We all know the value of modeling for team members. We also know it’s appropriate to delegate tasks in order to develop others. Here are some thoughts on the relationship between modeling and delegation: Delegated work makes people feel valued, … Read More
I live in Iowa, and a term that gets floated a lot is “Iowa Nice.” As time goes on, though, it gets used ironically as much as it gets used sincerely. I think that’s because “Nice” doesn’t always equal “Kind.” … Read More
Successful leaders avoid this phrase:
“I need you to…”
Although this is a common way for leaders to assign tasks, it is poor wording for these reasons:
It turns servant leadership upside down; leaders are supposed to meet the needs of others, not to seek to have their own needs met.
Micromanagement gets a bad name. Deservedly so – you will alienate your best people if you tell them how to size the columns and what font to use for the Tracking Performance Spreadsheet reports, and really make them feel like children … Read More
Remember that two-word definition of leadership – “Meet Needs” ? You can really put that into action by staying conscious of things that you can deliver to the people who report to you. Your team is so used to deliverables … Read More
In the beginning, it was important that Alan lay out in detail for me exactly what amount of time he intended for me to spend on different tasks. This helped me plan my week, knowing that I needed a couple … Read More
Hersey and Blanchard’s concept of Situational Leadership dictates that we provide a level of leadership and attention that is appropriate to a follower’s levels of expertise and motivation. Often, leaders believe they are “empowering” and “granting autonomy” by being hands-off, and … Read More
This week’s book is Leading at a Higher Level. Ken Blanchard’s Situational Leadership model is a simple way to figure out what kind of leadership is needed for a particular individual.
In a Group Dynamic workshop, we devote a lot of time to the value of modeling — behaving the way we want members of the team to behave. We also talk about the value of delegation. There are two big … Read More