Leadership Check-UP

It's almost time for school to resume session. It's time for back-to-school shopping, getting in one more vacation and most of all...it's time for physicals and check-ups. But what about a thorough internal check-up of your leadership team. I'm not speaking of the quick, $20, sports physical just to get your kiddo to meet the basic requirements. I'm talking about a full head-to-toe check-up.

Can you imagine, putting a leader in place, especially one that has direct reports, and you don't communicate with their team to get a REAL understanding of how things are going? (If you really want to know how a marriage is going...just ask the kids!!). Often, managers and supervisors have a habit of telling their executives just want they need to hear to keep the heat off of them. (Sometimes, this is based on past experiences...a bit of fear and previous finger pointing.) But, it doesn't have to be this way! Everything within a team is not measurable by the numbers! For instance, true buy-in to the vision and goal of the department. What happened to the time when a team could have a round table discussion with the executives?

Consider bringing in an outsider to facilitate an honest discussion, not a gripe session, about how to improve the processes within your organization. Or, what about morale, benefits, schedule, diversity & inclusion. It's amazing the conversations and details that I receive as the outsider when I'm meeting with direct reports for a coaching client. Plus, the ideas that they already have to remedy most of the internal issues is amazing. One of my favorite questions to ask a team is this, "What do you really need from your supervisor to help you and the team succeed?" I know, it's simple yet powerful, but often not considered when asked from someone within the organization. Why? Most of us already know why but we don't like to talk about it...they don't trust the confidentiality within the organization. Someone just might tell who made what response.

It's already 3rd quarter. We'll be wrapping up the summer soon. It's a great time to conduct your Leadership Check-UP. Do it now, before more injuries occur.

Mary Ricketts-CEO