by Amy Coulter 

Leadership: It’s not just a job for top management.  We are all called upon to be leaders every day.  Whether it’s managing a new project or chairing a committee to plan the next company event, we are given opportunities to take charge.  How do you motivate a group to action?  What can you do to insure the team delivers results? 

People want to be part of a winning team.  A good leader inspires a group rather than pushes or controls them into the needed results.  What are those things you can do that will spell SUCCESS for your team?  Here are concrete ideas that you can implement immediately to help your team move forward: 

1)       SHARE your vision.

Start by letting the team know what the end result will look like.  Paint a picture of where you are going and issue an invitation for them to help you get there.  .

2)       UNHOOK your ego from the results. 

Let the team be part of the creation.  You are responsible for getting the team onboard to deliver the end result (the “what”) but you don’t need to control every detail (“the how”).   Ask for their advice and feedback and incorporate the results. People love to make a contribution. Let them! 

3)       CHEER the team on. 

A team responds to the passion of their leader.  Let people see your enthusiasm.   

4)       CONNECT with your team on a human level. 

Show that you care about them as individuals.  Respond to their human needs.  My favorite way to do this is to bring food to every event, but there are lots of ways to do this.  Make sure your meeting spot is conducive to discussion and the times work for everyone.  Follow up with team members who miss meetings to see what is keeping them from attending.

      5)       ENDURE in spite of obstacles.

Follow through and do what you say you will.  Show that you do not give up in spite of any bumps in the road you may encounter.  Above all, remain positive and committed to your goals and you will help your team stay committed as well. 

6)       SUSTAIN the excitement by making it FUN.

Indulge your inner child and encourage others to do the same.  We plan regular events in the office to give folks a chance to be silly together, such as celebrating “International Talk Like a Pirate Day” or having employees bring in their kids for trick-or-treating.  Balancing hard work with fun activities makes for a more engaged workforce. 

7)       SHOWCASE your success.

Let others in the organization know what your team has been able to accomplish.  One way I do this is to recognize the individual contributors at staff meetings, by giving out a certificate or awarding a Burger King crown. People want to know that their contributions have made a difference and that others recognize that.  Give them the spotlight when they deserve it! 

Using these simple ideas, you can make a difference in your company’s leadership – no matter where you sit in the organization!  When you have folks lining up at your office to see if they can be part of your team, you will know that your leadership has become a beacon for others in the organization to follow. 

Amy Coulter founded VisionShare, Inc in 2000 with a business partner.  From their initial goal of working with healthcare organizations to secure their communications using the Internet, they created Secure Exchange Software. Today over 2,000 hospitals use Secure Exchange Software to exchange administrative transactions with their payers.  Coulter serves as Vice President, Payer Technical Services and chair of the “Fun in the Office” committee for VisionShare Inc.  She can be reached at amy.coulter@visionshareinc.com. Further information on VisionShare is available at www.visionshareinc.com.
 

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