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Want to Lead? Start Here (Pt 2)
*Note: Listen to Episode 7 before listening to Episode 8.
Recall the definition of what a leader is from Episode 7: A leader is someone who is ahead of everyone else, and works to bring their team to their future state.
Episode 8 is all about the second part of this definition - what it means for a leader to bring their team to their future state. I’ve been in countless organizations where a “leader” talked about a future state or goal, but the organization never progressed toward it. How do you avoid just talking about big things and actually going and doing them? How do you lead your team to accomplish your goals?
A leader makes and executes action plans. An action plan is a simple list of what needs to be done, who is responsible for doing it, and when it must be accomplished. Without an action plan, nothing will never be done - the team has no direction or sense of accomplishment. A leader must recognize the importance of action plans and be the DRIVING force behind their creation and execution.
Application: Always carry a way to write down action plan details so you do not forget and can keep people accountable. The best way to lose leadership credibility is to say you’ll do something and then never follow through. Also, resolve to not leave your meetings until an action plan has been established and can be implemented. There are very few meetings where an action plan isn’t warranted - so any time you leave a meeting without one was a waste of time.
A leader communicates the action plan and why it’s important. People want to be led, not told what to do, and there is a big difference between the two. A leader not only communicates the action plan to their team (who, what, and by when), but also expresses why it matters. Telling your team the reason for doing all they do is a constant, repetitive task. It is the responsibility of the leader to consistently maintain the perspective of their team members to keep them motivated and performing at their best.
Application: Find specific examples and instances of how what you are doing matters. How did your product change a customer’s life? How did your service improve a company? Somehow, some way, find the specific ways your team’s efforts made an impact and share it with them.
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By Andrew Glover
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*Note: Listen to Episode 7 before listening to Episode 8.
Recall the definition of what a leader is from Episode 7: A leader is someone who is ahead of everyone else, and works to bring their team to their future state.
Episode 8 is all about the second part of this definition - what it means for a leader to bring their team to their future state. I’ve been in countless organizations where a “leader” talked about a future state or goal, but the organization never progressed toward it. How do you avoid just talking about big things and actually going and doing them? How do you lead your team to accomplish your goals?
A leader makes and executes action plans. An action plan is a simple list of what needs to be done, who is responsible for doing it, and when it must be accomplished. Without an action plan, nothing will never be done - the team has no direction or sense of accomplishment. A leader must recognize the importance of action plans and be the DRIVING force behind their creation and execution.
Application: Always carry a way to write down action plan details so you do not forget and can keep people accountable. The best way to lose leadership credibility is to say you’ll do something and then never follow through. Also, resolve to not leave your meetings until an action plan has been established and can be implemented. There are very few meetings where an action plan isn’t warranted - so any time you leave a meeting without one was a waste of time.
A leader communicates the action plan and why it’s important. People want to be led, not told what to do, and there is a big difference between the two. A leader not only communicates the action plan to their team (who, what, and by when), but also expresses why it matters. Telling your team the reason for doing all they do is a constant, repetitive task. It is the responsibility of the leader to consistently maintain the perspective of their team members to keep them motivated and performing at their best.
Application: Find specific examples and instances of how what you are doing matters. How did your product change a customer’s life? How did your service improve a company? Somehow, some way, find the specific ways your team’s efforts made an impact and share it with them.