As a leader, one of your
distinctive competencies should be the ability to motivate your team. When a team is
motivated they function effectively. Steve Jobs, Lee Iacocca and Jack Welch
are corporate leaders who changed the fortunes of their companies and teams
with the power of motivation. History is filled with many more examples of teams
motivated by great leaders and as a result these teams were able to achieve the
impossible.
The
Impartial Leader
As the leader
of your team you
have the obligation to act in the best interest of your company
and its stakeholders. One aspect is implementing
the company’s policies. Whether it is rewarding an employee who performs
better or taking corrective action with someone who is failing to meet
their contributions to the team, you have to be impartial. Your actions should
be seen as impartial to the team also because it can help inspire confidence in
your team. They will see that you aren’t playing favorites and know that it is
their actions and performance driving their place on the team.
Know Your People
Another part
of being an impartial team leader is being adept at dealing with people.
Ultimately, an organization is only as competitive as
the people in it. You need to know when, how and where to acknowledge and praise your team member’s individual efforts. Some members
of your team might appreciate public acknowledgement, while others might feel
awkward. It is your job as the team
leader to know which of your team members prefer what kind of acknowledgement and
align your actions accordingly.
Stepping
Up When It Gets Tough Will Earn Their Respect
Whether it is an internal or external
occurrence, no one enjoys handling difficult
situations. For example, dealing
with an internal teammate can raise concerns with the other members of your
team. Some team members may feel inclined to sympathize with their colleague or
friend. Regardless of the scenario, you always need to have a sound reason
to justify your actions, which should be measured, fitting and transparent. Ultimately, if you are acting in
line with your company’s processes and simply carrying out your duties you need
to stay strong. People will respect you.
In the same way, you
should act with integrity and be seen to
doing so. Not only will your words be valued more by
your team, but you will lead with more confidence and a clear conscience.
Motivate your team by being impartial and gain their
respect through your actions and words. When you lead by
example, you motivate your team to go the extra mile.
A confident team will be
able to deliver results even under the most challenging of circumstances. This
kind of leadership is an asset to all stakeholders in any company.
John Tartaglio is
an inspirational speaker and motivational speaker who empowers his audiences to
overcome adversity. He is an MBA candidate at the University of
Connecticut and the first person in history to run a marathon with no legs. His
mission is to inspire audiences to pursue what they value in life. You can
learn more about John at www.johntartaglio.com.
