5 Ways to be a Leader Who Turns Heads
It’s an ego boost to sit in the power chair and see heads turn in your direction. You enjoy it. You come to expect it.
The beginning of the leadership journey is about getting heads turning in your direction. As time passes, you see that leadership is about turning heads toward each other.
#1. Declare it:
Declare your intention to develop a team where heads turn toward each other.
- Say, “I want us to develop options and select solutions as a team.” Explain why it matters.
- Don’t say, “I want to do less.”
- Don’t say, “I want you to do more.”
#2. Practice it:
Provide opportunity for people to talk with each other by slowing down your quick brain.
- Take notes during meetings.
- Ask, “And what else?”
- Take a breath before speaking.
- Say, “I have some ideas, but I wonder what you think.”
- Practice strategic absence. Make space for others to interact with each other by temporarily leaving a meeting. What would it take for you to feel comfortable leaving a meeting?
#3. Track it:
Aim for balanced participation during team conversations.
- Invite input from quiet team members. “Charlie, what’s coming to your mind?”
- “Mary, how does this impact your area?”
- Confront drifting. “I’d love to see you contributing to the conversation.” (Do this in private.)
#4. Coach it:
- What behaviors best encourage people to talk with each other during meetings?
- After hearing one behavior, ask, “And what else?”
- List four behaviors.
- Ask, “Which one of these behaviors would you like to practice in today’s meeting?”
- When our team is at it’s best, how are we interacting? How might we do more of that?
- What comes to mind when you think of improving the way we interact?
#5. Honor it:
Give public acknowledgement when you see behaviors that cause heads to turn toward each other.
What leadership behaviors encourage people to talk with each other?
Special Offer:
I enjoy reading, but I don’t always have time to read all the books that interest me. READITFOR.me works for me.
One of my favorite features of READITFOR.me is the 12 minute video that summarizes an entire book. Click here to check out a special offer for Leadership Freak readers. I hope you’ll watch the video summary.
Pour into your leadership if you expect amazing results from your leadership.
Watch for the special upgrade offer after you purchase your lifetime membership. Give READITFOR.me to everyone in your organization for one year for an upgrade of only $49.00. (This upgrade is $49.00 per organization, not per employee.) Click here to check out a special offer for Leadership Freak readers.
What I have found tricky in meetings is driving this forward while ensuring there is only one conversation going on at a time!
What a timely post! Instead of leading the meeting from the front of the room I’m going to turn all the tables/chairs so that we’re in circle.
The discussions here seem to revolve around “ideal” meetings. We tend to forget that very few meetings are held to discuss new or even old ideas. Some meetings are held to discuss how a contractor or a consulting is NOT doing a job properly. In other words, these meetings are actually held to be a critique of a consultant’s or contractor’s job. Do the words “service requests” and “change orders” come to mind?
Dan,
One thing I took away from this is the idea of asking questions that engage everyone. From a leaders perspective and from a team member’s there has to be a quieting of the quick thinking and an opportunity given to have everyone be engaged. I mean the whole point of having everyone at a meeting is that it will most likely impact everyone and they need to know their opinion is valued and encouraged. How would you find that balance if a you have a team member that won’t let others contribute by always providing input? Would you just acknowledge it and ask a question of someone else?
Thanks
Nice article .. the secret sauce is dosage of humility .. will make a leader who people /team will aspire to be ..
Great post. I think these are some of the things that even great leaders sometimes still miss. This is one great blog to remind leaders and those who want to be one.