THE ROLE OF BUSINESS ASSOCIATIONS
IN PACIFIC ISLAND ECONOMIC GROWTH
November 9-12, 1999
Wailea, Maui, Hawaii

Moderator:  Greg Davis
Rapporteur:  Beth Haynes

Participants listed an individual they feel is a leader: Captain Bob Smith, David Ogden, Bill Clinton, Sandra Pierantozzi, Michel Viger, John F. Kennedy, Seko Williams, Ratu K. Mara, King of Tonga, George IV, John Paul, Nelson Mandela, Walt Disney, Karai Mariur, Thomas Patris, Tadashi Sakuma.

The characteristics of these leaders include: confident, intelligent, powerful, charismatic, decisive, competent, respectful, problem solver, kind, firm, business-like, peaceful, ability to communicate, ability to work with different types of people, ability to get results (won all the games), and creative.

What is Leadership?

• Overcoming overwhelming odds.

• Mobilizing others to want to struggle, and to struggle, for shared aspirations.

• Ordinary people accomplishing extraordinary things.

Honest, intelligent or educated, open to input, practical, fair, some charisma, visionary, not self-serving, good communicator, able to motivate others, good personality, problem solver, passionate.

Thoughts on Leadership

Some are born into leadership positions with particular duties and status. This is different from becoming a leader because of your abilities. Having more leadership skills rather than less allows one to function more effectively in either situation.

No one is perfect; no one leader has all desirable leadership characteristics. Leaders are made, not born. We may have certain leadership aptitudes, but we must learn how to use and develop them. We can learn to be better leaders.

Often we think of leaders as people on a pedestal in the public eye, but when asked to think of true leaders, most people think of individuals closer to home–parents, bosses, mentors.

Press and media can affect public perceptions.

We expect a lot from our leaders.

As leaders rise from entry level to mid level to top level, they must pay increasing attention to conceptual matters and a decreasing portion of their efforts on technical issues.

Leaders are made,not born. The average person can develop greater leadership skills.

We need to create programs which will teach leadership skills by:

• Defining leadership

• Teaching qualities such as communication skills, and SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats)

• Choosing those with potential to become leaders, not necessarily those who are already leaders.

• Providing opportunities for volunteer service, community programs

• Mentoring

• Participation in meetings

• Providing opportunities for personality evaluation, such as Myers-Briggs (MBTI) so individuals can recognize their own style

• "Train the trainer" programs to spread benefits of training to more individuals

• Change agent training (intense, short training)

• Conferences

• Developing and training on codes of conduct and ethics

• Access to the Internet is not available to all constituents

• Shifts in strategic focus and priorities, changing agendas

• Diversity

• How to get exposure, visibility

"Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off your goals."