march 2009 issue
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Q&A
The High-Energy Approach to Leadership
An entrepreneur, speaker and business coach, Ken Larson seeks to “inspire the champion in all of us.” He is one of two presenters on leadership and performance at this year’s APEGGA Annual Conference and Annual General Meeting, April 23-25.
Mr. Larson holds a bachelor’s degree in human performance and a master’s in performance psychology, and he is also certified executive coach.
It’s the sports world where Mr. Larson first became interested in coaching. He spent 10 years at Grant MacEwan Community College in Edmonton, where he was the men’s basketball coach, the athletic director and a part-time physical education instructor. In the early 1980s, he spent four years travelling the world as a member of the Canadian National Basketball Team.
His full bio and more information appear online at www.apegga.org. Also see the centre section and the front page of this month’s PEGG for more information on the conference.
The PEGG asked Mr. Larson about his philosophy and approach.
Q How are athletic leadership and performance similar to other forms of leadership and performance?
A Athletic performance and leadership are far more intense. Because the athletic season (or lifecycle) is so short, everything is crucial — every day, every training session, every competition. Every season all teams form, storm, norm and perform to the best of their abilities. Then they die (metaphorically). In business and in life we tend not to see the end goal, how important it might be, or perhaps even the bigger picture and daily actions necessary to step forward each and every day. When we change our perspective we change our actions and ultimately our outcomes.
Q Tell our readers why developing their leadership skills is important, when they may be struggling to hold on to the jobs they have?
A In good times we tend to get fat metaphor-ically — we look outside of ourselves for
guidance, direction and even motivation. We let go of and squander our own responsibility. And then when times get tough and we start to realize that job security has all but dissolved, we begin to panic. Like in sport, when pressured, our vision becomes dangerously narrow. If you don’t become the leader of your own life, who will?
Q How important are mentoring and coaching to the success of individuals and organizations?
A Mentoring and coaching are different, yet related. Mentoring is when an individual who has been where the mentee is going provides guidance, direction and wisdom. Coaching is separate — it’s about asking questions — tough questions designed to get to the real issue and then to guide discovery, encourage action and to hold the coachee accountable. Both are extremely important as mentoring spreads the experience wisdom across the organization, and coaching drives up performance as well as responsibility, accountability and empowerment.
Q Can you be a good and effective leader without mentoring and having been mentored?
A It depends on how you define “good” as well as “effective.” I think mentoring and coaching are integral skill sets of the effective leader. You may end up being a fairly good leader and rise to the level of your incompetence. But to be truly effective, mentoring and coaching are equally crucial. And don’t forget, when one mentors and coaches it also returns the benefits in many ways other than just better employee performance.
Q Leadership and performance are a big subject to fit into a small day. Can your event be transformational?
A This event is totally transformational — If one chooses to treat it that way. This topic area is about the individual in the room, because the business gets better when the person in the business gets better. If you can’t lead yourself, how can you effectively lead others? The common denominator is the one.
Q Your photos, your website, the attitude you portray — they’re all high-energy and prime health. Are these simply your way or do they reflect the way leaders and performers need to be in their lives?
A I firmly believe that in order for us to make positive contributions to our families, organizations, communities and society we must first take care of ourselves. If we don’t, not only will our contributions be less than what they could be, we may not be around long to even make a difference. I also believe in passion (equals energy, experience and enthusiasm). Without it, what else is there? It’s the fuel of life. And the best part is that it’s free and you have all you will ever need for the rest of your days.
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