Are you the leader of yourself? Do you practice what you preach? Can you honestly say that you are doing those things that you are asking your team to do? If you truly want to be a successful leader then you need to walk the talk. Here is some things that you should be doing to first lead yourself.
1. Personal commitment to success, you need to be willing to "own" the vision you are delivering. If you don't believe it your team will eventual stop following.
2. Discover the personal cost in your success and be willing to pay it now matter what it is. Your team needs to see that you are willing to sacrifice for the vision just as much as they are.
3. Remove the barriers of the past, there is always going to be something that your doing today that is "procedure" but it seems to get in the way of success. Be willing to tear down those things that are barriers and build new bridges to success.
4. Continue to be open to the idea of learning, Remember that your don't know everything and your team has knowledge that can be used for the overall success.
5. Key to success, there is going to be something that is key to the success of the mission. You need to find it and share it with the team.
Stand up and be a leader first to yourself, then to your family and then to your team.
Live leadership all day everyday not just at "work".
GOD Bless
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Monday, December 3, 2007
First Know your People, Then Lead
Coming into a new Company or position can be very stressful for you and your "new" team.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to meet new leaders and one of the earliest lessons I learned is that a new leader coming into the organization is just as stressed as their team is. So much apprehension and uncertainty surrounding the team and what changes may be coming and how they are going to "get along" with the new "guy".
The worst thing a new leader can do is step in and start making changes. This is a process that is best shared with your new team.
Another very common mistake people make is trying to lead before the people see you as their leader.
You need to be prepared to lead your team and that takes time. You need to build relationships with your team members. Don't get me wrong your position on the team comes with some basic responsibility and authority, but those do not make you a leader it makes you a manager and there is a big difference.
Try spending time getting to know your employees and their families. Building an authentic relationship with them is key to building trust. Try to spend time with your team outside of the work environment, this will allow them to see you as a person not the "boss". Make sure to have fun.
Spend one on one time with each of your employees, find out what makes them tick, where the life has taken them, where they are heading and what matters most to them. Engage them where they are at right now to start achieving some goals for success. Show them you are willing to sacrifice the same way they do, you don't have to be able to do the same job as them, just be willing to pay the same prize for success.
If you can build an authentic relationship and gain their trust, the leading part will come naturally.
God Bless.
Over the years I have had many opportunities to meet new leaders and one of the earliest lessons I learned is that a new leader coming into the organization is just as stressed as their team is. So much apprehension and uncertainty surrounding the team and what changes may be coming and how they are going to "get along" with the new "guy".
The worst thing a new leader can do is step in and start making changes. This is a process that is best shared with your new team.
Another very common mistake people make is trying to lead before the people see you as their leader.
You need to be prepared to lead your team and that takes time. You need to build relationships with your team members. Don't get me wrong your position on the team comes with some basic responsibility and authority, but those do not make you a leader it makes you a manager and there is a big difference.
Try spending time getting to know your employees and their families. Building an authentic relationship with them is key to building trust. Try to spend time with your team outside of the work environment, this will allow them to see you as a person not the "boss". Make sure to have fun.
Spend one on one time with each of your employees, find out what makes them tick, where the life has taken them, where they are heading and what matters most to them. Engage them where they are at right now to start achieving some goals for success. Show them you are willing to sacrifice the same way they do, you don't have to be able to do the same job as them, just be willing to pay the same prize for success.
If you can build an authentic relationship and gain their trust, the leading part will come naturally.
God Bless.
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