The Exception Practices of Great Leadership. By Arnie Wohlgemut
I believe that we are living in an age of reckoning, needing to address past actions and the “normal” we created for ourselves.
This has everything to do with how we have and continue to treat each other. The beliefs that we have copied from others, and our profit focused capitalism.
Being a true great leader often requires us to practice exceptions to the rules. Being different from what’s modelled around us. I believe that a healthy workplace culture is one that has mutual respect for other experiences and viewpoints. Not an assimilation into one particular mindset.
Let us look at some exceptions that are foundational in helping to transform your workplace. A word of caution, each one requires courage.
Exception #1. Give your entire team a voice. Right now, today. Give new staff a voice on their first day. Having a culture where open conversations and nonjudgmental listening is practiced, will move your team closer to the dream.
“One of the most important acts of leadership is to simply let others lead. Recognize that, especially in a crisis, people want to step up; they want to be given more responsibility.”
-Barbara Humpton
Exception #2. Give them authorization to make some decisions. This requires both insight and intuition on your part.
Just like a quarterback on a football team, you need to know who should run with the ball and who is in the best position to catch the ball. Using this practice can create forward motion towards the goal.
“Creating a sense of purpose is integral in motivating and inspiring a team. Be sure to spend time thinking about your own ‘why’ so you can better help your team understand theirs.”
Jim Citrin
Exception #3. Find what inspires them and what deflates their spirit. The mistake many leaders make is thinking “one size fits all”.
Each person is an individual, not a copy or a clone. There may be overlapping or common items that deflate members of your team. In my experience, being indecisive and inconsistent are the most powerful spirit deflators.
“Members of a team often have a pretty good idea of what they would like to achieve in their organization. And if you ask them to dream and to stretch and to expand beyond their usual performance, they will often do just that.”
Lance Secretan
Exception #4. Throw out mission and vision statements. Most people could not tell you what yours is! Identify your dream, the reason you are in business. Share your dream.
In the recent Olympics, there was no athlete or team that had a mission statement, they all had a dream. One one that they envisioned and worked hard to achieve on the world stage.
In the workplace, we have failed many times to be inspiring and have our team members feel they are valued.
Your history has absolutely nothing to do with your potential to lead in an exceptional way. Be courteous and practice the exceptions of great leadership.
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