Tag: leadership

Leading by Example

We live in a time of great political division in our country. That division naturally flows into the workplace as so much of our time is spent there. And, when sharing ideas or working through problems, our lens can often be colored by our politics.

How does one lead people in these challenging times? We all know the importance of diversity of thought in the workplace in order to drive innovation and collaborate to build on others ideas. But diversity also brings the challenge of competing views that, unfortunately for many, has become personal.

There is no easy answer here. There is no course to take or 5-step plan to execute. These are the challenges that separate managers from leaders. These are the challenges that require a mindset shift from directing people to complete tasks, to self-reflection and ongoing personal development to be able to lead by example.

When RFK chose to share with a largely black audience at a campaign stop in Indianapolis that MLK, Jr. had been assassinated, he was advised against it. The concern for rioting and violence and fear for RFK’s own safety were likely very real. But RFK chose to speak. Still haunted by the death of his brother, he had spent time after JFK’s death to reflect and adjust the lens through which he saw the world and his place in it.

Gone was the arrogant, brash former Attorney General known for being the bad cop to his brother’s good cop. RFK had embraced empathy and compassion as he travelled across the country and spoke to people in poverty-stricken areas and those less fortunate who had no chance of realizing the American Dream. He internalized their feelings and their sense of hopelessness and committed himself to make change.

As important as that empathy for others was RFK’s ability to translate that understanding into a vision and passion and agenda for ALL Americans to embrace. He was able to speak from his heart and lead by example. He now saw both sides and was able to work to bridge the divides. It took him years to develop that deeper understanding.

Leadership is a continual work in progress. There is no end to the leadership project. It requires the same level of focus and energy as defining a strategy or executing the operational plan. But it can be harder as it is a more personal effort.

Leadership is an aspirational journey. In today’s divisive times, take time for self-reflection. Look at things through a different lens. Listen to other views. Find ways to bridge the divides.

After MLK’s death there were riots across almost all the major cities in the US…except Indianapolis.

Accountability on Day One

You are less than six months into a new role at your company. You are preparing your first full quarterly update for the executive team. Results have fallen short of targets and have been trending down. As you outline the narrative of your story to the executive team, you have a decision to make. How do you explain the why behind the deterioration in performance.

Here are some options:

1- Blame the issue on prior management: after all, you’ve been in the job less than six months. How can these issues be your fault? Further to your narrative, share that your team is assessing the issues and will report back on a game plan to address them in the coming quarter. So, zero accountability for the current results, but demonstrating accountability for identifying the fix.

2- Acknowledge prior awareness of the issue, but avoid ownership of the results: in this case, you knew the issue existed and have been working to fix it, but the fix will take some time. This narrative demonstrates a quick understanding of the issues with an accountability for a fix that will positively impact future results. But again, no accountability for the current results.

3- Own the current results and the plan to improve: although your short tenure might not have allowed for a quick turnaround in deteriorating performance, you still accept full accountability from Day One. And you share an understanding of the drivers of the results and the plan to turn them around.

Which option would you choose?

Role Modeling Accountability

All three options demonstrate an accountability to fix the deteriorating performance issues. But only the third option suggests a new leader willing to take accountability on Day One. And it is that leader who is most likely to turn results around most quickly with the help of their team.

Why?

It’s all about role modeling shared accountability and building trust.

By accepting Day One accountability, that new leader has caste their lot with the team. Not as a savior to fix the screw-ups of prior leadership and by extension, the team, but as someone committed with the team to improve results. It sets the stage for aligning as a team to reset goals and engage collectively in needed action. And that helps build trust.

It also demonstrates to the team what accountability means. There are no excuses or finger pointing, but rather, an acknowledgement of results, analysis of drivers, and commitment to improve. That step alone begins to create culture of accountability down through the team.

Finally, it also creates the right environment for learning. There certainly is an argument that, depending on the breadth and depth of issues, it can be challenging to turn around deteriorating results in just a few months.

But as a new leader, the job on Day One is to engage with the team, be curious, be humble, and seek to understand what is working and what is not. In those first days and weeks, if those actions are followed, issues will be uncovered early…and early detection allows for early action to address the negative performance trends.

How else can a new leader quickly engage the team to build a culture of accountability?

Here are some ideas:

Being Humble

Alway, but especially as a new leader, be consciously curious…by asking questions and by creating an environment of openness and trust. In turn, you can more quickly identify blind spots, and, importantly, the places where a good push may be needed or where a more gentle nudge will do the trick.

Setting expectations

When assigning action items, be clear on both individual responsibility and authority to act when obstacles arise. Ask team members to verbally ask questions and verbally acknowledge understanding. Lack of clarity on shared efforts often allows for finger pointing.

Acknowledging great results

When providing feedback on great results, try being specific about the actions and behaviors that drove the results. Move beyond “great job” to “great job identifying potential obstacles early and working to avoid them.” Being specific supports individual and team ownership.

Providing feedback when results go sideways

People make mistakes. Acknowledging the mistake is important as well as discussing how it might have been avoided. Avoid what might be initial anger and instead ask questions that lead to both ownership of the result and understanding of what could have been done differently. Take the time for the learning process.

Promoting collective ownership

Ownership often best arises when individuals define their own plan and path of actions. Try being less directive about what to do and allow individuals and the team to develop their plans. Shift to questioning and committing to support the agreed path to demonstrate shared accountability.

Accountability is one of the most important characteristics of an effective leader. Without demonstrating accountability, the root cause of shortfalls in performance or actions that create unintended, negative consequences are never addressed. And the drivers of great performance are never really challenged.

Taking accountability means demonstrating to your team that you own the results…good or bad…and understanding why things happened is the only path to learning and improving.

Day One Accountability…it will accelerate team trust and create a culture to drive continual improvement.

Choices

Management guru Peter Drucker defined the difference between management and leadership. He noted: “Management is doing things right. Leading is doing the right things.”

Leadership is about choices.

It’s about what to do versus what not to do. Defining goals and priorities. Assembling and empowering teams. Intervening and adjusting as needed.

The first choice a leader should make is choosing to lead. The most effective leaders are able to subordinate personal goals to the broader organization’s and team’s goals. They recognize their individual success is a function of the team’s success.

Leaders who put themselves before the mission and team are likely to build any near term success on weak and shifting sands, imperiling longer term goals. To be an effective leader is to make that choice of prioritizing mission and team success over personal gain.

That choice comes at a price. The most effective leaders recognize that success begins with the team. Failures or setbacks begin with the person who leads the team. Share the success. Own the failure. It’s the price leaders pay.

So, before taking on the challenges of a leadership role, it’s worth doing a little self-reflection and articulation of your why and how.

Three questions can help frame your why:

1- What is my personal commitment to this organization and its mission?

2- Are my values and principles aligned with those of this organization?

3- Do I bring a mindset and capabilities to deal with the challenges of leading?

And three questions to ask about how you will lead:

1- Do I have clarity of the principles by which I will lead?

2- Am I committed to my continued development as a leader and willing to reflect and learn?

3- Do I understand and value the power that diversity of thought and ideas can bring to improve team performance?

The conflicts and obstacles in leading any team towards a goal are inevitable. Every leadership effort is subject to outside forces. Some controllable. Some not. In many cases the conflicts and obstacles are driven by changes in policy or priorities or team dynamics or individual behaviors.

Without commitment to the goal, clarity of principles, and a willingness to consider all views, these conflicts and obstacles become more challenging to confront and overcome.

Why?

Because the power that comes with an engaged and aligned team is lost. When a team doesn’t see a leader’s commitment to the goal, or behaviors consistent with defined values and principles, or an interest in other views and voices, the outcome is inertia not progress.

Ray Kroc, who turned a small California restaurant called McDonald’s into a global franchise, noted that, “The quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves.”

Leadership is a choice.

Take the time to make it the right one.