A TEAM EFFORT!

A lot depends on leadership and I speak to a lot of you who lead in your different spheres and areas of work. Countries need good leadership; the path that a country takes, whether it does well or not, depends on who is leading. Teams need good leadership; we’ve seen that with our recent World Cup victory with M.S. Dhoni leading, and much has been written about his leadership style. Corporations need good leadership and in these days we are hearing so much about how new leadership is being brought in and the old guard seems to be giving way to new.
Leadership is so important in everything that we do. At whatever level we are operating, we need people to lead and lead well, and we need people who will trust their leadership and follow.

Kendra Cherry wrote an article on ‘8 Major Leadership Theories’ where she says, “While many different leadership theories have emerged, most can be classified as one of 8 major types.”

1. The ‘Great Man’ Theory: this assumes that the capacity for leadership is inherent, that great leaders are born. And I beg your indulgence because the term ‘great man’ is not politically correct today, but it came as a term more in connection with military leadership.
2. Trait Theories: this assumes that people inherit certain qualities and traits that make them better suited to leadership. Trait theories often identify particular personalities or behavioral characteristics that are shared by leaders.
3. Contingency Theories which focus on particular variables related to the environment that might determine which particular style of leadership is best suited for every situation.
4. Situational Theories where leaders choose the best course of action based upon situational variables.
5. Behavioral Theories: based on the fact that great leaders are made and not born. This is rooted in behaviorism; that people can learn to become leaders through teaching and observation.
6. Participative Theories: the style is one that takes the input of others into account and these leaders encourage participation and contribution.
7. Management Theories which focus on the role of supervision, organization and group performance – based on the system of rewards and punishments.
8. Relationship Theories: also known as Transformational theories. They’re connections formed between leaders and followers. They motivate and inspire people by helping group members see the importance and higher good of the task. These leaders are focused on the performance of group members, but they also want each member to fulfill his or her potential.

Looking at all of this, I think that there is room in leadership – take for example, in a corporation - where all of these 8 theories may surface at different levels. But the key to getting things done is (I think) the relationship theory, where leaders are focused on the performance of group members; where they also want each person to fulfill his/her potential; where the common good is as important as the personal good for every person. You then begin to realize that a team, and every member on that team, begins to feel that they are working towards something and that they themselves are growing as part of that team. 

“Team work makes the dream work” was a quote by John Maxwell. You have a dream; when the team works together, then that dream becomes a reality. I don’t know how many of you have seen the movie ‘Ben Hur’ a classic movie from the late 60’s. Ben Hur is getting ready for a chariot race and he talks to his 4 horses, going to the first one Altair, saying, “9 times around the circus, 9 times; you’ve got the stamina”. Then he goes to Aldebaran, “9 lives to live;” in other words, you’ve got to keep going even beyond. Then he goes to Rigel, “You’re swift, but you must not win the race alone”. Finally to Antares, “You’re steady, the anchor that holds all 4 together.”

I’ve always been inspired by that script in the movie, because I see that each one of us brings various traits to a team. Of course we also bring our weaknesses as well, but we concentrate on the strengths. A wise person once told me, “Never try to bring your weakness up to being a strength; what will happen is that you will become mediocre and average. Instead optimize the strengths because that is your strength. Be careful! Never take major decisions on areas of your weakness. Instead get people around you who will help you, give you the best counsel in your areas of weakness.

Jeff Jansen wrote a book, ‘Championship Team Building: What every coach needs to know to build a motivated, committed and cohesive team.’ In it he talks of the 7 C’s of team-building.

1. Common Goals: let everybody know that this is the goal we are working towards.
2. Commitment: everybody needs to be committed towards that goal.
3. Complementary Roles: understand that there will be complementary roles. When you look at the Indian cricket team, or even the IPL team, you will see that everybody has a different role; there are people who are sent in to hit and get the most runs and others who drop anchor and stay the 20 overs, there are fielders in the inner circle blocking the runs; then you have the strike bowlers and the bowlers who can contain; all of this comes together to make a good team.
4. Clear communication: it’s so important that there be no room for ambiguity.
5. Constructive conflict: not that everybody thinks alike, but that we encourage conflicting opinions because that is one of the strengths of a team
6. Cohesion: coming together, a cohesive force.
7. Credible Coaching: a belief that the people who are leading us have the best interests of the company, the goals and ourselves at heart.

Teams are so important for achieving the goals that we have, both in our corporations and in our lives. As we look ahead and see those things that we want to accomplish, we need to surround ourselves with good people; not people who are just like us, but people who can bring to the whole objective, varied influences, increased skills that we may not possess; but together we can bring that goal to fulfillment.

Ken Blanchard said, “None of us is as strong as all of us.”

Do you have good teams around you? Do they have common goals? Are they all committed to that goal? Are you encouraging complementary roles? Are you clearly communicating to them? Are you encouraging constructive conflict? Is there good cohesion? Are you coaching them well? A team that works together will make that dream that you have or that assignment that you have, find fulfillment.

God Bless You All.