Every leader is only as good as the team he or she has recruited. Certainly, that is not a new concept. But the epic changes of the past few years will define, or even re-define, the traits needed by members of successful teams. Here are the 6 essential traits I believe you will need in every member of your team in order to be successful moving forward.
TRUST – It never goes out of style.
There are many leadership theories that have emerged over the years (and some have also disappeared). Great man. Theory X. Theory Y. Situational leadership. But trust will always serve as a foundation for every healthy relationship and team. When you trust your team, you do not have to be suspicious about them working remotely, or being loyal, or wisely managing the resources, or taking care of constituents. Trust does not mean perfection, but it does mean being consistently dependable and credible. And it requires giving people the same benefit of the doubt you want granted to you.
GRIT – Yes, it is a real thing.
What separated the leaders, students, families and organizations who caved in from those who stepped up over the past few months? Grit – the ability to persevere. It’s a powerful ingredient of life which is free, available to everyone, and differentiates finishers from quitters. We have seen a lot of examples of grit lately. Organizations going from physical offices to remote work in less than 24 hours. Churches quickly going from face to face ministry to innovative ways of caring and connecting. First responders running into the battle rather than away from it. Grit is a real thing, and it matters now more than ever.
SELF-MANAGEMENT – It makes a major difference.
People are coming into jobs and teams with increasing amounts of emotional stress and personal life issues. This is true for all employers including church staff and nonprofits as well as businesses. This is not new – throughout history, people have experienced pain and carried “baggage.” But we have increasingly seen that people’s ability to manage this baggage appears to be declining, and it is having a real impact on their lives, careers, and on those with whom they work. Everyone, including those of us who lead, must take seriously the importance of both being aware of ourselves and our issues and learning to manage these issues. This is called self-management.
NIMBLENESS – It’s not a nicety; it’s essential.
I turned 60 recently. And although I regularly exercise (yes, I know some of you may find that surprising if you have ever seen a picture of me), no matter what I do, my body is pathetically inflexible. I mean like a piece of wood… or thick metal! My lack of physical nimbleness can easily lead to injuries. Likewise, if our leadership minds or the minds of our team members do not remain flexible, we will experience a different kind of injury, but just as painful. The challenges of these past months will not be the last. The more nimble we are, the faster we can make adjustments to accommodate the unexpected.
FOCUS – It really does keep us on a better path.
No doubt, crises require attention. Things change fast. News is unending. “Solutions” are constant. Social media chatter spikes. And leaders and teams can easily become distracted. But the problem is that our primary mission can get side-tracked. The needs of clients or customers can take a distant second place. Energy and resources can get expended on things that feel urgent while other important things get neglected. Want an exceptional team? Model focus. And I know what I am about to say will cause some to cheer and some to jeer, but our country, our organizations, and each of us individually would experience a major leap forward in relational, emotional, spiritual, and political health and civility if we took a 30-day fast from social media and focused that time on reflection, mission, and on caring for others in tangible ways rather than on talking “about” and talking “at” from the safety of a keyboard. “Not gonna happen,” you say? Likely not. But I know that leadership effectiveness is significantly influenced by our ability to stay focused. And yes, I am using social media to communicate this! How strange is that?
MINDSET – It determines attitude.
Proverbs 27 says that we become what we think. We sure are living in a unique time (that word seems a bit weak and inadequate at this point), but I have a choice. I can focus my mind on how “everything” is broken (but it really isn’t) and “everyone” is wrong (but that is an over-reach). Or I can focus my mind on what is also right or good, including relationships, clients, my team, my family, and that I have a very forgiving God. Mindset is all about us becoming what we think. Negativity generates more negativity. Cynicism generates more cynicism. Hope generates more hope. And grace generates more grace. Especially now, we need leaders and team members who practice mindset management.
Contact us to learn how our experienced coaches can assist you in cultivating a culture of trust in your organization!
Jay Desko is the CEO of The Center Consulting Group and brings experience in the areas of organizational assessment, leadership coaching, decision-making, and strategic questioning. Jay’s degrees include an M.Ed. in Instructional Systems Design from Pennsylvania State University and a Ph.D. in Organizational Behavior and Leadership from The Union Institute.
