Creating an A (+) Team

 

My most recent conversation with my mentee was regarding how to get the best out of the team he leads/manages.  Below is the list we came up with.  Please add in the comments what you believe makes a leader/ manager successful.

• Be a leader/ manager not just someone who ‘barks’ out orders. (leaders are people who inspire people in achieving and giving their best)
• Guide people in their daily job and career (e.g. during your one on one’s, discuss their careers and how you are able assist them)
• Ask don’t tell your staff what to do (e.g. Please and thank you go a long way)
• Show them you care (e.g. When our new build branch opened, many members of our team had not signed up for their 401k. I spoke to each team member individually who had not signed up and explained the company match and benefits. Our branch had 100 % participation )
• Get staff feedback (e.g. what they like, don’t like, what they would improve upon and how)
• Empower your staff to make decisions
• Provide Continues Feedback (e.g. reviews should have no surprises)
• Make it fun (a staff that is not happy is a staff that fails)
• Make sure everyone learns from each other (e.g. have a staff member who is excelling in a specific area speak to the team for 10 -15 min on what they are doing to be successful)
• Create leaders in your team. (e.g. get them to lead/ manage a specific project)

As in Sports, it is not always the team with the best players that wins, but the one that is well organized and has strong leadership.

“Every successful individual knows that his or her achievement depends on a community of persons working together.”
Paul Ryan