Tag: follow

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #11: EMPLOY YOUR TEAM IN ACCORDANCE WITH ITS CAPABILITIES

As a leader you will most likely have a team of individuals backing you, supporting you, all while doing their job. As a leader you must allow them to do so without it compromising the job they were hired to do.

In a combat situation, ground troops, the Infantry work in teams. These teams have specialist with unique functions (grenadier, machine-gunner, assault, etc.) that make the Infantry squad, platoon, company, battalion, brigade lethal on the battlefield. The same level of lethality can be applied to the workplace. Imagine a team that can unite and put together a contract winning proposal or complete the annual report in record time.

How does this happen? It happens when the leader allows the team to function as one and function as individuals that are mutually supporting each other. Where the Infantry squad members support each other by providing interlocking fields of fire. Meaning the Infantrymen do their job but recognize that others (typically to their left and right) might need covering fire.

In the Accounting firm, a group works on balancing the client’s books while others work on prepping the Federal Tax paperwork. Then there is a someone who runs the Quality Assurance and checks the figures. Then another group works on putting it all together. By having all team members doing their respective jobs the individuals complete their assigned tasks and the team keeps moving because like a well oiled machine that runs unhindered when allowed to do, the team knows what to do and does it well.

Leaders (and Managers) keep your team running by letting them do their job. It may be tempting to meddle or to tinker with the work flow but why fix something if it is not broken? Exactly, there is nothing to fix until it breaks then get it working as fast as possible. Otherwise, it may cost you more than a broken sprocket, it could cost you a gear or the well oiled machine. You know you cannot have anything less than that.

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #10: TRAIN YOUR PEOPLE AS A TEAM

While your team is composed of unique individuals, those individuals share one thing: You are their leader. They are part of your team. As the leader, it is your responsibility to ensure they are trained to work as a cohesive team, one unit and when need be they should know how to do the basic (rudimentary) functions of the other team members. Knowing the basic functions of the other team members is not for replacing them but to fill in the gaps when employees call in sick or the organization is transitioning between team members.

Training as a team creates esprit de’corps and enhances unit cohesion. Your team will develop a feeling of pride, fellowship, and common loyalty because they have shared experience(s). Having those shared experiences creates a team so strong, so empowered, and ready to be more effective than any other group in the organization that has not taken the time to train together.

Obviously, a leader will have to allow the individuals to attend training specific to their vocation in order to remain proficient and excel at their day-to-day operations and functions. However, when those employees return to the team, have them share what they learned with others.

A highly informed is team is a highly functional team. A highly functional team is a highly performing team. A highly performing is a team that is delivering and making huge impacts on the organization’s mission and vision. As a leader, who would not want to be leading a cohesive team that is making an impact on the organization? Be that Leader!

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this list? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.

LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLE #9: ENSURE ASSIGNED TASKS ARE UNDERSTOOD, SUPERVISED, AND ACCOMPLISHED

A leader will lead from the front. If you come from the place that believes a leader’s place is in the rear with the gear, then you are WRONG!
A leader always leads from the front. A leader will also be responsible for ensuring that the job is done. Individuals that have elected to be part of the leader’s team will accomplish the job. The leader will also do the job (the mission) with the equipment, resources and within the defined time.
A successful leader will have gone through many wins and losses when it comes to completely the mission. A successful leader will have worked with many individuals and used various tools and resources to make proper and appropriate attempts at achieving the objectives towards completing the mission.

A leader that is mindful of the objectives that go towards completing the mission will work all the members of the team. Working with team members, the leader realizes that assigning tasks and sub-tasks will ensure that not only the objectives are met but are done on time while not compromising the success of the entire operation.

Thus, as a leadership principle a leader must ensure that ALL tasks are understood, supervised and accomplished. When it comes to understanding the task, those assigned to the task should understand it so well that they can not only repeat what the task is back to the leader but also fully comprehend the leader’s intent of that task. Including, how it fits into the big picture of the entire mission.

Speaking of the big picture, maintaining supervision is critical throughout the entire process from beginning to the successful completion of mission. Supervision of the all assigned tasks does not have to be by the leader but by those individuals that are qualified to supervise specialized operations or processes within the tasks.

Every great leader has his or her hands full. Yet, by being consistent and ensuring that all team members have a job and maintaining supervision the inevitable outcome of any mission is SUCCESS.

Thanks,
David G. Guerra, M.B.A.

Do you agree or disagree with this post? Let me know either by
Twitter @daveguerra or by email [email protected] or both.