Here's the deal - Somebody is leading your team. It's human nature really. In any group, even kids on a playground, a leader emerges. It may be the bully or it may be the "smart kid" or it may be the "athlete" but a leader generally emerges. It may be the designated leader or it may be someone else entirely. And it could even be a collaborative effort.
Let's fast forward from the playground to your office. If you aren't leading, someone else is. Again, it may be the bully, it may be the Union plant chair, it may be the most negative person in your group, it may be the most "entitled" person in your group, or hey, it might be you.
It would be a good idea to find out who is really the leader. I mean, who is the person who doesn't necessarily have the title but everyone listens to. And if it's not you, are you okay with the person that is leading the team (maybe they are a potential successor and/or a very positive influence)? If not, it's time for you to get some help. Talk to your HR person, do some research (this blog is a good place to start), and ask some questions. Just remember, someone is leading your team. If you choose not to, someone else will step up to the task.
Showing posts with label lead. Show all posts
Showing posts with label lead. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 9, 2012
Leadership is a Journey
Although this blog and many others like it are full of information regarding how to be a better leader, the reality is, leadership is a journey. Like life, your leadership experience will be your journey, uniquely yours and it will not mirror anyone else. You can read tips and tools that may help you along your journey (much like a map) but this is your journey, your experience, and it's your responsibility to learn and grow, and experience your unique journey.
This may sound cliche but in a way it gives you a bit of freedom to explore and experience in the way that works best for you.
If you are a new leader, you are just beginning your journey. If you have managed the same 10 people for the past 15 years, you are in a different place than the person with 15 years experience that has dealt with acquisitions, buy outs, turnover, and complicated employee issues. Regardless of where you are on the journey, there is opportunity to learn, grow, and be a better leader. To a certain extent you get to pick the side roads and how fast your car goes on your journey. You probably don't get to pick the random animals that run across the street (i.e. obstacles) and car trouble you may endure.
Each day, as you arise, remember, this is your leadership journey, and journey unique to your life and experiences. And do your best to enjoy the journey.
Monday, March 26, 2012
Are You Sick Of Hearing About Work/Life Balance?
If you're like most leaders you are sick to death of hearing about work life balance. You think it means you need to make sure your employees have balance while you continue to work 10, 12, 14, 16 hour days. Quite honestly I'm a little tired of hearing about it too.
So, let's talk today about not only having a life but being the leader in every way possible. Here's the deal - when you consistently send people emails at 10 pm, casually mention you were working at 2 am because you couldn't sleep, and make work your life, you are not helping anyone. You are sending an unspoken message that work is not only part of your life, it IS your life and therefore it should be everyone else's life too. Even if you don't say it, you are the leader, and people expect to follow you. You are setting the standard.
If you aren't spending time with family, socializing with friends, or watching a sunset on a routine basis, you are not leading effectively. As human beings we need the opportunity to be human . . . outside of work. And if you aren't taking care of yourself and your needs, you will not have the energy or enthusiasm to lead.
Sure there are the occasional "crunch deadlines" where you have to put in a great deal of extra time (and may even require it from several employees). However, if this is the rule rather than the exception, there is something wrong. Either you aren't delegating enough, you have a difficult time letting go of control, or your employer is making unrealistic demands. Regardless of the issue, if this goes on for a prolonged period, it's time for you to have a crucial conversation, for yourself as well as your team.
It's just as important that you find time to laugh and enjoy life as it is that you work hard. Without one, it's difficult to do the other for a prolonged amount of time. When you think about work/life balance, think about the standard you are setting for your team.
So, let's talk today about not only having a life but being the leader in every way possible. Here's the deal - when you consistently send people emails at 10 pm, casually mention you were working at 2 am because you couldn't sleep, and make work your life, you are not helping anyone. You are sending an unspoken message that work is not only part of your life, it IS your life and therefore it should be everyone else's life too. Even if you don't say it, you are the leader, and people expect to follow you. You are setting the standard.
If you aren't spending time with family, socializing with friends, or watching a sunset on a routine basis, you are not leading effectively. As human beings we need the opportunity to be human . . . outside of work. And if you aren't taking care of yourself and your needs, you will not have the energy or enthusiasm to lead.
Sure there are the occasional "crunch deadlines" where you have to put in a great deal of extra time (and may even require it from several employees). However, if this is the rule rather than the exception, there is something wrong. Either you aren't delegating enough, you have a difficult time letting go of control, or your employer is making unrealistic demands. Regardless of the issue, if this goes on for a prolonged period, it's time for you to have a crucial conversation, for yourself as well as your team.
It's just as important that you find time to laugh and enjoy life as it is that you work hard. Without one, it's difficult to do the other for a prolonged amount of time. When you think about work/life balance, think about the standard you are setting for your team.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Do You Have The Confidence to Lead?
In case you haven't figured this out yet, being a leader is not for the faint at heart. Every day, often many times a day, your viewpoints, ideas, and approach will be challenged, criticized, and discussed by others. You'll attend training classes that will tell you the way you've been managing people for the past 20 years is all wrong. Employees will complain that you don't know what you are doing. You may or may not be liked. Kind of makes you wonder why you signed up for this gig, huh?
Because you're a leader, that's why! It's your destiny, your calling, you can't help it, it's part of who you are. You were made for this!
"A leader does not deserve the name unless he is willing occasionally to stand alone."
-Henry Kissinger
Is Your Confidence Showing?
Let's not confuse confidence with arrogance. Arrogance is "I know it all and there is nothing you could possibly say or do that would be better than what I am already saying and doing." Confidence is "My gut (experience, intuition) says this is where we need to go. I'm open to suggestions on how to get there."
How could an employee, team, student, spouse, child ever entertain the idea of following you if you waffle on your decisions on a daily (hourly, minute) basis? If you don't appear confident in your own decisions, how can others possibly have confidence in you?
As leaders sometimes, maybe even oftentimes, we have to make tough decisions rather quickly. You can't second guess yourself. And contrary to popular belief, making no decision is still making a decision (just not a very good one). And acknowledging when you have made a wrong decision is the greatest trademark a leader can have.
Confidence Does NOT Mean You No Longer Should Learn and Grow.
In the first paragraph I mentioned how you will take training courses that tell you to do everything different. I am a huge advocate of training, learning, and growing. Anyone that knows me very well at all will tell you that about me. A leader has to take all the information available (including this blog) and discern what will work best for them. That doesn't mean you have an "out" and can now say "my way is the best way" (see arrogance above). But it does mean you can constantly learn from your own experiences as well as the experiences of others. You can try different approaches. You can read material and do a gut check as to whether or not it will work in your environment with your personality. As I have often heard said, "if your not growing, your dying.
Parting Thought
Stand tall and even if your supervisor is questioning you, have the confidence to stand up for what you believe. If you want others to follow you, give them a reason to do so. Know in your heart that even when it seems like everyone is challenging you, that doesn't necessarily mean you are crazy, it could mean they are averse to change. Be willing to hear feedback but don't let it interfere with what you know is the right thing to do.
Have the confidence to lead and others will gladly follow.
Mari
Let's not confuse confidence with arrogance. Arrogance is "I know it all and there is nothing you could possibly say or do that would be better than what I am already saying and doing." Confidence is "My gut (experience, intuition) says this is where we need to go. I'm open to suggestions on how to get there."
How could an employee, team, student, spouse, child ever entertain the idea of following you if you waffle on your decisions on a daily (hourly, minute) basis? If you don't appear confident in your own decisions, how can others possibly have confidence in you?
As leaders sometimes, maybe even oftentimes, we have to make tough decisions rather quickly. You can't second guess yourself. And contrary to popular belief, making no decision is still making a decision (just not a very good one). And acknowledging when you have made a wrong decision is the greatest trademark a leader can have.
Confidence Does NOT Mean You No Longer Should Learn and Grow.
In the first paragraph I mentioned how you will take training courses that tell you to do everything different. I am a huge advocate of training, learning, and growing. Anyone that knows me very well at all will tell you that about me. A leader has to take all the information available (including this blog) and discern what will work best for them. That doesn't mean you have an "out" and can now say "my way is the best way" (see arrogance above). But it does mean you can constantly learn from your own experiences as well as the experiences of others. You can try different approaches. You can read material and do a gut check as to whether or not it will work in your environment with your personality. As I have often heard said, "if your not growing, your dying.
Parting Thought
Stand tall and even if your supervisor is questioning you, have the confidence to stand up for what you believe. If you want others to follow you, give them a reason to do so. Know in your heart that even when it seems like everyone is challenging you, that doesn't necessarily mean you are crazy, it could mean they are averse to change. Be willing to hear feedback but don't let it interfere with what you know is the right thing to do.
Have the confidence to lead and others will gladly follow.
Mari
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