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Team
Leadership
An effective leader is one who is able to influence,
inspire and empower others to unleash their unlimited
potential. The following are the most challenging skills
for effective leadership.
Looking Ahead
Effective Communication
Action Planning and Organising
Delegation and Discipleship
Evaluation and Appraisal
Reference Point
Servanthood
Handling Change
Integrity, Courage and Influence (ICI)
Problem Solving and Decision Making
Looking Ahead
One of the key principles to
effective leadership is the ability to look ahead into
the future and snatch a crystal clear vision. Whilst
living in Jamaica my grandmother would ask us to catch
and kill a chicken for Sunday dinner. After catching the
chicken we would cover its body with a basin, leaving
its head exposed and ready for chopping. Finally, when
all was ready we would cut off its head and watch with
amazement as the head danced about for a few seconds.
The body would beat against the inside of the basin
until there was no life left. On occasions, we would
lift the basin and watch both the head and body dance
around in a violent rage.
The chicken in its perfect state
represents the leader and his/her team working in
perfect harmony. Once the leader has lost his/her head,
i.e. the vision, anarchy and destruction will take over.
No one can defy the universal law which categorically
and unequivocally states, "without a vision the people
perish".
This law is not negotiable. This is one of the reasons
why an effective leader with a red-hot burning vision in
the home or in the work place is a "priceless gem". You
are a priceless gem aren't you?
Leaders without a vision are like a
headless chicken causing
anarchy and destruction for themselves and the entire
team.
Become an outstanding leader by
making it your business to know what lies ahead. Spend
time looking ahead to obtain a crystal clear vision
before you do anything else. Remember that without a
vision your time and your life will be wasted. Become
committed, enthusiastic and confident about your vision
by constantly meditating on it. You will never ever
become an effective leader without a vision.
Effective Communication
Look throughout history at the
world's most effective leaders and you will discover
that they all had the ability to communicate
effectively. Communicating verbally or non-verbally must
be learnt and put to use. Failing to communicate with
your team and others could cost you time and money.
Communication is a three way process whereby the:
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a |
Communicator sends the
message |
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b |
Listener receives the message |
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c |
Listener gives feedback |
Communication is displayed in the
education system when the teacher sends the message. The
pupils receive the message and during examination, offer
feedback on what they have heard. A leader may not be
able to communicate in writing but the ability to listen
and communicate in speech must not be underestimated.
Action Planning and Organising
A professional builder would not take
the risk of building a house without first putting
together a complete plan. Become a master builder who
knows that the investment in planning and organising
will give you a pay back of 100 to 1. Every good plan
must have the following:
Why:
must it be done
What: must be done
Who: will do it
How: will it be done
Where: will it be done
When: must it be done by
Resources: needed
Cost: of overall plan
Risks: associated with it
Success criteria: how will they be measured?
Delegation and
Discipleship
Delegation is giving responsibility
to others to carry out specific tasks to which you are
accountable. Some of my friends call me Mr Delegator. I
earn this title by observing the following:
Decide
Educate and Train
Listen and Communicate
Encourage and Support
Governing Values
Authority and Accountability
Thank and Reward
Evaluate
Evaluation and Appraisal
Let everyone know how well they are
doing because they need to know. Give regular feedback
to individuals within the team on how things are being
done and be open, honest and sensitive. Remember that
your team could be your work colleagues or your family.
Reference Point
A reference point is someone or
something that you and your people can turn to in time
of need. Who do you, your staff or family members turn
to in time of need, support or guidance? Are you an
ideal reference point or role model for the people that
you lead? Are you seen as honest, loving and
trustworthy? In today's pressurised world, more and more
personal and interpersonal skills are needed in leaders.
One of my reference points is meeting consistently with
a small group of like-minded men since 1981.
Servanthood
Effective leadership is not about
power seeking but about equipping, inspiring, empowering
and serving the people you lead. Especially if they have
placed you in the leadership position. I am at my best
as an effective leader when I serve those that I am
leading. My greatest joy is not in gaining followers but
in producing effective leaders. Great teams always have
great leaders and great leaders always produce the best
in their people. When I serve and get people to operate
at their best, I am making life easier for myself and
others.
Handling Change
Leaders today face enormous
challenges in this changing world. There are
unpredictable and constant changes taking place almost
every day in:
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a |
Government
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e |
Public Opinion |
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b |
Human Beings |
f |
Economics
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c |
Technology
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g |
Products and
Services |
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d |
Unpredictable
Situations |
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Do not allow yourself to become set
in your ways so that when it's time to change you
cannot. The only person that does not change is God.
Leaders do not have the ability to remain the same
yesterday, today and forever. Change or be changed.
Integrity, Courage and Influence
I asked a group of leaders to list
all the qualities of an effective leader and was told,
"You need to be a good liar to be a good leader." How
sad it is to hear leaders of today respond so boldly
with such a statement. No wonder some of our homes and
organisations are destroyed. Integrity, courage and
positive influence over others demands adherence to a
code of honest values. If those you lead cannot trust
you because of your dishonesty, your influence over them
will disappear.
Problem Solving and Decision Making
The best way to destroy a tree
completely is to destroy the root. Ineffective leaders
mistake symptoms for the root cause and waste valuable
time and effort. Whenever a problem arises, before you
do anything, first identify the root cause. Symptoms
only indicate that something is wrong.
In SCHOLAR we have our own football
team that is managed by one of my partners, Delaney
Brown. I am always excited when I sit in the changing
room and listen to the players before a match. They say
things like: "We are going to get them." "This is our
game and no one is going to stop us." "We will win."
"Let us organise ourselves and go and get them." Never
has any of the players asked the manager, "Why is the
other team trying to stop us from scoring?" Both teams
have accepted that they are in a battle to win the game.
We should look at life like these
players, because we are locked in a battle every day of
our life. Whatever we aim to achieve, there is always a
force that is fighting against us. From the day we were
born, this battle has being going on and it will
continue until the day we die. The real question is,
"Will you treat your problems or situations like the
football players or will you complain?" Some of us lie
down and cry all day about our problems, what for? Wake
up and realise that you are in a continuous battle every
day of your life. Organise yourself and your team and
come out fighting. Be strong and always say, "We will
win."
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