“What makes you a good leader?” Asked a delegate in the middle of a training on how to lead teams effectively.
Before answering questions, I tend to throw them to the audience. It helps the class gain perspectives, and in my opinion, the first contribution was golden, and it was a real life #story:
“Since I joined our company a little over 10 years ago as a graduate trainee. I have been privileged to meet leaders, but none so amazing as one of our once upon a time executive directors, then a manager.
I have observed him from a far, since I never had the privilege to work with him directly. Although, that would have been a dream come true.
I have heard severally, that, he would go to any length to fight for those that work with him. Regardless of who they are in grade and status.
I thought they were exaggerated stories. I just could not reconcile how such a very busy director, with a very big team creates time for such little things.
‘As long as he’s aware of your challenge, you are sorted.’ Said a member of his team.
My doubts were finally put to rest. I was filled with awe for him when I ran into him at the accounts department, passionately fighting for a junior staff member that was denied part of her bonus. You need to see him.
His influence was made even more visible when he decided to move to another organisation. The entire directorate was prepared to move with him, and many actually did as much as the opportunities were available.
His team members proudly make statements like:
*As long as you work for him, he will make sure what is yours is yours.
*We go to work to fight for him everyday, because he never stops fighting for us.
Wow, It was as if he runs a different organisation inside the company. His sacrifices and sincere service to the team was unparalleled, and they were prepared to travel any road for him.”
Dear leader, here are 7 lessons from this story:
…The first and the most important business of the leader is caring for the team. If you careless about them, they won’t buy into you If they don’t buy into you, you’re leading no one.
…Put the team first and everything will fall in place. Simon Sinek, made this irrevocably clear in his book: Leaders Eat Last.
…The team is not there for the leader. It’s the other way round. Stop expecting what you’ve not given.
…No team member is little, others are watching. Whatever you do to one is done to all.
…Leadership is built on relationship and connection. In the followers’ mind, vision is secondary.
…Fight for your team not against them.
…When you go a mile for them, they will travel the whole journey for you. “We go to work to fight for him everyday…”
Question answered?
