Your Team Will Go Through Brick Walls
Have you ever had a leader that inspires deep loyalty in you?
It’s that rare individual who not only inspires, but has an unwavering belief in you. You don’t want to let this person down. You go the extra mile because you want to prove you can do it.
You have certainly experienced the opposite. The person who wears the title of leader, but you are unwilling to do more than the minimum.
What is it about a leader that makes you want to go through brick walls? What can you do to become that person and inspire your team?
A leader who inspires performance is one who:
1. Believes
A leader who believes in you fuels the success engine. When you put your belief in someone, he will generally rise to the challenge. Your belief acts as an inoculation against doubt.
2. Cheerleads
A leader who is an encouraging force inspires. Cheer someone along and that person will want to win.
3. Praises
Publicly or privately, when you praise someone, watch what happens. I’m talking genuine praise at just the right level and delivered at just the right time. Too much and it loses its power, but it’s next to impossible to hit a “too much” level.
4. Communicates
When you practice open, honest and direct communication, you increase trust. A lack of communication is the cause of more problems in an organization than you can imagine.
5. Teaches
When you teach concepts and share examples, it makes a difference in your organization and in your people. The best leaders are teachers. Not always obviously or in your face, but everyone is learning because the leader is teaching.
6. Models
When you model the way, it inspires everyone around you. You simply cannot say one thing and do another. Do what you say you will do. Don’t ask your followers to do one thing while you are doing another.
7. Promotes
When you promote and advocate on someone’s behalf, it creates loyalty. That person knows you have her back and that you are advocating on her behalf. Publicly sharing successes and attributing someone’s good work makes a difference.
8. Delegates
Delegate the right amount and check in periodically. Delegating is the opposite of micromanaging. It sends a powerful signal that you trust someone will get the job done.
9. Blocks
A leader blocks people from what’s unnecessary, draining, and wasteful. If you block your organization from political nonsense or unnecessary bureaucracy, you will have a higher-performing team.
10. Supports
It seems obvious, but providing support is crucial. It’s not enough to agree and walk away. Think, “Let’s go do it” not, “You go do it.” Be a bedrock of support and watch loyalty skyrocket.
11. Provides
You need to provide the right level of resources and support. This can be tricky because innovation often happens with a lack of resources, so watch carefully and be thoughtful.
12. Duplicates
A leader who wants to develop an exceptional organization is one who duplicates herself. She is not content until others are able to inspire at the same level.
