We consistently face new and ever growing
challenges in the workplace such as reorganizing, downsizing, and “left
out sizing.” We are faced with the question, “How do we lead in this
storm of change?” It may seem difficult at times and the decisions we
make define our short-term and long-term outcomes. I will share with
you five leadership techniques guaranteed to keep you on track during
these difficult times.
1 Integrity.
I put this first because the lack of integrity will make or break
you as a professional, as a leader, as a person in the long run. The
lack of this will turn yesterday’s heroes in today’s villains. For
example, “MCI was the apple of the business community’s eye. High
revenues, high profits, and high growth; MCI was beating the competition
hands down.
Then it was discovered that there were gross accounting
irregularities that accounted for the astounding profits. You see,
management made a decision, “Do I continue to sustain good growth and be
able to look at myself in the mirror or do I cook the accounting books
and spend the rest of my time covering up this integrity deficiency?
The real shame of the MCI situation was that AT&T, Sprint, and
others in the industry had to cut costs and lay off thousands of
employees to compete with MCI’s false numbers. The lack of integrity at
MCI not only affected the company but also the livelihood of thousands
and the industry as a whole.
I was recently speaking with a recently retired City Council member
who is well respected in the community. I asked her what the secret was
to her success while on the council? She mentioned that one of her
political adversaries said to her, “While you were on the council, I
didn’t like the way you voted, but I respected the way you voted because
you were consistent with your votes and had the city’s best interest in
mind.”
Ask yourself what decisions that you make are right for the long
term? Be consistent in your actions, whether it is with management,
your team, or your family.
2. Knowledge.
With change happening faster and faster every moment, it is
extremely important that you gain the knowledge to master these changes.
You owe it not only to yourself, but to your team and management. As I
always say, “It’s not having the right answer, it’s that you have the
right answer faster than before.” Many times during my teambuilding
programs a student will say, “I didn’t know where to find the answer.”
Then I will say, “That is an unacceptable answer.” Because part of
being a leader is acquiring the skills to find the right answers. With
the Internet, classroom and online training, mentors, etc., the
knowledge is at your fingertips.
Challenge your team members to use the same resources to acquire the
knowledge to master their challenges. By acquiring this knowledge, you
will be able to navigate your team through the ocean of change and
achieve your goals.
3. Decisiveness.
You have seen them. They wait for information, then more
information before making a decision. Then they need more information
to support the information they already have.Then they need a committee
to analyze the information. Then they wait for the perfect time to make
the decision.
Well, you know what I mean. Anyone you know? Make the decision!
Good things happen when you take action; you grow, you adapt, and your
team grows. There is no perfect time to make a decision. Leaders make
decisions based on past experience, putting into action the decision,
and staying and adapting the decision if needed. But make the decision.
The worst quality you can show your team is indecision. What do you
think your team sees when you can’t make a decision? Make the decision
and go for it.
4. Vision.
This is the ability not only to see what is the present - anyone can
do that - it’s the ability to see the future. Outstanding leaders can
not only see their team for what they can do now, but what they can
become, and paint the picture for them. These leaders are consistently
communicating and coaching their team members to that vision. One of
the best ways, and least used methods, to convey your vision is the team
meeting.
Every meeting should start out with the team vision, mission, and
goals; and the rest of the meeting should tie into the vision. For
example, the motivation portion of the meeting should tie into the
vision, the information portion of the meeting should tie into the
vision, the training portion of the meeting should tie into the vision,
etc. Also, invest time to develop your team members’ personal visions
and show them how they can accomplish their personal goals by tying into
the overall vision. By consistently communicating the vision, your
team will move with purpose, feel they are personally making a
difference, and achieve their goals sooner.
5. Unselfishness
Stephen Covey, in his successful book Seven Habits of Highly
Effective People, wrote that a true leader must be a servant to the ones
he or she leads. The leader must be able to “give of oneself for the
good of the team.” In other words, be unselfish in words and action.
Be unselfish in praise of others, in public, especially in front of
management.
Be unselfish in the ability to take time to listen, really listen to
your team’s concerns. A recent management survey said that the average
time management invests doing “pure listening” to employees during the
year is a mere two hours- just two hours! What was meant by “pure
listening” time was listening with eye contact, acknowledgement, and not
answering the phone while listening, not speaking with another person
while listening, etc. Be unselfish in the ability to help your team.
Whether it’s the ability to readily assist with a difficult telephone
call, jump in and remove road blocks for team members, or “be there” for
a team member during challenging moments. Believe me, your team will
remember those moments and excel for you.
Now I challenge you to put into action just one of the leadership
techniques I mentioned above to achieve your vision, your mission, and
your goals in the future.
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