Why do so many small businesses stay small? Often the only people that small business owners really trust are their family members and there are not enough of them, or of the right calibre to grow the business any further, and having a capable, experienced and motivated team is critical to the growth of the business.
So what causes a team to become stagnant? Well it is nearly always the leader of the business and their lack of leadership skills. As the old adage goes, “a fish rots from the head down.” If the leader is not leading then the team will not follow. However, even if the leader does try to lead, the team might be so dysfunctional that it is unable to follow. So excellent team leadership skills are required to bring out a teams best capabilities.
In his book, “The 5 Dysfunctions of a Team,”Patrick Lencioni describes the five areas in which a team can go wrong:
• Absence of trust
• Fear and conflict
• Lack of commitment
• Avoidance of accountability
• Inattention to results
The underlying factor in all of these is actually the first dysfunction, the lack of trust. Only when a team has implicit trust in each other and their leader will they perform to their maximum capacity. Look at any sporting team, from football to rugby to hockey to motor racing. If the trust in each other is there, they can achieve great things, but as soon as one person breaks that trust, the team will fail. So how do we build and maintain that trust? Train your people as a team. By developing team spirit you will be able to employ your organisation, department, or section to its fullest capabilities. Then…….
Lead your Team by Example!
• Know yourself and seek self-improvement. This is possible by continually strengthening your attributes by reading and self-study. Invest in your leadership development.
• Be technically proficient. As a leader, you must know your job and have a solid familiarity with your employees' jobs.
• Seek responsibility and take responsibility for your actions. Search for ways to guide your organisation to new heights. And when things go wrong, do not blame others.
• Make sound and timely decisions. Use good problem solving, decision-making, and planning tools.
• Set the example. Be a good role model for your employees. They will believe what they see - not what they hear.
• Know your people and look out for their well-being. Know human nature and the importance of sincerely caring for your workers.
• Keep your people informed. Know how to communicate with your people, seniors, and other key people within the organization.
• Develop a sense of accountability, ownership and responsibility in your people. These traits will help them carry out their professional responsibilities. Use staff management skills to motivate your team.
• Ensure tasks are understood, supervised, and accomplished. Communication is the key to this responsibility.
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