Patrick Lencioni is quickly becoming one of my favorite leadership authors. Not everyone enjoys the leadership fable format. One of the values I find in leadership fables is that the reader gets to absorb a scenario in how to potentially implement ideas being conveyed.
If you are a leader, it is incumbent upon you to ensure those in your care feel relevant, have measurable goals/targets, and feel as though their personal lives and professional contributions are valued by you. This last of these values can be misconstrued. In the book, Patrick Lencioni uses the term “anonymity” to describe an attitude a leader can have towards subordinates. When we feel anonymous in whether or not our contributions are known, we are less likely to continue our striving for excellence. Provide feedback to recognize the behavior you want to re-enforce, get to know what is important to those in your care, show that their lives matter. This is not a challenge to figure out how to become great friends with those you lead. It is a call to ensure you are providing public recognition for individuals who are performing their job well.
The ideas are simple, but not easy to implement. It takes hard work, attention to detail, and consistent patient follow up to implement and carry through on these ideas. As I have seen in my own leadership experience, it is easy to get lost in many other task and duties. There are a myriad of demands on a leader’s time. If an individual can pause, reflect, and focus on these three aspects of leadership it will go a long way to bring success to the individuals in your care and the organization as a whole. Many leadership experts will teach that if the employees are well cared for, they will in-turn care for your customers and your business. Give the people you lead a reason to be passionate about and excited for the time they spend in your care.