Areas of Focus
Becoming an effective leader is a journey. The EBSCO Way Leadership Model defines and shapes the expectations we set for team members along the way. It addresses the skills needed in the roles of Leading Self, Leading Others, Leading Leaders, and Leading the Business. Within each of those roles there are four Areas of Focus: Personal, People, Thought, and Results.
Leading others begins by first leading yourself. Leadership is not about you, but it starts with you – who you are as a person and the values, attitudes and behaviors you model for others. You need strong self-awareness, personal accountability, a willingness to change and grow, the desire to contribute your best, and the drive to succeed.
| Areas of Focus and CompetenciesPERSONAL
Positive Attitude |
LEADING SELF Positive attitude, composure, and determination |
LEADING OTHERS Enthusiasm, a solution-based orientation, and respect for others |
LEADING LEADERS Energy and a willingness to tackle complex issues |
LEADING THE BUSINESS Realism combined with high expectations, plus resilience, and ethics |
Every leader is in the people business. It’s all about influencing others to contribute to a meaningful, collective effort that is larger than any individual. We do that by building trusted relationships, sharing information, valuing our differences, collaborating across boundaries, coaching and empowering, seeking others’ input, and supporting each other in all that we do. Great leaders know that the people they lead and work alongside are their most important customers.
| Areas of Focus and CompetenciesPEOPLE
Collaboration |
LEADING SELF Interpersonal effectiveness, conflict management, and other skills for collaboration, communication, and self-growth |
LEADING OTHERS Fostering partnerships, guiding goals, and building consensus |
LEADING LEADERS Leverage networks, influencing others, and empowering team members |
LEADING THE BUSINESS Establishing practices and values, emphasizing shared goals, and identifying talent |
At great companies, everyone’s head is in the game. The pace of change today is too fast to rely on just a few strategic thinkers at the top. At EBSCO, leaders at all levels need to be able to analyze complex problems, make good decisions, identify improvements, anticipate customers’ needs, and see the bigger picture as we grow into a truly global company.
| Areas of Focus and CompetenciesTHOUGHT
Critical Thinking |
LEADING SELF Big-picture thinking and a mindset for being customer-centric |
LEADING OTHERS Sound judgement, objectivity, and responsiveness |
LEADING LEADERS Business acumen and the ability to analyze a problem |
LEADING THE BUSINESS A strong understanding of the business model and the evolving marketplace |
RESULTS
In the end, leaders are paid to consistently deliver desired results. They must establish clear goals and set timelines for meeting objectives. They must know the measures of success, keep them in mind as they execute, review actual results with their teams on a regular basis, make course corrections when necessary, and practice continuous improvement. Disciplined follow-through and follow-up are needed as plans and projects are carried out. It is far from glamorous work, but effective leaders know it is essential to a job well done.
| Areas of Focus and CompetenciesRESULTS
Change Leadership |
LEADING SELF Effective communication, aligning goals, and self-accountability |
LEADING OTHERS Articulating the need for change and challenging teams to embrace new approaches |
LEADING LEADERS Engaging stakeholders, fostering creative problem-solving, and working effectively across teams |
LEADING THE BUSINESS Aligning structure to meet change, establishing agreement, and seeking continuous improvement |