Leadership Essential: Build an Unstoppable Team
It is the eleventh hour and time is running out on a project/proposal deadline. The project, in the works for several weeks, has been plagued by setbacks. With a few days left to hammer away, your team is worn down. They have prematurely surrendered to the notion that making the deadline is impossible, and what energy they do have is going into figuring out how to skate past the established by-when, without burying themselves, and participating in a bit of "buck passing". Does this sound familiar?Each of us has been there at some point before. So what is there to learn from these experiences, and how can you avoid having a totally stopped team in the future?
Keys to Building an Unstoppable Team
Commitment
The #1 key to having a totally awesome and unstoppable team is to have a committed team; a team that is determined to reach the established goals and objectives no matter what; a team committed to the goal even in the face of not knowing for sure how to get there!
Communication
Even with every one of the other attributes covered, without communication, the team will eventually breakdown. Fact is, we are all human, and we all face human-type stuff. Being unstoppable generally means you and your team members agree and are committed to stepping out of your boxes and being vulnerable, which brings up one of the biggest "human-type" things we face… Fear! No one can read our minds and without you and your team communicating-your fears, your upsets, your enthusiasm, your expectations, and your boundaries-your team will ultimately fall short.
Delegation
Nothing will dampen the spirit of a team faster than a team leader who is unwilling to fully delegate to and utilize the talents of his or her fellow team members. Leaders who operate in this fashion are very thoughtfully referred to as Control Monsters. Now don't be offended if you see yourself here at all. Truth is, many of us have played this part at some point in our lives, and many more of us are card-carrying members of the club. The key to overcoming the club's clutches is to acknowledge your tendency, clean up where it has cost others, forgive yourself, stay present to your tendency, and when you need help…ASK FOR IT! If there is something you want and you don't have it… ASK FOR IT! People cannot read your mind
Authority
Now once the delegation issue is covered, you have to be careful not to trample the authority you give your team to carry-out the delegation.
For example:
Jane is heading up Phase B of Leader Bill's project, and Bill finds himself disagreeing with her approach to a particular aspect of Phase B, but Bill discovers this after discussing it, not with Jane but, with Jack. Now, where Bill goes wrong is that he overrides Jane's directive to Jack and has him go about the issue in HIS way.
Wow! There are few things worse than undermining a team member to another. In this situation, Bill should have gone back to Jane and discussed this issue directly with her, and if he still disagreed, provide her with his input and together work out the best solution. Does this sound time consuming? Possibly, but consider what would be learned by your team and could be applied in the future. In addition, there is no doubt, the time consumed by upset and consternation far outweighs the time it takes to have a conversation with your team members.
Accountability
With delegation and authority comes accountability. A person that wants the power and prestige of a certain position has to be willing and fully understand that accountability is part of the package. If they don't get it, then no deal! The lack of accountability is the greatest pitfall of most teams and their leadership. People don't want to be held accountable, nor do they want to hold others accountable, and then they wonder why they fail to measure up and obtain their goals. If you want a solid team that is steadfast and focused, everyone must own that they are accountable for what they say they are going to do, by-when they say they are going to do it, and the results they obtain. (click here for more information on accountability)
Passion
Passion runs deeper than excitement. It is something that grabs you deep down inside and makes you wholeheartedly say, "Yes. I definitely want to be a part of this!" That is passion, and at its core passion does not wane. Now, that is not to say that passion does not burn low from time to time, but this is where the human-type stuff shows up and can bring you down, if you let it. So, how do you keep passion burning on high and your team functioning with unstoppable effort? With vision, communication, commitment, doing what you love and asking for what you want.And just one more thing… having F-U-N is not against the law!