Leading your high-performing Team

There’s a lot of advice out there on leadership and sometimes it can make one feel that we have to have things perfectly figured out to be a good leader.

So, I’m suggesting that if you feel that way too, let’s agree that we can let that idea go completely.

In fact, I believe that’s the beauty (or challenge) of leadership…much of the learning is experiential and you have to live it, learn it, and be willing to try things out. Some will work, some will not. And, some will be painful and messy.

However, I think the intention, effort, and a mindset of continuous improvement can go a long way in expanding your leadership skills and creating a high-performing team.

This is a collection of ideas to inspire you in your leadership to dig in and explore ways to take your leadership to the next level so you can heighten results from your team.

1. Know your weaknesses and deficits.

   If you’re a leader who’s expecting your people to operate from their strengths….but you’re operating from your weaknesses, you won’t get the best from your team.

   Unsure of what those are? Ask for feedback. If you’re unsure if they’ll provide honest feedback, ask for it anonymously. I recently heard of a leader who put three large papers in the boardroom - one said STOP, one said START, and one said CONTINUE. She asked her team to add their thoughts throughout the day. People would go in and add their comments while she worked away in her office. She was surprised at what came up, but it provided the insight she needed to see how she was perceived in the workplace and was able to make adjustments.

2. Walk-in their shoes.

   Lead your team from where they are vs. where you are. Understand the roles your staff is doing in the run of the day. Consider the changes, demands, and requests and the impact on those roles. From there you can help to remove roadblocks that prevent your team from hitting their goals or ways they could continue and leverage their already excellent efforts.

3. Encourage self-development.

   When your team is continuously improving their skills, the capacity and capabilities of the team improve. Encourage learning, curiosity, and expanding their skill sets. This could be day-to-day self-directed, it could be a formal team development training or they can choose a course or skill they want to learn using an education benefit they have.

4. Sharing a collective sense of purpose and clear goals.

   Does everyone know clearly what they are meant to be doing, what the business’s goals are, and their role in making that happen? Rather than asking yourself that, check-in and ask your people. Who’s clear and who isn’t?

Your team is your greatest asset. Being the leader of a high-performing team can be incredibly rewarding and the benefits to your company are enormous with people contributing to your overall goals.

NOW is YOUR time.

Ariana

PS: If you’re interested in taking your leadership to the next level, check this out.

Leadership Coaching Canada, Executive Coach