Embracing the 'How': Empowering Your Team for Success
In Winston Faircloth's upcoming book, *Team Love: 28 Ways to Demonstrate Caring at Work* we'll explore concepts from Chapter 3 - "The Team Owns the HOW". This is an essential read for leaders aiming to empower their teams and foster a culture of innovation and trust.
The Newly Onboarded Visionary
After an exhaustive search, you finally hire your dream candidate—an expert in organizational effectiveness. She's eager to bring a fresh perspective to your team, enhancing capability through her insights. A few weeks into her role, a familiar scene unfolds as you schedule a check-in to assess her progress. Her initial feedback is promising—your team is committed, caring, and mission-driven. But there's a pause; something is amiss.
Remember your initial interview? Both of you brainstormed strategies to jumpstart the cultural transformation necessary for your organization. The 'why' was crystal clear—enhancing leadership delegation skills to allow you to focus outwardly. You outlined what success looked like, creating an atmosphere of encouragement.
The Challenge of Unintentional Micromanagement
Yet, during executive sessions, you found yourself suggesting solutions. While your input usually excites, this time it resulted in mixed signals. As your new hire explains, when you share many ideas, they are often perceived as marching orders. This perception might cause your team to frequently shift focus, which can be discouraging.
As leaders, we may inadvertently micromanage by detailing exactly how objectives should be achieved, despite having assembled a talented team precisely for their unique skills and perspectives.
Empowering Your Team's 'How'
To avoid this, it's crucial to remember your role: provide the 'why' and clarify what success looks like. By doing this, you unlock innovation, leaving the 'how' to your team. Imagine the possibilities when team members, the closest to the action, have ownership of their path to success.
Consider that your approach might be more complex or costly. Leaning on your team’s expertise can lead to enhancements beyond your original vision.
Practical Tips for Leaders
1. **Set Clear Intentions**: At the outset of meetings, clarify the purpose. When in idea-generation mode, express that you're seeking input, not issuing directives.
2. **Define Decision-Making**: Explain how decisions will be made. Whether by consensus, gathering input, or leadership discretion, provide clarity.
3. **Trust Seasoned Leaders**: With experienced team members, particularly those promoted internally, avoid dictating processes. Trust them to innovate within the framework you've established.
Conclusion
As we wrap up, remember the power of loving your people who, in turn, love your customers. It's this love and trust that breathe life into your visionary leadership. We encourage you to reflect on today's insights and share your thoughts on our blog. Visit us at forloveofteam.com/blog and let us know your biggest takeaways from this chapter.
Thank you for being a part of our journey. We hope to connect with you again soon on the For Love of Team podcast.