Leadership 101 – Seek First to UNDERSTAND…

I always used to think that my Management Skills and Experience were nothing special. After all leadership skills and techniques seem like just old fashion common sense. I actually still believe that to be true. There are no great secrets here, but for some reason many people lack basic leadership skills or what I would refer to as Leadership 101.

Everyday I find that people in Authority, aren’t always effective leaders. Leadership is an Action not a position.

If you have recently been put into a position of authority, here are some things you should note as you get started.

• Seek First To Understand…
• Meet First with Previous Leadership or if that is not possible meet with others that were involved, the team.
• Talk to your team. Find out their Skills, Experience and Passions. Work to align them to maximize their effectiveness for the team.
• Focus on IMPROVEMENT!
• Don’t Change things, just for the sake of Change. Change is very Costly!!!
• Spend a Majority of your Time, Observing in the Beginning. Fix or change only things that are broken.
• Work with your Team to help them see the gaps and lead them to the solutions. This will accomplish two things:
1. Developing your People
2. Solving your Problems

Following these simple steps will not only help you achieve the best possible solution, but it will also give you immediate buy-in from your entire team. After all who likes to have a new leader just ‘storm in’ and change everything especially if the original team put their heart and soul into building what is there today.

So start slow, be sensitive, and try to take everyone with you. Leaders by definition are those that have followers. If you want to work alone, then be a sole-proprietor with no employees.

Manage your Team like they are volunteers and not employees and you will be on the right track.