One of the things I’m trying to gain a greater understanding of is “the team’s perspective”…
- WHAT do they need to hear most from me?
- HOW are they doing?
- WHAT do they need most from me to set them up for success?
- HOW are they (we) identifying & developing new leaders?
- WHAT is their greatest challenge?
- HOW are they leading/coaching through said challenge?
I like to ask my team questions because I like understanding how my team thinks.
Going back to the first two questions…
The thing I miss the mark on most (most of us probably do) is learning to be an encouraging leader!! Over the years I’ve learned teams respond to encouragement way more than “here’s what we can do better speeches!”
Some say there’s a time to encourage & a time to “sharpen.” Where I’d agree that’s sometimes true, most of the time, I’d disagree! From my experience, I’m learning…
- PASSIONATE people WANT to be/do better
- UN-passionate people WANT to get by
- PASSIONATE people work harder when encouraged
- UN-passionate people work harder when lectured
- PASSIONATE people are self-motivated & GROW more when encouraged
- UN-passionate people are goal-motivated & DO more when lead by the hand (lectured)
I’m learning that if we have passionate people in the right spots & if WE are leading well, WE sharpen more when we consistently encourage!
- If the team lacks of passion…we must cast more vision (or find MORE passionate leaders)
- If the team lacks of motivation…we must champion & encourage even more
Whatever the problem, great leaders understand its their problem, not the team’s! Our teams simply need more encouraging coaching that casts hard vision, puts PASSIONATE people in the right spots, believes in them & champions them there!!
Just what I’m learning… 
