In simple terms this title could very well had been “how to be a good leader” but that can be a huge thesis in itself, here the focus is primarily on the core skills that are essential for a good leader to help bring conducive results for the team and hence for the company. What can you do to better your team performance?
Be WYSIWYG
Doing what you say is essential to be a role model for anyone. You can inspire only if your followers see you do what you say. Follow the “what you ‘say’ is what you get” approach to inspire and instill ethics and credibility to your team.
Support and Empower
The more trust and responsibility you can share with your team the more effective you can be in your team building efforts. Kouzes and Posner in The Leadership Challenge say: ‘Leaders foster collaboration and build spirited teams. They actively involve others. Leaders understand that mutual respect is what sustains extraordinary efforts; they strive to create an atmosphere of trust and human dignity. They strengthen others, making each person feel capable and powerful.”
Share and Open up
The more you willing to share news and updates on the projects and expectations, the more trust you can build with your group. Secrets sour relationships and have no place when you aim towards building strong, high-performance teams. Be approachable and be informal to the level where you keep your required distance and respect; you are the beacon and inspiration of the team, always remember that you cannot be a co-worker to your team, to motivate and to inspire you have to be on a “pedestal” – someone to be be looked up to!
Show them the Money!
What are you working for? What inspires you? It could be more money or recognition; almost everyone works for a desirable end result. What motivates your team? It is your job to survey each team member on an ongoing basis and show them what they can achieve by surpassing the goals you have set for them. It is your job to show then how their work influences the company growth and how they are a part of a larger goal? To inspire your team always keep them in touch with the company’s vision and show them how they will benefit when the company outperforms others in the competition.
