Do Leaders Follow Through With Providing Proper Support To Team Members?

I want you to imagine for a moment you are a paid member of a professional soccer team. As a member of the team, you know the goal is to win games. The coaching staff also knows the goal is to win games. Now, take a minute and answer these questions:

• What do you think the role of the coaching staff is?
• Should the coaching staff play the game alongside the team members? In other words, should one of your assistant coaches also play the goalie position during a game?
• Should the coaching staff be in attendance for practice and games?
• How often should the head coach be present with the team on the field?
• If the teams strategy is not working and they are not winning, who is responsible to redirect, and/or change the strategy?
• Should the coaches identify gaps in one's abilities and help coach up their skills?
• When the coaches learn about an obstacle keeping the team from moving forward toward the goal, who is responsible to help remove the obstacle?

Ok, now look at your own organization. As a paid member of a professional team, your goal is to win the day. Every day. Maybe you are a member of the coaching staff, aka leadership team; in this case, you should also know the goal is to win the day. How much different are the roles and responsibilities of your leadership team from that of a professional soccer teams coaching staff? How much time should leaders spend on the "field"...at the gemba, where the value-add work is being done?

If you take a look at some of the most successful companies,’ chances are you will see a great team of leaders that support their team members by being present, removing roadblocks, coaching, developing, problem solving, etc. Sadly, this trait is lacking in some companies today. Getting leaders to support the team sounds easy, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.

Being exceptional at any skill, whether its golfing, parenting, coaching, or leading takes practice and requires some degree of effort on the part of the individual looking to become better at any talent. You don’t wake up one day and become better at target practice without putting in the time, repetition, and dedication. The good news is you can support those around you if you practice some leadership basics.

Sometimes the best thing to do is step back and take a new look at the big picture, or the companies True North. Are we spending our time focusing on the things we need to reach our company goals? Supporting a team is not just about helping them with a project they are working on. Sometimes it can be necessary to redirect, or stop a project that is not in-line with our business plans. The decision to stop working on something can be tough. Be clear, decisive, and confident when helping your team. Employees are naturally drawn to people that show confidence in themselves, and the decisions they make.

Recognize the strengths and expertise individual team members bring to the table. Seek out these strengths and celebrate them. Let them know you value them for the skills they bring to the company. Empower employees by giving them the authority to voice their opinions, make decisions, and own their projects and obligations. Be optimistic when empowering others by pointing out their abilities. Show them you have a can-do attitude because you believe in them, and their ability to get the job done. Over communicate. Regular communication goes a long way in letting your team know you value their input. Ask questions and truly listen. Oftentimes, truly listening to someone is all the support they might need that day. Most importantly acknowledge and reward your team for their success. Be humble when you reward others for their success. Remember, humility goes a long way in developing your team. Lead by example when you walk alongside your team and take responsibility when appropriate.

Practice some of these tips and your team will follow you through not only the good times, but stick with you through the challenging times as well.

In this weeks episode of The Lean Solutions Podcast, Craig Johnson and I discuss the importance of structured problem solving and the power of a robust training program.

What You’ll Learn This Episode:

• Why should organizations adopt a structured problem solving process?
• Some of Craig’s favorite problem solving tools.
• Why should people pursue lean training?
• What does good lean training look like?
• What does the future of lean training look like?