Let your team soar!

Soaring to Excellence was chosen by one of our clients as their theme for the year. Soaring, what an exciting theme! It struck us that it would be hard to find a more inspirational one. Words that inspire contain both a picture of the desired result and the feeling it will achieve. Soaring not only suggests the result: going above and beyond and reaching new heights but also the feeling: of unlimited possibilities, the exhilaration and sense of freedom that someone who soars experiences. Soaring becomes addictive and perhaps best of all, once you get the hang of it, just like a bird, it can happen with ease. Most leaders try to motivate their team to take off, to go above and beyond. Although leaders can't make people soar, they can develop and inspire people so that they are capable of soaring. Sometimes, however, a leader doesn't let their people fly; they inadvertently anchor people to the ground. What a waste. 

Here are some leadership behaviours that clip people's wings and prevent them from taking off and soaring. 

Creating fear

DON’T SKIP THIS ONE because you believe it certainly doesn’t apply to you. Most leaders do not intentionally instill fear. Fear is not conducive with soaring. A leader can trigger fear by the way they deal with mistakes. If the focus is assigning blame rather than problem solving and learning so that the same mistake is not repeated, fear is generated. If the leader has a tendency to lose their cool, fear is generated. If a leader is an imposing figure and does not give people an opportunity to get to know them fear can be instilled. A woman commented to us recently. “Every time I saw Michael coming down the hall I would duck into an office.” Michael was a manager and one who would be shocked if he had known he made her nervous. Why did she react that way? Michael was known to be demanding and had an austere personality until you got to know him, but he did not create opportunities for that to happen. When people are afraid of doing something wrong they may conclude that keeping their head down and doing nothing new is the safest way. Doing what they have always done won’t get people any higher off the ground. 

Criticizing for out of the box thinking or risk taking that went wrong

Soaring requires at least a bit of risk taking. When failed risk is punished rather than learned from it becomes extinct in the team and so do hopes of exceptional performance. 

Showing favoritism 

When people see the leader’s light shining on others but they are left in the shadows, any desire to meet more than minimal requirements begins to fade. 

Ignoring successes however small

Success begets success. Recognizing and celebrating success creates two essential requirements for soaring: energy and belief in oneself. 

Lack of clear goals and expectations

Your team members will reach as high as they possibly can when they know what they are reaching for, why they are reaching for it, and how to reach for it, and are motivated, engaged and supported in doing so. When people have an opportunity to use their best strengths work becomes rewarding and they frequently take flight with no prodding. 

Expecting too little from people

It is amazing what people can accomplish if they are challenged to do so. When we accept mediocrity we get mediocrity. When the leader shows that they believe their people can fly, soon members come to believe it themselves and before you know it the team is soaring. 

Reflect on your leadership approach and commit to at least one thing you will do differently to enable your people to take flight and soar to new possibilities.

Until next time!

Nicole