Brainstorms
Uh, there's amouse? And he'sin a submarine.Give your team time to think, before you meet. Create a safe space for sharing, and don't allow ideas to be shot down. Look for opportunities to combine ideas and create new and better ones.
Fostering Innovation
Sit down and tie yourself up again!When fostering a culture of innovation, reward employees for taking ownership of their own problems and coming up with solutions. Encourage an outward view - looking for inspiration from the world outside the organisation. Give employees the scope to carry forward ... read more
Unleashing Your Creativity
All the thinking has clogged up my brain pipeLet your subconscious go to work - time pressure stifles creativity, which needs an incubation period. Be ready for ideas to flow at any time - always have a recording device or pen and paper with you, including during the night.
Act Swiftly
Confuse them! Distract them!Act swiftly. Take prompt action to stop the problem getting worse, and take responsibility for dealing with the problem.
Communicate Fully
Jimmy, let's keep this between usCommunicate fully in a crisis. Know who you need to contact. Keep your team, customers and suppliers informed if they will be affected.
Empathy
Now that's insensitive Consider how others are likely to react emotionally before you act. Recognise why and modify what you do accordingly. Encourage your team to be open about how they are feeling without responding to what they say negatively.
Self-Awareness
Three against one, you don't stand a chanceBe conscious of the impact that your emotional impulses have on your behaviour. Become more aware of your personal moods, emotions and drives and what causes them. Plan to avoid those situations which trigger negative emotions.
Self-Regulation
GET ANGRY!Recognise the effect your moods are having on others. Try to control disruptive impulses, perhaps by counting to ten or breathing slowly. Try to suspend judgment and think before acting. For example, don't send emails when you're angry.
How You Behave Matters
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Evil Club!How you behave matters. Your team will judge their workplace as ethical or not based on the way that you behave. Don't compromise ethics for the sake of pressing business goals. Weigh up your options daily and choose the most ethical course of action.
The Only Way Is Ethics
But it's not against the law, technically?Ethics are for everyday. Talk frequently about ethical values. Explain how these apply to the work of your team, and explain that being ethical means doing the right thing, even when you're not required to.
Everyone's A Teacher And Everyone's A Learner
We don't really have a mentoring culture down hereEncourage your team to share their expertise. Be open to reverse mentoring, and identify good potential partners for mentoring encourage them to establish clear goals and expectations.
Learn From Every Success And Difficulty
Why don't we just sign off on this and go and have a martini?Encourage debriefs after every success. Mistakes are fine, as long as you learn from them. Look at the reasons for difficulties and plan to avoid them in the future.
Make Formal Learning Work
Just send them all off on coursesOnly schedule a formal course when it represents the best way to address the learning need. Don't use them to abdicate your responsibility for staff development.Brief your team member ahead of any course to make sure they have clear goals and know they have your supp... read more
Avoiding Conflict
It's fine. It's justbanter.A good leader is not afraid of conflict. Gather up the courage to tackle conflict swiftly - if you ignore the situation it will only get worse. Remain calm and focus on the issues. Listen to all sides of the argument, treating both parties with trust and respect.
Being Loved
Bezzies forever, love Bad Leader.'A good leader is not desperate to be loved, so be prepared to make decisions that provide the best solution to a problem. Accept that you cannot be loved by everybody - this is one of the challenges of leadership. Look to improve the negative effects for people adve... read more
Control Freakery
Rachel will breathe when I tell her to breathe!A good leader cannot be a control freak. Don't feel you have to make all the decisions just because you are the leader. Involve your team in important decisions or delegate to them. Give your team the space to breathe - a sense of autonomy is a great mo... read more
Dithering
Don't tell them about the specials board now! I'm wrapping this up!A good leader is not a ditherer - make a quick decision when the situation demands it. Don't be autocratic - involve others as needed. Be open to modify your decision if better information comes available.
The Importance Of Small Talk
But it's boring! There I said it.A good leader can do small talk. Engage with the people you meet. Ask questions and show an interest. Look for mutual value from every relationship.
Vanity
I now rule over you all from the fourth floorA good leader is not vain. Be confident about your strengths but aware of the room you have to improve as a leader. Be open to feedback from others about your role as a leader, and give credit to all those who contribute to successful performance.
Deal With Problems
Couldn't you have blown it up a bit more carefully?!Be prepared to deal with problems. When the chips are down, it's you, the leader, who has to deal with the situation - don't try and shift the blame down the line. When things go well, it's the person who's done the job that takes the credit. Find ... read more
Have A Clear Vision
Face down in the river of regretHave a clear vision. Recognise that if you don't know where you're going, you're likely to end up somewhere else. As a leader you need a vision of where you want your organisation or department to go. Involve your team in clarifying your vision.
Show Them How It's Done
Clean up on aisle three please!Show them how it's done. You need to model the behaviour you want others to adopt. Be visible - not stuck in an office somewhere. Setting an example means not avoiding the unpleasant jobs, so show you can get your hands dirty.
Show You Believe
If you were puppy, I'd put you DOWN!Show you believe in your team. Look out for actions that deserve praise and be quick to do it. If you need to point out problems or mistakes, show faith in the person's ability to get it right. Don't give up on them - you're always looking to build belief and conf... read more
Imagine The Best And Worst Case Outcomes
It's the coolest thing since roller skatesOnce you have developed a sharply focussed question and given yourself choices, you need to assess your options. Imagine the future and the best, and worst, case outcomes.
Avoid The Ego Barrier
I didn't go wrong! It was bad luckAvoid the ego barrier to decision making. Don't take it all upon yourself. Your ego could be a big obstacle to team thinking.
One Question, Several Possible Answers
Any ideas'?! is not a sharply focussed question.When you're making team decisions, first develop a sharply focussed question. Then give yourself choices. Be flexible, avoiding rigor mentis - a rigid mind.
Forming And Storming
Ok. Call me when this gets a bit more strategic.When forming a team, take a strong role in directing them. Establish objectives and responsibilities, and build good relationships. Storming will mean you must resolve conflicts, provide support and remain firm in the face of challenges.
Norming And Performing
Sorry - I get annoying when I'm nervous.In the Norming stage, take a step back and help team members to take further responsibility. Share controversial views and address difficult issues.During the Performing stage, give the team space to make decisions for themselves. Recognise contributions and a... read more
Related Courses
Leadership Essentials eLearning Course Series
Leadership is an activity and not a position. Help your managers and aspiring leaders take the next step and learn the more strategic aspects of leading a team. "I watched the new Leadership Essentials and they're perfect to send to learners." NEWSQUEST Topics include:
