Eric Douglas, an author and executive coach, talked about his soon-to-be published book "Trust and Spark - the Ultimate Competencies of Leaders."

Douglas also discussed the important relationship between trust and innovation. Psychologists have shown that people are happiest and most productive when they are in a state of creative "flow" where people feel they are doing what they were meant to do. Douglas told the audience that flow is more prevalent when people feel trust. He then detailed 10 practices that lead to high levels of trust and spark, noting that all are directly tied to high levels of communication within the organization. These are:  

1. Lead through others: Managers and leaders orient themselves to work through other people. They make sure rules of engagement are clear. They value people's time. 
2. Engage people in change: Effective leaders orient people to a continuous process of change and give them the tools to manage change successfully.  
3. Align people around core values: Effective managers focus people on a clear set of core organizational values. They shift their organizations from being personality-driven to values-driven. 
4. Sharpen the focus: Leaders communicate a clear sense of focus and vision for the organization. 
5. Clarify decision-making roles and responsibilities: Leaders understand the different types of decisions and make clear who has what role in decision-making. 
6. Build "learning loops": Effective leaders make sure that valuable performance information is shared and build a culture based on continuous improvement.  
7. Stay cool under fire: Successful leaders address conflicts quickly and directly. In a crisis, they remain focused on core values, communicate openly, and accept responsibility for mistakes. 
8. Inspire creative flow: Effective leaders encourage creative "deviance" and help people find their creative niche. 
9. Foster Systems Thinking: Effective leaders build trust by juggling multiple worldviews and perspectives. They help people view conflicts from a "whole systems" perspective. 
10. Start with yourself: Effective leaders demonstrate the "4-Hs" -- heart, humor, humility, and honor.

The program encouraged good networking among attendees and was met with enthusiasm. 

Don't miss our next event - review the AeA New England event calendar for networking and learning opportunites.

Special Thank you to our exhibitors: Visit them by clicking on the logos to the right.