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We’ve been taking several blog posts to discuss the Five Practices that Drive Leadership Performance. In the last post we discussed Approaches to Enable Others to Act. In this post we will discuss how to Encourage the Heart.
These ideas are taken from the Leadership Practices Inventory and A Coach’s Guide to Developing Exemplary Leaders by James Kouzes and Barry Posner.
I was once part of the “dream team.” No, I’m not talking about the 1992 U.S. men’s Olympic basketball team or even the 1980 U.S. men’s Olympic hockey team. I’m talking about a business team. We rocked! We had a boss who set high standards and believed in us. He was quick to give feedback and recognition. We had fun celebrating victories while working together to grow the business and exceed all expectations.
I often look back at that experience and wonder why it was different. What made it such a powerful team? How did our boss build the dream team? The answer: We had a boss that encouraged the heart.
Here are two commitments that are necessary to encourage the heart of your team. They shape the environment and give team members an opportunity to operate at their best.
Commitment 1: Recognize contributions by showing appreciation for individual excellence.
Team members need feedback on how they are performing. When they receive positive feedback, it provides the fuel to meet objectives. Great leaders receive high performance from their team members, because they expect it, set high standards and believe in the capabilities of their team.
Commitment 2: Celebrate the values and victories by creating a spirit of community.
Great leaders practice what they preach and genuinely care for their team members. They use celebrations to have fun and to highlight the values of the organization. This helps to build community.
Here are some approaches in which leaders who support a culture of celebration and recognition are involved.
1. Personalize recognition. Praise people for a job well done. A verbal or written “thank you,” that specifies a certain behavior, goes a long way. There are a number of simple things you can do. Recently I was in a client meeting where the CEO gave one of his leaders a small clock as a way of saying, “thank you.” That leader quickly handles customer issues so they never get to the CEO.
It’s also important to know your team members well and to know what type of praise each member values. Is it written? Verbal? One-on-one? In larger settings?
2. Develop an awards program. Some companies have established awards programs for team members that go “above and beyond” in accomplishing a project.
3. Showcase examples of what the organization stands for. When team members exemplify the values of the organization, showcase them in meetings and share your appreciation one-on-one,
Encouraging the heart is a powerful force in any organization. It strengthens the fabric of the organization.
Share Your Thoughts: What approaches do you use to build your dream team?
