Leadership today requires more than experience or technical expertise. It requires leaders to know how to influence others, delegate effectively, and apply emotional intelligence in complex organizational environments. These themes shaped the latest session of the Integrated Leadership Program, held virtually and in Houston at HMH.
Guest speaker Lees Rodionov, Energy Industry Executive/Board Director, kicked off the session by sharing insights on influencing and leadership in complex organizations. She outlined four key strategies for influencing others and discussed the challenges line managers face compared to support roles, emphasizing the importance of emotional intelligence and seeking diverse perspectives. Lees also touched on how to manage high performers and build a diverse, personal Board of Advisors for perspective and challenge. Lees then took questions from the group, and participants shared how they related to the topics she covered.
During the program, participants engaged in several breakouts to discuss topics such as what they are learning in their executive coaching sessions, which part of leading is most difficult, personal purpose, and what makes a high-performing team. One breakout specifically highlighted the art of delegation, the costs of not delegating, and the benefits of delegating well. The facilitators discussed different levels of delegation and had the groups consider which levels are appropriate for the tasks they may face in their current roles. One person shared, “A big part of delegating is being patient and being able to let your team learn through their mistakes.”
Another topic covered in the session was cognitive EQ, where facilitator Laura Gironda introduced the concept of balancing hands-on work with strategic perspective and outlined five leadership mindsets rooted in emotional intelligence. The group discussed the importance of seeing things from other people’s perspectives and elevating engagement in teams by using the “engagement equation”.
“I am starting to really understand that EQ plays a larger role than I expected”, said one leader.
At the end of the program, participants were asked to share some key takeaways or specific themes that resonated with them. One person shared, “I appreciate that many things that are a challenge to me are also a struggle for others, which is so comforting.”
Said another, “I learned that delegation is an important part of leadership growth and can allow your team to quickly grow. I am realizing I need to delegate better while using the levels I learned today.”
Peggy Helfert, Vice President Programs & Events, writes about the Energy Workforce’s sector-specific best practices and leadership. Click here to subscribe to the Energy Workforce newsletter, which highlights sector-specific issues, best practices, activities and more.
