I’ve facilitated many a workshop on leadership and communication skills, working more effectively, building resilience, emotional intelligence, and what it takes to be a successful team.
The 3 steps to being the best leader you can be, creating cohesive teams and living your best life came to me through reflection and observation. I’m going to share my 3 steps, and the steps within the steps, for your consideration. Over the coming weeks I’ll be expanding what each of these things have to do with your success.
Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start……wise words indeed.
Step One: SUPPORT
For any one person’s success they need to have supports around them. The old adage, it takes a village, is still true to this day. To be successful we need to have self-awareness, awareness of those around us, and find ways to connect in a meaningful fashion. That is to support one another in our chosen paths.
My Support step incorporates the following:
· Finding our purpose and values to give us direction
· Having trusting relationships
· Creating a safe environment for respectful disagreement or open discussion
· Using emotional intelligence to understand self and others and manage emotions effectively
· Building resilience and adaptability, now touted as ‘agility’
· Encouragement, allowing others to do amazing things, even if we think they can’t be done
· Empathy, in a world in turmoil as it is, we all have different journeys and different viewpoints
· Imparting Power Skills (formally known as ‘soft skills’). The how to, of authentic conversations, thoughtful discussion, engagement, influence, understanding and adapting to people’s behavioural style preferences, or thinking styles
· Coaching to help others find their values, goals, and their way forward
· Mentoring two-way sharing of experience and allowing that person to make their own choices
· Finding balance in this hybrid working world
· Living with change and embracing new opportunities
· Finding joy in what you do
It is a long list, but a worthy one, I think. If there’s something I’ve missed, please reach out and share!
Step Two: CHALLENGE
I think the noun, challenge, is misunderstood with many perceiving it as an aggressive act. Competition is a part of what makes people strive to do better, it does not mean I’m against you. In this context I’m using challenge as a verb, to dispute the truth or validity of something in a supported environment (as in step 1).
My Challenge step incorporates the following:
· Questioning the status quo
· Curiosity
· Finding better ways, or innovation
· Giving and receiving feedback
· Coaching – having people look under the surface to find answers
· Playing devils advocate, a look at consequences, hurdles
· Practicing gratitude, finding the things that give show our success
· Courage to step outside your comfort zone
· To know your values and live with intent
· Identify your strengths and lead with that!
· Know your gaps and work to strengthen them
For some behavioural styles this step can be right out of their comfort zone, fraught with danger and the possibility of conflict. It is essential that the Support steps are put in place before moving up to the challenge step. Trust, understanding and insight are required before working with others to ‘challenge’ their status quo. You’re in it to help them do what they do, better. It’s an outward expression of supporting someone’s growth.
Step Three: CHAMPION
This is where we get to play cheer leader for others. We can champion our own causes, and we can champion someone else’s success. I confess I’m singing Queen’s, “We are the champions” in my head every time I think about this step, and yes it fires me up, and yes, most would be very glad it’s in my head and I’m not singing out loud.
For leaders, and we are all leaders, championing others is one of the noblest things to do. It’s about putting others out there, using a growth mindset that our success is not diminished by someone else’s. Being self-less and driving others success is true leadership. Let’s face it, a team’s success is the leader’s success. They are tied together without doubt.
My Champion step incorporates the following:
· Celebrating success, both yours and those around you
· Giving recognition where it is due, regularly
· Sharing others success, tell the world what they can do
· Making introductions to give others a hand up, share your network
· Giving others a voice, or platform to share their story
· Looking for opportunities to let others shine
· Giving opportunities for others to take the lead, no title required
· Sharing your view of another’s strengths, build them up
· Knowing the aspirations of others and helping them anyway you can
You will notice that you cannot Champion someone if you have not challenged them to know their Why, and the path they wish to take. To get here you must have built strong relationships, built trust, resilience and understanding, that is, you have supported their journey. We must have allowed real conversations to take place, been open to different views and have learned a lot about others drive along the way.
As leaders we can identify the destination with our teams, that is have everyone know where we are going collectively, a shared goal. A great leader will allow each person to find their own path to get there.
This is where the magic happens, new ideas and ways to do things, with a group of people being the best they can be whilst helping each other on the way. True diversity is to do things your way with the support of others, along with being comfortable to ask some difficult questions for consideration. A successful leader and team can disagree, debate, and not take things personally because they know that it’s coming from a place of good intent. If we can then champion each person’s success, have them share their learnings and celebrate it, we truly have a cohesive and self-sufficient team.
Leaders regain balance from allowing their team members to lead from within, become self-sufficient and cohesive. A shared destination whilst finding their own path to get there.
I hope this article has been of value, please reach out if you’d like to discuss anything leadership or team related, I’d love to hear from you. I can help with 1:1 leadership coaching, mentoring or tailored group workshops to help your team perform at its best.
In the coming weeks I’ll share more thoughts around each of these steps. Stay tuned.
Author: Kerrie Nobes, Kerrie Nobes Consulting
Leadership Facilitator & Coach
19 April 2022
A little about the author:
The last 2 years have had me reflecting, as have many people. “What is it that gives me joy and purpose?” I mean other than my family and friends. It’s been a time for learning both about myself and gaining knowledge in my chosen field – helping leaders connect and create cohesive, self-sufficient teams.
I have studied leadership, facilitated Certificate IV in Leadership & Management, currently studying my Diploma of Leadership & Management, and have recently added a Coaching Cert IV qualification through Fire UP Coaching which has set me on this path of discovery (can’t recommend it enough). In fact I was so inspired I’ve started the Diploma of Coaching!
My past working life has had me lead in hospitals as Nurse in charge of shifts in a vascular unit, leading sales teams in the pharmaceutical industry, including a regional sales managerial role covering 4 states of Australia. From there I moved into training working both as a consultant and training manager before moving into full time professional development working with a wide array of industries, with an even wider array of individuals.
DiSC and HBDI accreditations support my interactions with clients and adaptability to work with each person in a way that resonates.
It has taken the support, challenge and championing from newfound allies to take the step of ‘putting myself out there’ and sharing my thoughts – scary, no?
Comments