Do You Trust Your Team To Get The Job Done?

Why Aaron Finch’s leadership style is probably not an example small business owners should follow

#smallbusiness #businessbehindsport #coaching #leadership #teamwork

Whilst Australia beat Afghanistan in their pool game of the Mens Cricket T20 World Cup, their poor run rate meant they missed out on a top 2 spot and lost the chance to defend their World Cup title.

Now I could list at least 10 reasons why I believe the campaign was in trouble from the start (picking the wrong players, not having hard conversations, sticking with out of form players etc), I believe I saw the heart of the problem play out during the final game.

FOCUS: Manage Your People

Aaron Finch was out injured which should’ve meant he was sitting on the bench, and simply supporting the team with his presence.

Instead, with a hamstring injury, he was running out water and instructions to the bowlers, Warner and Wade; basically anyone he could talk to on the boundary or on the field in breaks.

With no named Vice Captain (wish someone could explain to me how that happened) and Starc being controversially dropped (so nice to see Shane Watson agrees with me), Wade was acting captain but it seemed everyone was having a say and directing play, along with whatever the ‘interfering’ captain wanted them to do.

Result: Too many cooks in the kitchen

Unfortunately, this lack of leadership seem to play out in team disharmony on the field; with dagger looks, a lot of finger pointing and eventually body language showing the players had had enough and couldn’t wait for the tournament to be over.

Now I’m all for a leader supporting their team – with encouragement and presence; in fact, that should be a given right?

But if you’re not available to play (aka be at your business), then you have to trust the team to get the job done.

Staff need to believe and feel they’re empowered with the responsibility to make the necessary decisions, and the possible mistakes which may follow.

I felt so sorry for Matthew Wade because if I was in his shoes, I’d have been distracted because it felt like every move made was being scrutinised.?

That’s not the flexibility and freedom people need to succeed in their roles, be it in sport or business.

And this is coming from personal experience.?Many years ago, I was in a workplace where my supervisor’s leadership style was to constantly watch over my shoulder.?It was a horrible workplace environment and certainly didn’t bring out the best in me which is why I soon left.

What’s Next?

In my experience, too many small business owners employ staff to ‘help’ them but unfortunately, with the best of intentions, never fully give them the reins (and the documented procedures) to succeed in their role.

Result: Disenchanted and frustrated staff who aren’t productive and/or feeling their experience and expertise isn’t valued so they often leave.?Which is a no win situation for them or your small business.

So hand on heart, are you actually helping or hindering your team’s performance?

Have you given them the tools to succeed – support, delegation and documented procedures?

And here’s my final thought:

Although it’s scary for small business owners to let go of their ‘baby’, unless you truly take this brave step, there’s no point in employing people because you’re wasting their time and your money.

And this will also mean your business will never grow to probably the level you desire because even if you think you can do it all (and you can’t), no one achieves success on their own.

I’ll leave you with one of my favourite quotes from Benjamin Franklin:

They that will not be counselled

cannot be helped.

No one is knowledgeable enough

or have enough experience

to think of everything at once,

to see all possible meanings

in a contract or commitment,

or be aware of all the hazards,

or see all sides of the subject.