Donna Ladkin is a visiting professor at Massey University Albany during January and February 2011.
Event Details:
Date: Wednesday 26th January
Time: 5:30 - 6:30pm
Venue: Lecture theatre 3.404
School of Engineering
20 Symonds Street
Click here for a map and directions
Please note: As seats are strictly limited, you must register for this event. Please ensure you RSVP by Friday 21st January.
Leadership Week 2010: World Cafe Events
25 June - 2 July 2010
Following on from the success of last years' World Cafes during Leadership Week, several opportunities are being offered again to join a world cafe and enjoy the unique opportunity to discuss your perspectives and generate lively discussion around leadership rather than just being presented to!
The Future Leaders from the New Zealand Leadership Institute and the Asia NZ Foundation Young Leaders Network are working together to host world cafes in both Auckland and Hamilton .
Leadership Week, now in it's fifth year, is a collaborative endeavour by organisations, networks and communities throughout New Zealand. It seeks to celebrate leadership achievements and highlight the questions, challenges and opportunities that we as a country need to engage with in order to create dynamic leadership for the future.
We do encourage you to have a look at the Leadership Week schedule of events happening nationwide over the coming week and see what else you may want to attend.
Thinking Differently About Educational Leadership
1 day seminar - 15 September 2009
Hosted by the University of Auckland Centre for Educational Leadership and facilitated by a team from Excelerator, this one day seminar will debunk some of the myths of leadership to make way for the real day-to-day work of leadership in an educational context.
Senior leaders of all types of schools (principals, associate principals, deputy principals and assistant principals), senior leaders in educational organizations and early childhood centres are invited to consider this unique opportunity.
Leadership in Critical Times
2 day Workshop - 15 & 16 October 2009
"If you can keep your head when all about you are losing theirs." - Rudyard Kipling
In the context of a barrage of negative headlines about recession and crisis, we need to face up to the reality that, in turbulent times, leadership matters most.
This programme blends the latest research, real-life examples and practitioner experience to enable you to develop the leadership that delivers high performance in times like this.
The most important, yet fragile, ingredient that individuals and organisations require is confidence. As Gardner and Schermerhorn said "confident employees have also been shown to pursue and attain more challenging goals, exhibit higher levels of sustained effort, persevere when faced with task-related obstacles, engage in positive thought patterns (e.g., positive self-talk), and display greater resistance to stress".
The current economic crisis has exposed you to your new reality, now and into the future. Turbulent times are not going to be temporary times-do not assume that ‘normality' will return-ever! Prepare yourself now by facing up to what complexity and adaptive capacity really mean to your leadership and your organisation's performance. Explore leadership in turbulent times through understanding the latest leadership research and applied practice.
Leadership Week 2009 - World Cafe Leadership Dialogues
29th June - 1st July
Asia New Zealand Foundation and Excelerator: New Zealand Leadership Institute have joined forces to bring you a series of World Café forums across New Zealand during New Zealand Leadership Week.
Come along to one of our events to chat about, argue over and consider the key leadership challenges that New Zealand is facing.
At these events, each of which are being organised by the emerging young leaders within the Excelerator and Asia:NZ networks, there will be a keynote speaker who, through describing their own expriences and aspirations, will set the bar high for the conversations to follow.
Join us in generating new ideas and share different ways that you, your communities, organisations and networks are meeting these challenges.The world café concept is focussed on creating a unique and hospitable environment for asking powerful questions that can be the catalyst for action. We are applying this idea to the development of leadership in New Zealand.
Advanced Leadership and Strategy for Principals
16 September 2008
This one day programme was provided in partnership with the University of Auckland School Leadership Centre for New Zealand principals.
Are you the "hero leader" or the "collective capacity builder"?
Leadership and strategy are major challenges for all today's school principals. Whatever your answer is to the above question, effective leadership will involve a clear understanding of self, and the impact that you currently have on others and their ability to shape the way forward through unforeseen and complex challenges.
This new programme married the latest leadership and strategic thinking with an international 360º assessment to help participants master the key leadership tool - the self. Building reflective practice was also explored to encourage participants to understand and learn from their own values, attitudes and practices.
Through their participation, attendees were able to:
- Access the latest international thinking on leadership
- Gain new understandings of the possibilities of the leadership role in schools in the future
- Learn from a strong emphasis on the practical application, including the use of case studies, exercises, and examples of leadership in action in New Zealand schools
- Identify areas of development for themselves in moving forward in their leadership
Charity Leadership Day Leaves CEO 
Brains Buzzing
New Zealand Leadership Week: 26th July - 1st August 2008
In the face of a challenging and rapidly changing environment, New Zealand charities and businesses are constantly seeking new ways of working to deliver the vision and purpose of their organisations. Charities particularly rely on community engagement and volunteerism to ensure their success; with exceptional leadership ability and focus being key prerequisites. During Leadership Week 2008, Excelerator hosted a Leadership Workshop for the CEOs of some of New Zealand's key charity organisations with fantastic insights and results.
As a key part of this day facilitators Lisa Markwick and Loretta Brown encouraged a "beginners mind" attitude of curiosity and open listening from participants, emphasising the importance of asking probing strategic questions to better understand both new leadership concepts, and their own complex spheres of leadership impact.
Excelerator Chief Executive Lester Levy was amongst the day's speakers, proposing ways to enhance effective inter-agency collaboration in the future, and encouraging organisations to find new ways of diversifying their income streams. "We wanted to ensure there was a very strong emphasis on practical application throughout the day. I believe we achieved a positive result, where the leadership ideas uncovered will have real impact on leadership in the sector".
Many agreed that creating a culture of transparency around current challenges - particularly with their management teams, is vital. It was recognised that these challenges faced by charities are not exclusive to this sector and that the ability to be adaptive in all business environments is at the central core of leadership.
Lesley Farmer, Executive Officer, North Shore Community and Social Services, offered feedback on the day by saying - "Thank you for a very Wicked Thursday! My poor left and right brains have been buzzing!", and she wasn't alone - Lorna Murray, CEO, Action Mental Health Services commented that - "I came home exhausted and exhilarated".
On conclusion, many participants demonstrated a commitment to instilling ongoing change by committing one day a month for leadership related reflection. One participant was so inspired by the content and the potential for her own leadership development that she signed up to Excelerator's Hillary Leadership Programme - an 18-month leadership development programme for senior leaders, starting in October this year.
To read more about Excelerator and our programmes and events explore our website.
Challenges 08: Leading into Tomorrow
(2nd - 3rd July 2008)
A conference for leaders, about leadership and the challenges we face.
Dr Lester Levy, Chief Executive of Excelerator contributed his insights and research on Authentic Leadership within this two day conference which brought together a range of international and national CEOs, authors and leaders from all walks of life.
Inaugural Lecture: "Leadership in Aotearoa New Zealand: Ideals, Norms and Opportunities"
Dr Brad Jackson, Fletcher Building Education Trust Professor of Leadership
(Public lecture - 4th October 2007)
In his inaugural lecture, Professor Jackson provided a synthesis of the leadership research which has been conducted within New Zealand. From this review he distinguished and contrasted the ideals that we hold of leaders and leadership in this country and the norms of how leadership is generally practised. He also identified a few key opportunities for closing the gap between the ideals and norms of leadership as it is conceived and practised within Aotearoa New Zealand.
Since joining The University of Auckland Business School Professor Jackson has worked closely with Excelerator in the area of leadership development and research in New Zealand.
The Roots of Positive Leadership and Sustainable Organisational Growth
Professor Bruce Avolio, Gallup Leadership Institute
(Public Lecture - 20/09/07)
There are many labels and models which have been used to describe effective, if not great, leadership. There are also some fundamental roots which connect to all positive forms of leadership. These contribute to sustaining real growth in individuals, teams, organisations and societies.
Internationally-renowned for his pioneering research and teaching in transformational leadership, Professor Avolio spoke about what constitutes the genuine basis for positive leadership development. He highlighted which development interventions make a positive impact on leadership and provided his take on the recent results of Excelerator's report " More 'Right' than 'Real': The Shape of Authentic Leadership in New Zealand".
Excelerator Graduation Celebration
On August 17th, Excelerator: New Zealand Leadership Institute hosted its first ever evening ceremony to recognise those participants who had recently graduated from Excelerator Leadership Development Programmes. Invited guests also included past and current programme participants, their family and supporters, Excelerator's partners and the entire Excelerator team.
The graduates recognised were from the following leadership programmes:
- the Hillary Programme for senior leaders from a variety of New Zealand organisations
- the Community Programme for leaders selected specifically from the Kaipara Region
- the Westpac Programme, for senior Westpac leaders from New Zealand and Australia
These graduates represented the depth and breadth of New Zealand leadership, with a range of aspirations, experiences and leadership styles. The 18 months each participant invested in the programme were spent understanding leadership, learning about themselves as leaders and responding to their individual leadership challenges. The result is a diverse group of passionate leaders with the courage and mindset to make a difference in their community, their organisation, their family.
In her speech of congratulation, Joline Francoeur, Director of Leadership Development, noted that Excelerator has delivered 10 concurrent 18-month leadership development programmes since its inception in 2004. She challenged all 145 graduates to continue to grow this new phase of their leadership development and go beyond their current scope and aspirations to become a powerful force of change to New Zealand and the world.
Click here to view more images from graduation evening. You may order pictures from http://www.rachelalford.com/
"Is the media strangling New Zealand leadership?"
(Debate as a part of NZ Leadership Week 31 June 2007)
Excelerator held a feisty debate with journalist and commentator Deborah Hill Cone and Sunday Star Times Editor Cate Brett defending the media's treatment of New Zealand leaders while former New Zealand Herald Editor Gavin Ellis and Excelerator's own Dr. Lester Levy argued that our leaders are being unfairly attacked by the media. The debate was chaired by Professor Duncan Petrie, Head of Department of Film, Television & Media Studies at The University of Auckland.
Listen to audio from the debate
Leading Through Conflict: Mark Gerzon, President of Mediators Foundation, USA
(6 - 8 March 2007)
Excelerator and the Centre for the Study of Leadership were delighted to introduce world-renowned mediation expert Mark Gerzon to a New Zealand audience in March. Click here for more information.
Communication: The Oxygen of Leadership
(Public Lecture - 28/11/06)
In this joint lecture, two of Australasia's most sought-after communicators, Lester Levy and Siimon Reynolds, shared their perspectives on the relationship between communication and leadership in a session chaired by an exceptional communicator and leader, Westpac Chief Executive Ann Sherry.
The Three Professors - An Evening of Classical Leadership
(Guided Debate for New Zealand Leadership Week - 18/7/06)
In this guided debate on contemporary issues in leadership, our three professors offered their unique and individual viewpoints on how leadership can provide the missing link between NZ aspiration and achievement. Click here to listen to the debate.
