This session is dedicated to the possibility that the majority of leadership thinking is wrong as it is ultimate based on manipulation - trying to “get someone to do something.” Coming to terms with this idea is difficult and not for everyone because it requires us to examine some of our most deeply held beliefs and either dismiss them or at least think differently about them. If you are interesting in having a conversation about healing leadership, you are invited to attend this session facilitated by Ed Kless, Sage senior director of partner development and strategy. This material is based on the work of Howard Hansen and Steve Geske, who have presented at previous Sage Summits.

1. Healing Leadership
Ed Kless - @edkless
MAX-558
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2. The contents of this presentation were provided by individual(s) and/or company listed on the title
page. The information and opinions presented in this presentation may not represent Sage’s
positions, strategies, or opinions. Unless explicitly stated, Sage is not responsible for the content
herein and no endorsements are implied.
©2014 Sage Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Sage, the Sage logo, and any product and service
names mentioned herein are trademarks of Sage Software, Inc. or its affiliates. All other names
used in this presentation are for informational purposes only and may be trademarks of their
respective owners.
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3. To be recognized as the most
valuable supporter of small and
medium sized companies by
creating greater freedom for
them to succeed.

4. What Gridlock Looks Like
• Organizational Paralysis
• Absence/Abdication of Mission/Purpose
• Disoriented Planning
• Chaotic Communication
• Resistance and Sabotage
• Toxic environment
• Adapting towards the least mature
• Ineffective Actions

5. What Gridlock Looks Like
• Reactive responses
• Focus on Symptoms
• Blame Displacement
• Unending treadmill of trying harder
• Looking for answers rather than reframing
questions
• Either/or thinking that creates false dichotomies

6. Traditional Models
• Power
– Influencing others to do what it is believed they should do.
• Rescuing
– Saving others from consequences of decisions made.

7. “The way out of our ruts in leadership requires
shifting our orientation, from one that focuses
on techniques that motivate others to one that
focuses on the leader’s own presence and
being”.
- Ed Friedman

8. 0
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Time of Day
Chronic vs. Episodic Anxiety
Episodic
Chronic

9. 0
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4
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Time of Day
Chronic vs. Episodic Anxiety
Episodic
Chronic

12. Process and Presence
• Power lies in presence rather than method.
• Leaders should avoid trying to instill insight into the
unmotivated.
• Self definition = responding non-anxiously.
• Watch the triangles.

13. 5 Principles of Non-anxious/Present Leadership
1. The capacity to separate oneself from surrounding
emotional processes.
2. The capacity to obtain clarity about one’s principles and
vision.
3. The willingness to be exposed and to be vulnerable.
4. Persistence in the face of inertial resistance.
5. Self-regulation in the face of reactive sabotage.

14. What A Well-Differentiated Leader Does in Times
of Crisis
• Works out balance between being responsible for self
and being labeled obstreperous.
• Keeps the system loose through humor.
• Makes decisions when the same question brings no new
information.
• Confronts people with their freedom.

15. Session survey
• Complete a survey for this session!
Your feedback will help us improve!
http://goo.gl/2MUPWW
Session code: BUS-559
Session title: Increasing User Adoption
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16. Questions?
• Send any questions you may have about this
session to:
Ed.Kless@sage.com
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17. #SageSummit