Four Things Your Team Needs from You

If you are a team leader, you will have followers. To do the job well, you have to provide them with some important things. Here are four of them. Clear expectations. It is difficult to read someone's mind. When you clearly share what needs to be done and what the priorities are, your team members can plan their work accordingly. When in doubt, spell it out, but don't be patronizing! A listening ear.  You can learn a lot by listening to your team members. Prompt discussion. Ask questions. Find out how things can be better, from their point of view. Time. Particularly if you are new leader, your team will need time to learn how you like to do things. Don't expect them to adjust to your preferences over night. Space. Micromanaging doesn't...

Read more »

Four Warnings for Team Leaders

Do you want to be a leader? Consider these warnings first. It's not about you. Obvious, right? Not so fast. How many people take on a leadership role because it positions them for advancement or recognition? Many natural "leader types" also can struggle with affirmation addiction. You must instead serve your team and that could mean a lot of time staying in the background. Eventually, they won't need you. That is if you do your job right. Your goal in leading this team is that they will eventually handle the project, do the tasks, or fulfill the mission with less and less input from you. The best sign that you are a good team leader is when people don't even notice you at all, but instead see the great work your team has done. Attitude flows...

Read more »

Four Ways Criticism is Good for You

It zaps the energy from your day--that snide comment you overheard about how you handled the project or that email from a disgruntled customer. Criticism. We've all experienced it, and if you are in any position of leadership or influence, you'd better be prepared for a higher dose of it than some. But criticism can actually be good for you--if you handle it right. Here's why. Criticism humbles you. Pride is a dangerous thing. On the one hand, being appropriately pleased at a project you have accomplished or something someone you supervise has done can be a healthy element of team building. But thinking more highly of yourself than you ought to can lead to bad feelings and embarrassment eventually. Criticism can be a helpful early warning...

Read more »

Team Building Tip: Make Employee's Jobs a Little Easier

A simple tip today...pick one or two employees on your team and ask them this simple question: "What would make your job easier today?" Then, as quickly as possible, try to act on that suggestion if it can be reasonably applied. If not, suggest an alternative that will help improve that employee's day. For example, let's say one of your support staff has to drop off the outgoing mail at the post office each day after she leaves work. Is it possible to hire a courier, or erect a secure mailbox at which she can put the outgoing mail inste...

Read more »