leadership – Road to improvement

Think back to those school days, (no need to say how many), when being kids, we were asked to do different assignments during summer time. One of them could be to read one or two books, elaborate a summary, answer a list of questions and give our opinion about what was the author trying to tell us. We were «responsible» for completing the task. The teacher was «accountable».

We are not in school anymore, but some principles remain the same although the comparision with organizations can be a bit exaggerated.

In modern organizations every person on a team may be responsible for a given task that is required to complete a massive project. Back to school, You are the one to read the book, write a summary of it and answer the teacher’ questions if the moment comes. You can do what you were asked, ignore the assignment hoping that no one will ever ask, or roll the dice by copying from someone…

But leaders, they need to hold themselves accountables for the results. Accountability «is defined as taking ownership to ensure responsibilities are achieved as expected. This means that leaders must clearly understand expectations before making commitments.» So, as leaders, we are our «team’ teacher». Teachers know the result they can expect, what they want to achieve when having their students doing something, reading, playing, creating. They know each student potential and their limits. They will take ownership for the class lack of performance, they will know how to reward and how to correct. So being a leader means that we can not be the ones asking what was the book about because the principal shows interest. As leaders, we have responsibilities: to know what kind of book we are asking to read, to prepare them for the future, to track our class progress and provide assistance if needed.

We are not in school anymore. But we still have a lot to read.

resonsilibity and accountability in leadership (Eagle’s flight)

Some tips to differentiate the two types of bosses: a true one or just someone with a job title

Imagine a sunny, nice day and two umbrellas, one small (individual) and another very big, so big that a whole team would fit under it. Let’s take a look at which one would be chosen and how by bosses.

True/entitled type of boss

A true boss, leads while taking care of his team, he/she is a reference, is someone to learn from. He can somehow anticipate the future, look up in the sky, observing, noticing changes and fixing a strategy a road map. Then he acts consequently, ensuring that all the team knows where to go and what to do. If it starts to rain, when pressure goes up, he opens the umbrella He sets up the best organization for the team so all people can fit inside the same perimeter, not being left alone and out of the protection of the umbrella’s shadow and protection. and ensures that work goes on but no one is directly exposed. He/she teaches how to observe, improve. He is a referent. Once a possible successor shows up, from time to time, will delegate allowing him to hold the umbrella.

The «named», assigned boss

He/she has a small, umbrella, somewhere. Doesn’t have much clear what is going to happen or where to go once it starts raining. When the rain finally arrives, he uses the umbrella, to protect himself by letting his/her team find the shelter (if there is any time) by themselves. Will not teach, neither guide. He will not lead, only make sure that he doesn’t get wet from the rain. If there are other umbrellas, it can be possible that are taken away from the ones that hold them. Your fault, not mine.

There are lots of people who «get» a team, who coordinate a group of people. Being a «true» boss includes behaving as a leader, holds the pressure just the way it’s needed, develops each of the members, and over all this, he cares about HIS/HER people.

If you are boss, how do you handle umbrellas? And how do bosses you know handle them?

Etiqueta: leadership

About books, summer assignments and teams

Boss leadership & umbrellas

Some tips to differentiate the two types of bosses: a true one or just someone with a job title