Some of Your Employees Have Super Powers To Lead Change; Can You Spot Them?
Catalyzing change is the job of a leader. Sustaining change requires broad ownership of the change by employees.
Certain members of your team have super powers, when it comes to helping teams successfully implement strategic change within any organization. It is critical that you know who they are and proactively partner with them.
A few years ago it was common to see a TV commercial from a stock brokerage firm named E.F. Hutton. Their tag line was “when EF Hutton speaks, everybody listens”. Every leader has “EF Huttons” on their team.
These “E.F. Huttons” are team members who are listened to when they speak; they are able to influence their team members’ thinking. It is also important to realize that these informal leaders may or may not be your most productive employees. Some of them can sometimes be viewed as “complainers”. The important aspect is that when they speak other team members listen.
Leaders who understand these informal leader’s impact seek out their “EF Huttons”. Truly savvy leaders will involve them in both the planning and implementation of any contemplated change. Explicitly ask them to help you know how you can best support the success of the team. They are an invaluable resource to help you keep your finger on the pulse of your team and acting as advocates of any desired shifts in performance. They are great conduits for communication and can let you know if anyone may be struggling, allowing you to provide any needed support.
Actively engage with these influential team members. Make sure they know how much you recognize and respect the level of influence they have within the team.
If you have questions or would like to discuss how to engage with your informal leaders, you can reach Tom Fauré of Vibrant Enterprise Associates at 847-331-5970 or by email: [email protected]