Lead by Example

Recently, our IWON group of professional women have been discussing leadership styles. Of course, implied in that statement is that we all actually lead.

illuminate has been involved in many project teams in the past six (6)months. We have identified a few of those projects where there is not a clear leader. And, not surprising, there is also confusing communication among those project teams. As a result, we decided to take up the topic with our IWON group to hear about how each leader defines their role among the many teams they work with, manage, or lead.

if you manage direct positions, you must lead them as a definition of your management role. If you lead a team of consultants, while you may not ‘manage’ them, per se, you certainly have to lead them. And when working with your many vendors and clients, you need to lead them as well. After all, it is likely why they hire you, to provide direction in the area or areas of your expertise that they wish to harness and embrace for use in their own organizations.

Leadership styles vary greatly: Your style simply needs to work and/or complement those on your team. Your leadership style may be more powerful or decisive in one scenario and more supportive and more of a counselor in another. Know your audience, assess which style will be best to manage to or lead to a successful outcome. It is often said that great leaders surround themselves with a support team that is smarter or at least as smart as them. It is the best way to lead to success.

Review your projects and their respective teams. Is there a clear and present leader among them? If not, be the change your team needs. Communicate and put your project back on track and simply just ask who is our leader if it needs to be asked.

Be like our group photo this week, they all know Cisco is in charge and leading them without questioning his style or place among the pack. They simply follow.

Be well.