It’s time to make the critical shift from leading the business by yourself to leading an organization of people. At P2Excellence, we help you navigate the uncharted territories of organizational growth with clarity and confidence.
Managing across the organization requires a leader to be both a team player and a strategist. Here are a few thoughts on how you can become the leader who is known for excellence in collaboration and driving superior results:
Understand the Landscape: Identifying the issues is the first step towards effective management across the organization. As a leader you must have a clear and unbiased understanding of the challenges and opportunities present in different areas of the company. Equally important is knowing the constraints—whether they be budgetary, time-related, or resource limitations. One, or a combination of these limitations, may influence decision-making and/or implementation. Look up and then look across. Where is your opportunity to serve teams outside your direct control?
Build a Collaborative Environment: This is an area where you can concretely begin to create a stronger Team Culture for the company. We all talk about wanting more collaboration. Now you have the opportunity to orchestrate that. Brainstorming solutions is an easy and essential way for tapping into the collective intelligence of the organization. Take time to conduct brainstorming sessions with a diverse group. You will encourage a culture where team members feel empowered to contribute ideas and explore innovative approaches. Be open (and patient) to new ways of thinking. Once people trust you, you will foster creativity. You will enable the organization to adapt to change more effectively. And your leadership acumen will become increasingly respected.
Strive to be an Effective Communicator. Emphasize the need for employee engagement: Active listening is a cornerstone of effective leadership. Practice listening attentively to team members and stakeholders, demonstrating empathy, and understanding. Don’t interrupt. And when the timing is right, ask hard questions (clarifying questions) to help uncover underlying issues and prompt critical thinking. Remember your goal isn’t to be right or to be smarter. The goal is to create the environment for good solutions to be identified.
Expect Respect and Empowerment: Respecting and encouraging others creates a positive and inclusive work environment. Empower cross-functional team members to take ownership of their work and contribute meaningfully to the organization’s objectives. Support team decisions, even when they diverge from your personal preferences. Foster trust by demonstrating trust.
Drive Success: Contribute resources. This is essential for supporting the team’s efforts towards success. Think about ways to provide the necessary tools, guidance, and support to enable these teams to achieve their goals effectively. Following through to success requires accountability and commitment, ensuring that initiatives are seen through to completion and deliver the intended outcomes. This will require both guidance and commitment on your part. As team effectiveness evolves, you will be called upon to lead, to follow, and to facilitate.
Become a Valued Partner: This is the goal! Understand the expectations, the skills, and the needs of everyone on the team. This is key to building strong relationships across the organization. Actively seek feedback and insights from team members and stakeholders. Demonstrate a genuine interest in everyone’s perspectives and needs. By being known as a good partner, you will foster collaboration and earn the trust and respect of your colleagues.
This month, take time to reflect on your own leadership practices and identify areas for improvement in managing across the organization. Look to implement one or more of these strategies to enhance your effectiveness as a leader and drive collective objectives within your organization. The result will be a culture of collaboration and success!
As always, thank you for spending this time with me. Please let me know when I can be of service to you as you continue to strengthen your gifts of leadership.
Fondly,
