If you are developing leaders, why would you do leadership training right now?
Simple – because the expectations of your business and your team have changed dramatically over the last few years and your leadership style and behaviour needs to keep pace.
BUT “I did some leadership training years ago’
Yes – and I went to the gym years ago as well. Neither prepares me for the leadership or physical challenges that I am facing right now.
You are now expected to manage yourself and your own priorities, hold your team accountable for their tasks, provide clear direction and purpose AND be able to explain your rationale and your why.
Some would claim that this has always been the expectation of leadership. I would counter by stating that the judgement on whether you achieve these things is greater than it has been before – and for a tight labour market, team members can and will jump ship for more than just pay – they expect to be treated well and they expect to be led well.
If you can’t rate yourself as 8 out of 10 or higher for:
- Managing your personal tasks to standard and completion,
- Holding Your team to account for their work output and standards,
- Understand your own strengths and weaknesses and be able to exploit them,
- Understand the strengths and weaknesses of your team and be able to utilise them,
- Provide clear direction and purpose for yourself and your team,
- Be able to explain your way and the why of your business,
THEN
A refresher of your leadership behaviours and skills might be in order.
Ask yourself this – would your team prefer:
A. A leader who is unwilling to test their skills and behaviours against best practice and see if they can improve their skills for the benefit of all – and quite possibly stay stuck, or
B. A leader that is open to asking themselves the question – ‘Can I improve my leadership skills?’ – even if it meaning learning in front of my team?
If you pick A, I wish you the best of luck. If you picked B, take a moment to pick up the phone or email to find the simple first steps you can make to becoming a leader that others choose to follow.
#leadership #team #business #developingleaders #choosetofollow