Ep. 73 - Dr. Alan Patterson: How to Go From Technical Expert to Strategic Leader

Welcome to Change Your Mindset (formerly known as Improv Is No Joke) where it is all about believing that strong communication skills are the best way in delivering your technical accounting knowledge and growing your business. The way of building stronger communication skills is by embracing the principles of applied improvisation. Your host is Peter Margaritis, CPA a.k.a. The Accidental Accountant, will interview financial professionals and business leaders to find their secret in building stronger relationships with their clients, customers, associates, and peers, all the while, growing their businesses.

Ep. 73 – Dr. Alan Patterson: How to Go From Technical Expert to Strategic Leader

Dr. Alan Patterson is the Founder of Mentoré, a consulting practice specializing in leadership and organizational development, and a thought leader at the Business Learning Institute.

Dr. Patterson also wrote Leader Evolution: From Technical Expertise to Strategic Leadership, which defines the four critical stages needed by individuals with technical or specialist backgrounds to move into leadership positions.

“So what can I say? I’m a lone ranger. Hired gun. You need help? The doctor is in.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

Although a lot of things have changed in the business world over the past few decades, one thing has stayed the same: we acknowledge that communication skills are important, but we don’t necessarily act like it.

Even in the digital age, these are three of the most important skills you need to master… if you want to attain a strategic leadership position, or be considered a trusted business advisor:

Active listening
Communicating at the level of audience understanding
Understanding the perspectives of the people you’re talking to

Dr. Patterson will tell his clients, “I can’t believe I’m making money going to organizations telling them that they have… to be better at listening,” but it turns out no one is immune from underdeveloped communication skills – being in a senior position doesn’t guarantee that you’re a better listener (and sometimes it’s just the opposite).

“You need to go out, talk to people, and listen. Do you know what we call that? That’s called a dialogue.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

Dr. Patterson has a personal challenge for you: Think of one person you know that’s a good listener, then talk about that person and what they’re like and what they mean to you. The results will likely be pretty dynamic.

Dr. Patterson believes that people who don’t develop emotional intelligence, empathy, moral character, courage, relationship management, influence, and persuasion skills will, guaranteed, top out in their career; they will be frustrated because they will be passed over or put in a box.

“People want the easy answer, so I say okay: You have to learn how to influence other people, and influence is based on credibility. There is no shortcut.” –Dr. Alan Patterson

So what do people need to start working on today if they want to go from technical expert to strategic leader?

Broader visibility, broader understanding of the business, providing guidance, and selling those ideas to others – And you won’t get seen, learn about the business, or have credibility if you don’t first learn to listen with empathy.

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