Six ways to lead change, build teams, and make it personal

I was speaking at a Fortune 500 company the other day about the reason for strategies. Companies create strategies so they can create sustained profitable growth. The fact is that companies don’t grow – people do. Strategy without execution is meaningless, and execution without engaged people is impossible.

So, how can leaders grow and engage their people and grow their organization at the same time? Here are six ways to lead your teams to success.

1. Embrace Reality. In more than 20 years in the consulting business, I’ve learned that change and growth can occur naturally if you have an honest assessment of where you are and a clear picture of where you want to go. This sounds simple, but it’s rare. Honesty is both difficult and valuable. Convert the sting of reality to an ally, and see it as a fuel for change.
2. Create a Common Mental Model. Leaders need to be clear and aligned on the strategies they create. Shared meaning is more important than familiar words or schematics. Common mental models help us make sure that what we’re trying to create means the same thing to everyone.
3. Own the Whole Before The Separate Pieces. People get to be leaders by taking care of their piece of the puzzle. But to execute strategy, you must be an owner of the whole business strategy first. You will have to give up something before you get anything back.
4. Work “On the Business” vs. “In the Business.” We often notice that when “on the business” (the strategic change) becomes uncomfortable, leaders flee that discomfort for “in the business” activities (such as day-to-day selling). These are activities they’ve already mastered and that make them feel good. Don’t do this.
5. Make It Personal. Your behaviors become the “pace car” for growth. Be the change you want to see in others. To make it real for your people, make it real for yourself. This requires embracing discomfort and remembering that all change means beginning again.
6. Get Everyone into the Game. It’s no fun to sit on the bench. Make sure all of your people understand your strategy and how they contribute to its success. Until every person is secure in the knowledge that this company is going somewhere and they are helping to drive that vehicle to success, you won’t execute even the most elegant strategy.

A leader’s primary job in helping a company to grow is to change the game to one where you win only through the wins of your people. You may have to give up some control and rethink your purpose in your company. To be the change you expect in others, go first faster, be more vulnerable, and make everything way more personal.

Source: Six Ways to Lead Change, Build Teams, and Make It Personal | Jim Haudan | LinkedIn

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Jim Haudan

Jim Haudan is CEO of Root Inc., an Advantage thought leader partner. With a passion that goes beyond leading Root to success, he has been helping organizations unleash hidden potential by fully engaging their people to deliver on the strategies of the business.

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