Great team leaders promote leadership from within the group so that each team member can have the opportunity to reach their potential. This requires that other people on the team step up and lead in various situations. To do that, the team leader must be a good judge of character and ability. It’s too easy to say, “John, I’d like you to run the meeting today.” But has John been provided with the tools and skills he needs to lead that meeting? If he doesn’t possess those skills, he is going to fall flat on his face. When others on the team see that, it will discourage them from wanting to step up and take the lead because it is just too risky.
With that said, consider the following keys to successfully letting others step up:
–Communicate expectations. When giving a team member the space to take the initiative, be sure to give specific and clear direction. Instead of saying something like, “Listen, Jane, you have been on the team for a long time, and I need you to take the lead on the Jones project. I believe in you,” try being more specific with what exactly you expect Jane to do. For example, “Jane, you will be overseeing the Jones project. Please reach out to them today to introduce yourself and set up a meeting no later than the end of the week to put a plan together. If you have any issues, let me know.” Specificity is key when creating a supportive environment.
–Strategically micromanage. Just because you assign someone to run a meeting, doesn’t mean that they know what that means. Therefore, strategically micromanage along the way, asking to see the agenda before the meeting and then asking for a follow-up e-mail after the meeting with what was agreed to as well as any challenges or opportunities that came out of the meeting. While it is important to give our team autonomy to figure things out on their own, that does not mean that we are completely hands off along the way.
–Let them fail. While this may sound counterintuitive when leading those around you, failure is necessary for growth. It helps us improve and avoid repeating the same mistakes over again. Failure helps build resilience, grit, and creates learning opportunities that lead to valuable life lessons and greater success. As a leader, when someone on your team fails in some way, it is your job to lift them up and help them embrace the situation and learn from it. Your positive and encouraging reaction to the situation will also send a powerful message to others on the team that it is okay to take risks and potentially fail.
–Put people in the right positions. This often involves awareness about the leadership and communication strengths of team members as well as taking the time to understand what they are passionate about. For some, taking the lead on a project is truly rewarding, whereas for others, that may not fill their bucket. Others may want to be given the opportunity to lead a meeting or the ability to coach and mentor newer team members. The best leaders understand the importance of identifying where their team members will thrive and then gives them the support to get there.
On this episode of “Steve Adubato‘s Lessons in Leadership,” Steve Adubato and Mary Gamba talk with Trish O’Keefe, PhD, RN, Senior Vice President and Chief Nurse Executive, Atlantic Health System, and President, Morristown Medical Center about nurse leadership and the future of healthcare and partnerships. Then, Steve and Mary are joined by Michele Adubato, CEO, The North Ward Center and Founder, The Center for Autism, about leadership, empathy, and therapy dogs, and how “Buddy” the therapy dog in training is making a difference in the lives of so many.
