Some of this blog has been borrowed from stuff I wrote to zero fanfare in 2020. I can only hope for similar adulation…
Your team is everything. I think the military say some stuff about that. Just in case you think I’m making up a new thing. If the Turds of Misery can make it, so can you.
It Starts With You
Change comes from within
It’s so easy to believe your own hype. Except the very act of leading a high performing team is about letting them own their ideas.
It has to come from you. Your desire to improve everyone’s experience at work and help your team reach their best. You have to give a shit. If you don’t care about your team, and I mean really care about them as people, none of this will help.
That’s how you’ll quickly learn to understand and appreciate the talent of those around you. You need to create a culture where people are free to succeed. Set ambitious goals, be there to support people, and reward teamwork. Your collective talents are far greater than any individual efforts.
Whenever things get tough, whenever I feel like I’m constantly running into walls, it’s that belief that kept me going trying to support my team.
Purpose & Expectation Setting
Purpose? Hey, ask your team. Most of them probably don’t care. Just keep it simple: “we’re going to create the best solutions that we possibly can. And we’ll be awesome to each other.”
The important part here is honesty and expectation setting. You can’t have a united team without honesty and openness. And that means a voice for everyone.
They know you expect the best. They also know you’re gonna give them direct feedback. On top of that, they also know that you care about them and you’re there to help.
When things go wrong, yes, sometimes you might need to air some frustrations. But it’s up to you to make it clear there is no blame, and you’re here to help resolve it. Teams win together, they lose together, and they learn together.
Something I read by Jim Dethmer a few years back always sticks in my mind. Both as me as a leader, and also the expectation I put on the team: acting above the line. What behaviours are above the line, and which ones are below? Are you currently acting above the line?
Another favourite quote (I forget the source, sorry): “The quality you walk past is the quality that you accept.” Good managers are professionally curious. Because they want to help.
Clear Goals & Responsibilities
Asking for the best is one of my favourite ways of driving quality, and learning about people. If you forget to give clear goals first though… well, what does quality mean? So yeah, spend some time making sure people understand what you’re trying to achieve, and what good looks like.
Responsibilities is a funny one. Teams can fluctuate & shift, and people can have multiple roles. But on a project- you need to know who’s doing what. Otherwise things get missed. It’s basic. Think about how you could scale that to other activities in your team. It pays off exponentially
Playing,Rituals & Celebration
Be free to be yourself
Chaos is the death of creativity, innovation and performance. Process is the antidote to chaos. A good process is a backbone. It takes the weight of the team. It allows structured freedom and creativity. It guides and supports. It’s not an overbearing list that stifles work.
How often do you play with your process, try out new things? Or stop doing things? Play. I can guarantee you that your process isn’t perfect as it is.
Oh yeah, and book it in regularly. Reviews, retros, creative time. Whatever it is, make it a ritual. It happens even when you’re not there. The team want to make them carry on. Rituals matter. How often do you get to spend time outside of project work together?
And celebrate! Because you care, you’ll see times to share praise & celebrate. And because you know your team, you’ll know if it’s right.
A team can’t be united if their manager doesn’t care about them.