Wednesday, October 18, 2006

The Leader/Team Conundrum

Have you noticed how our definitions... even our redefinitions of leadership have difficulty working in the confines of the concept of a team. It is still very much focused on being aware of a thing and then taking action to "lead" in what you are aware of.

But how can this function within a team?

If we truly want team input, then are we not stiffling the innovative and spontaneous leader?

How do we balance this see-saw of individual awareness with team perspective?

I know that in this area I am only beginning to understand the very basics of this balance but so far the main key seems to be processes.

If a structure and processes can be built that encourage individual innovation, but then has a structure for facilitating this spontaneity, then leaders can truly be activated. Most of us are still thinking that teamwork demands decisions by the team as a whole. We are preaching a divided "gospel". We demand leadership in our team members but then don't allow them to act on the things they become aware of.

To lead effective teams, then we MUST find ways to activate them with systems and processes that shape and direct their awareness, not stifle their passion and action.

That means 3 radical perceptions must be prevalent.
1. Unquestionable support from the top.
Team members must know that without a doubt, they have the full support of their leadership. This means from the thought processes they use to make decisions to the tools and equipments they would use to implement the decisions that are made. They must know that you support their innovation and their creativity! You MUST, MUST, MUST be willing to relinquish control, allow mistakes, and trust your team.

2. Implement Radical Measures for RAPID idea development.
No more holding the reins to keep things steady. Unleash the beast. Let them run as hard and as fast as they can. When they overstep their bounds, correct them, ENCOURAGE THEM THAT THEIR PASSION IS APPRECIATED, then put them in charge of developing the next phase that they missed! YOU MUST REWARD REAL LEADERSHIP! Team player is a bull crap word that we have come up with. Real Team players make baskets, shoot goals, and know how to handle the ball! Even the best team players want the ball when the game is on the line... and on my team I don't want it any other way.

3. Tell Stories of Revolutionary Heroes!
Tell stories of heroes that screwed up completely out of their zeal. Idolize them if you have to. Talk about the heroes who gave up their weeknight to come radically change a problem they saw. Who didn't waste time waiting on meetings and decisions to get something done. Then provide the team you are encouraging (and the hero if you lead them) with a system of support for their decisions! STOP SHOOTING YOUR HEROES!!! To often we get upset and lopp off the heads of our best leaders because they broke the "chain of command" or because they didn't "work with the team". Most likely the reason they didn't is because no effective SYSTEM is setup/or has been made known for them to "submit" their ideas.

It's Time for real leadership teams to arise and playing paddy-cake with manipulative, controlling and limiting systems WILL NOT WORK!!

Up with the Flags you Crazy HEROES!!!

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