When you are in a position of leadership, you first must understand that you are leading both people and processes. The way in which you manage your team will affect how your process segment is controlled.
Your staff is your biggest asset. You don’t have to understand the entire process if you surround yourself with the right people. Building strong relationships with them, fostering loyalty to you as a leader and to the process as a whole will bring the desired results.
Being open to their feedback is a critical piece of the puzzle. They have the understanding of the process, and in many cases, they actually control the process. They know what works, what they have tried, what they would like to try. Most of them have had thoughts at one time or another concerning a step they routinely take. They have seen something that would make a great improvement. They may or may not have spoken of it or presented it to management. For some reason, they were not heard.
As the leader, your willingness to foster these ideas is a critical piece of the puzzle. Your reassurance that they will be heard and considered is often enough to bring these unseen stars to the table. However, you should remember that some of them have been turned away. They must feel respected. They must know that their ideas are valuable. And, most of all, they must be confident that they won’t be shoved in a corner as a leader takes credit for their ideas. This is where your integrity shines, and you can set a leadership example for all of them to mimic.
Be willing to acknowledge the skills and talents of your team. Their efforts will make you stand out as a leader. Always turn the attention to those who have done the critical process management and improvement. Whether a reward is financial, academic, or some other form, be sure that it is noted.
Committees, think tanks, and small groups are other areas where ideas are born. In each of these, the plan is to put people together to solve a problem creatively. As a leader, you know the skills and talents of your staff. Being able to bring them together so that they function as a whole is tricky, but when it works, it can be magical. Putting right and left brain team members together often causes strife if not managed, but when the mission is clear and the team is committed to a solution, the ideas will flow. Giving the credit where it is due is your last task on the checklist.
Every leader wants only the best for their organization. Leadership does not mean having all the answers or holding all the information close. The best leaders not only delegate work to the team, but the team is fostered as a two-way exchange of information and ideas for the benefit of everyone involved.
There is a big difference between a group of people who work together and a team who function as one unit. Leadership is the difference, and bringing new ideas and innovations into the process is one way to promote teamwork. Take the time to start working on ways you can listen and communicate better with your staff today!
MG (Retired) Mike Diamond is CEO and founder of Diamond Strategy Group. Diamond Strategy Group is a leadership development and consulting company. We focus on improving the quality of leadership within organizations by utilizing the same methods Mike and his consultants have used in both military and civilian sectors. We invite you to stay connected! Visit us online at www.DiamondStrategyGroup.com and connect with Mike Diamond Strategy Group on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or e-mail us at [email protected]!
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