Article #3 – Solutions for the Human Side of Business - By: Jonathan Creaghan
If performance and length of service were
the only criteria for promotion, then it makes complete sense to put your best
sales person in a management role. But, from a leadership perspective this may
not be the best strategy. You might in-fact be promoting a Partial
Leader.
What is a partial leader?
A partial leader might have the years of
service and can perform well in their role (i.e. get the results the company is
looking for), but lacks either the behavior and/or mindset needed to drive a
team or a department to achieve its goals. We see this happen all the time
within small and medium sized companies. Although sometimes it works, many
times it doesn’t. The company ends up with a leader who is reactionary, who
will try and achieve results without creating buy in from their team, and
thereby feeling the need to go it alone. Or worse, creates inefficiency and
loss productivity, as their emotions dictate what actions are taken to solve an
issue.
Performance is the outcome, behavior is
the action, and your mind is the driver of it all
Leadership is the combination of three
aspects working in unison:
- Mind-set - the ability to use the full potential of the mind including wisdom, reason, strategic thinking, and intuition as well as attitude, values, personality, and integrity.
- Behavior - the action. Experience, skill, as well as one’s ability to work with others, mentor and train their staff properly, translate ideas into reality, inspire, and manage their ego and emotions. Keep their word, trust themselves, others, and effectively use the tools and processes of the company.
- Performance - the outcome of the Mind-set and Behavior working effectively together.
Of course you want to develop your leaders fully, so keep these in mind:
- Is he or she capable of being developed? This question is about potential, training, skill, education, and capability to learn new ideas and translate them into new behaviors
- Are they motivated to grow? This is about mind-set, interest and internal resources to bring about change within themselves through mentoring and coaching.
- Do you know what you are looking for in a leader? This is a question of your own clarity to understand what kind of leader you want for the role. As well as your goals, vision, and culture you are trying to develop and the ability to bring all of this together strategically.
- Do you have the processes within your organization to develop your people? This is about the developmental pathway and steps to follow to actually grow this person.
When company leaders focus on building a
culture around behavior, mindset, and performance certain things begin to
happen:
- A more complete understanding of the entire person is presented
- People become more strategically responsive rather than reactionary.
- Decisions are clearer and communicated more effectively
- Day to day challenges are handled with greater wisdom
- Trust builds within the company
- Suppliers, customers, clients, and others experience the improvements
- Bottom line is positively affected
Jonathan Creaghan helps
clients transform themselves and their workplaces. He believes that businesses ultimately
succeed or fail because of the human factor.
He teaches people to think differently, to see reality with fresh eyes
when solving issues that impede them, whether personal or business. Jonathan provides “Solutions for the Human
Side of Business”. www.jonathancreaghan.com
Jonathan is the author of several
books including Duxter’s Leap! and the Thinking Differently®
Leadership series which includes Thinking
Differently® about… Getting More Done.
His books are published around the globe in several languages.
For more information on Jonathan Creaghan:
-
519.472.2562
Copyright © 2014, Jonathan
Creaghan all rights reserved
