Leadership isn’t a matter of enforcing engagement, cracking the whip, or bribing performances. 3 Keys to effective “ship” building.
—
Like me, you’ve probably heard this many times before, “Leaders – You have to enforce quotas! Keep employees engaged! Inspire the heck out of them, stand on your head if you have to! The more they work, the more we make! Move ‘em!”
Kind of reminds me of a song:
Move ‘em, Move ‘em, Move ‘em
Though they’re disaprovin’
Keep them doggies movin’
Rawhide
Don’t try to understand ‘em
Just rope, throw, and brand ‘em
Soon we’ll be livin’ high and wide
Move ‘em on, Head ‘em up
Head ‘em up, Move ‘em on
Move ‘em on, Head ‘em up
Rawhide!
(The Blues Brothers – Theme From Rawhide)
I mean no disrespect to cowboys, doggies, or the Blues Brothers. I just believe in a better way to lead.
As a leader, I understand that it’s my job to motivate people to work, and I believe I have stood on my head a time or two. However, there are some leaders who don’t dare engage with employees and others who are willing to stand up to the challenge. There are some leaders who are at their wits end because whatever they try, fails — so why bother anymore. On a daily basis leaders get so caught up with putting out fires, disciplining the rebels, and racing to reach their own monthly quotas, that they lose sight of the ultimate outcome leadership strives to achieve — to produce an efficient system.
Every leader desires an engaging network of people who actually get along. They dream of a natural flow of momentum where fires are minimal and more work gets done.
I know, I’ve been that leader.
In 2003 I was a busy motivator creating incentives, handing out awards, holding meetings, and trampling smoldering fires. I wasn’t sure how to build momentum, but I thought if I worked hard enough doing what I did, then at some point momentum would kick in and everything would be hunky dory. It kicked alright, but not until eight years later.
After I hosted my first leadership retreat in 2012 my team was in the flow! I felt as though I had a view from above and watched as they efficiently worked the system. I wasn’t busy sticking my hands into every situation trying to fix things or coheres people to work harder, faster. Things just “happened.” I was experiencing leadership euphoria — it was wild!
Once I could see what momentum looked like, I wondered if I could replicate it the following month -and not have to wait for another eight years. I began to introduce my usual incentives and, like magic, they worked! Motivating the team kept the momentum going. Our group sales soared to the #1 position in the company and stayed there month after month.
What the heck happened at that retreat?
There is something I realized right off the bat; for many years I was leading, but I wasn’t building a leader-ship system. Many wise advisors will give you their golden list of what it takes to be a successful leader — and I’m sure, if applied, they work very well. But here are 3 key elements that I know will build a sturdy ship.
Purpose — When people understand why they’re doing what they do.
Direction – When people have clarity on where they’re going.
Trust – When people have faith in the person who’s taking them there
MOMENTUM begins to flow.
This is the momentum factor; the “ship” that is the efficient system all leaders strive to achieve.
A mentor once told me that if I want to build a business I should start by building in my own backyard. If I want to help save the world, I should start by saving those around me. Well then, it only makes sense that if I want to build a leader-ship, then I should start by building my own leaders.
Leaders desire an epic outcome, and leaders can get one, too. This retreat was for my team leaders. It provided the right structure and atmosphere to polish the three elements and had a domino effect within their own teams. The right retreat can turn ripples into waves. It can trigger momentum so there’s more power in the motivation. Before you move ‘em out, build ‘em up.
Build your ship, and they will get on board. And they will build it even bigger.
—
Photo: Flickr/Arturo Sotillo