Send to KindleLeading Teams You Don’t Get to Select
In the military, leaders change jobs frequently and seldom get to select their own teams. Instead, military leaders are sent to an organization to pick up where their predecessor left off and work with the team that is already in place. Though I sometimes felt this was a little unfair, I learned that a leader can make any team effective with a few techniques.
1. Make sure the team understands your commitment to the mission, as well as your commitment to them. Successful team leaders combine a strong passion for the mission with an abiding love for the team.
2. Make sure every member of the team clearly understands their part of the mission and how they contribute to its accomplishment. Chances are you’re not keeping people in the company because they tell good jokes. Today’s economic realities force everyone to keep only those who are vital to the company’s success. As leaders you know that. Have you told them? Knowing they are important, and knowing that you know they are important, is a key to team success.
3. Have fun. Okay, life isn’t always a hoot and not every task is fun, but it doesn’t have to be dull and boring either. I worked for a humorless boss once. I seldom saw so much as a smile; fun was definitely out of the question. This person was replaced with someone who liked to have a little fun and almost instantly the team’s productivity increased.
4. Reward success. When your team reaches a goal, celebrate! Let the team revel in their success. People like to take a moment to relax and bask in the glow of a job well done. When your team gets back to work, they’ll be even better.
5. Finally, let’s be honest. Sometimes you will have someone who is bringing the team down and who will not step up. Do your best with this person but know when to let them go. Don’t jeopardize the whole team trying to save one person who doesn’t want to be saved.
Just because you didn’t pick your team doesn’t mean you can’t make that team a big success.
