Master Skills for Managerial Success
Many professionals advance because of technical expertise, but leadership requires a different set of skills. In this webinar, Columbia Business School’s Robert Bontempo explores how managers transition from individual contributor to effective leader, covering influence without authority, navigating organizational politics, and using structured feedback to strengthen leadership effectiveness.
Overview
Robert Bontempo, academic director in Executive Education, explores the essential leadership skills and psychological frameworks executives need for managerial success and leadership transitions. The discussion focuses on the shift from technical expertise to leading through others—navigating organizational politics, managing conflict, and influencing stakeholders without formal authority. Bontempo also emphasizes that professional growth comes not from experience alone, but from structured feedback. The session introduces practical tools such as stakeholder mapping and the “X, Y, Z” conflict management framework to help leaders build stronger alignment and commitment within their teams.
Key Takeaways
- Feedback, Not Just Experience, Drives Growth: Experience alone does not produce better leaders; growth happens when individuals receive feedback on the outcomes of their decisions. Because honest feedback often decreases as leaders become more senior, tools such as 360-degree feedback and executive coaching are essential for building self-awareness.
- The Shift from Management to Leadership: Management tends to be hands-on and focused on KPIs and accountability, while leadership requires stepping back and empowering others. Effective leaders move away from micromanagement, delegate responsibility, and motivate teams through vision and trust.
- Influence through Interests, Not Just Power: Interactions in organizations typically operate through power, rights, or interests. While power can drive short-term compliance, the most effective leaders focus on interests, aligning individual motivations with organizational goals to build lasting commitment.
- Embrace Strategic "Political Chess": In matrixed organizations, leaders often lack formal authority over key stakeholders. Stakeholder mapping helps leaders navigate this environment strategically, identifying who needs to be involved and building support through influence and peer alignment.
- Manage Conflict by Focusing on Behaviors: Conflict is inevitable, but it becomes more productive when conversations focus on behaviors rather than personalities. Using the “X, Y, Z” framework—describing the behavior, explaining its impact, and outlining the business consequence—helps leaders address issues constructively.
Webinar Speakers
Robert N. Bontempo
Academic Director in Executive Education
Adjunct Professor of Business
Upcoming Emerging Leader Development Program
Emerging Leader Development Program
5 CIBE Credits
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