I was very lucky in my second management job!

With the benefit of hindsight, I guess I was very luck in my second management job. Lucky in that I did not have the skills or knowledge do the work my team where doing! I had no option but to manage.

My first management job was not so good and did not end well! I was able to do the work of the people working for me! But, I didn’t get the best out of them because I thought I had to know everything and failed to ask for their input! 

My words of wisdom (the bit you need to read!)

So my words of wisdom for this article are very simply, “ the leader is there to lead the team not to do the work!”.  

Too be clear, that does not mean I didn’t do some of the work. I have over the years written proposals and bits of technical documents, words for contacts, done the cash flow, attended sales meetings and most importantly bought the pizza when the team have had to work late. But, my main role has been to lead and manage the team. 

What I find interesting is how many people very confidently talk about how they are great leaders while behaving exactly like I did in my first management job! 

So what is leadership?

Here are my thoughts;

First, set a clear direction. So, everyone knows what the team are trying to achieve, how that is to be done and why, what is the benefit to who of successful execution. 

Then, have an agree a plan of action. You might all be heading to the same destination, but if you are all going different routes you will keep bumping into each other. There needs to be a clear plan to achieve the common goal that everyone is working to, so that all activity is co-ordinated in an effective manner.

Ensure everyone’s voice is heard. As I learnt the hard way (see above!), everyone’s voice needs to be heard. In a high performing team everyone’s contribution needs to be considered, not just that of the loudest person! 

Support the team, particularly to experiment with new ideas. The Leader’s job is not only to define the objective but also to enable the team to achieve the outcome! That could be anything from sorting out a supplier or another team, to sheltering the team from external interruptions and everything else in between! 

Make sure the team is working together. Or put another way, making sure the team are communicating effectively with each other in a way that they are all happy with. Arguably this should be number one on the list!