October 9, 2009

A Group Does Not A Team Make

Leadership is action, not position.
Donald H. McGannon


It’s simple to develop responsibilities, titles, direct reports and deliverables. But how will you allow a place of teamwork to resemble reality?

Beware what you set your heart upon. For it surely shall be yours.
Ralph Waldo Emerson


If you have ever experienced a true open environment it can be exciting - yet to some - chaotic. And because most don't want chaos, they choose to keep things nice and neat and departmentalized.

The perception of losing focus or control can block potential for significant growth in your organization and the careers of each person inside it.

If ideas aren't shared, department walls get higher and silos deepen.

To lead the people, walk behind them.
Lao-Tzu


The position of Chairperson, CEO or President may appear to be at the top of the organization chart. But it's actually in the middle. This is the person who sets the tone; makes the big decisions that could affect the workload of everyone else.

She must answer to the owners, shareholders, investors, customers, employees and the public. If a company relies solely on her decisions, millions or even billions can hang in the balance. It's dangerous to lean on one person's bad - or bad mood - decisions.

The first rule of management is delegation.
Don't try and do everything yourself because you can't.
Anthea Turner


A former boss taught be about “reversed delegation”. This is where someone suggests a half-baked idea and you try to run with it.

This neither encourages their further thought nor helps you with what you want to accomplish. Push it back on their plate and see what happens.

Organization charts and fancy titles
count for next to nothing.
Colin Powell


For decades even centuries, we have followed a company model that resembled a flow chart. Nice and clean, easy to follow, department and leaders, directors and work flow.

We may have forgotten one important element:

Are we communicating and sharing this life experience with each other or just sharing a parking lot and florescent lights for 2,000 hours a year?

@knealemann
Helping you create your best business,
marketing and social media strategy.

image credit: theworkorganizer.biz

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