Tony Okotie gave a presentation on leadership to a charity networking event. He discussed that current leadership challenges include doing more with less resources amid austerity cuts. Good leadership means understanding and responding well to challenges by collaborating with others, having a vision and strategy, and celebrating successes. It requires qualities like positivity, humility, and making difficult decisions for the good of the organization. Leaders must have support networks and be willing to admit mistakes while continuing to learn and develop.

1. Some thoughts about leadership
Tony Okotie
Charity networking event

2. In 20 minutes…..(!)
1. Setting the scene
2. Current leadership challenges
3. What does good leadership mean?

3. I’m a leader!

4. I’m a leader
• Because it says so on my job description?
• Quote here

5. What does good
leadership mean to you?

6. What does good leadership mean to you?
You’ve got a form
Please write down what good leadership
means to you
Add your name and contact details
I’ll pull out one name later – you’ll win my
favourite leadership book

7. What about the
challenges?

8. The challenges
 Many of us only worked in environment of
growing resources
 Poverty / fairness / impact of welfare reform
 How we challenge decisions
 Majority of LA cuts still to come
 Youth unemployment
 Doing more with less
 Balancing needs of staff with those of our
beneficiaries
 Blah...blah....blah

9. As leaders we must understand those
challenges
Leadership is about how we respond
to these challenges
NCVO Foresight, http://www.3s4.org.uk/drivers

10. What does good
leadership mean to you?

11. Finally...10 reasons to be optimistic
6. Inaugural Pride of Tameside Volunteer and
Community Awards
7. Launch of Better Futures Tameside
8. Increase in Miles of Smile journeys and
positive feedback via passenger transport
survey
http://www.wordle.net/create

12. Finally...10 reasons to be optimistic

13. What does good leadership mean to you?
“Getting or helping people to succeed when they
thought they would fail”
“Being brave in your convictions and
do the right thing despite risk”
“Listening and learning before leading”
“Taking people with you, not taking
people down because of you”

14. What does good leadership mean to you?
“It has to be collaborative, consultative and
devolved – one person can’t see/know/do
everything, followers need to understand more or
they will be unwilling to follow”
“Remain positive and optimistic but realistic”
“Don’t take negativity personally”
“Celebrate successes ”

15. What does good leadership mean to you?
“Someone who gives the impression of knowing
exactly what is going on, even if they don’t have a
clue”
“Having the balls to make difficult decisions
and sticking by them when it doesn’t make the
leader popular but is in the best interest of the
organisation”
“Have a vision...Communicate the vision...Live the
vision”

16. What does good leadership mean to you?
“Vision + strategy + positivity+ building on
strengths (of all) + humility + participatory + non
hierarchical + mucking in + serving others +
challenge = hard but rewarding work”
“A good leader is not afraid to tackle difficult
issues, requires sensitivity, tenacity and not be
aloof. Must also have dress sense and be
generous with chocolate biscuits”

17. 8 things Iearnt along the way
 You can’t have leadership without followership
 Mutual trust and respect
 Leaders can’t shy away from difficult decisions
 “Do you want to be liked or do you want to be respected?”
 Everyone has a leadership role to play
 You must have a support network around you
 Be prepared to say you were wrong
 Keep learning

18. To conclude
Challenges for leaders in the VCS are going to
increase....but there will always be challenges
How we respond as leaders is crucial
Support for leaders in the future is going to be
important
Less training budget + more challenges + less time
= different response

19. Tony Okotie
Chief Executive
LCVS
0151 227 5177 x 3207
Tony.okotie@lcvs.org.uk
Twitter: @tonyokotie