THOUGHTS ON LEADERSHIP #8 - BE A PLAYER AND A COACH.

This is another great example of the distinction between Management and Leadership. Recall that my premise is that Management is outcome based and Leadership is focused on people. While you may think that outcome-based management would manifest itself with the Player/Coach concept, it is rarely seen in practice. Managers see tasks but Leaders see a team, a team they not only lead but are an integral part of as well. 

When you convey a project to your team, provide context and resources, you can't just walk away, you've got to be a player/coach. You've got to be willing and able to jump in and help in any way that adds value, even if that means running a binding machine, stapling things, or running copies. You must be willing to do the lowest level task necessary that keeps the project moving forward.

Let your team see you in action and willing to work at any level. This approach also gives you an ability to see how they work together, delegate tasks, resolve conflict. After all, it's part of creating the next generation of leaders and sets a great example.

This approach will build confidence in your team; they will see that you're not afraid to be present and put in the long hours, the hard work, do any job on the project that's required. 

Remember to be a player and a coach. It's critically important for your team to understand your commitment to the team and the task. ​