Leading Teams

Want to be a better leader? Try these on for size and see if they work.

1. Encourage Opposition.

It is important to have on any team people who think different than the leader. People who question, doubt and criticize are not the enemy they are your friends. They will help you make wise, informed, well thought out plans and strategies. "Yes men" are dangerous and more of a threat to a leaders success because while he/she is making fatal errors they just nod in agreement.

2. Celebrate your Team Members Successes

It is startling how some lead pastors, churches and boards endeavor to call the best leaders possible and then put them down and keep them in their place. Here is a thought, if you as a leader are insecure or feel threatened by those below you, elevate them. Don't yield to the temptation to push them down, instead lift them up. By doing so you will be elevated in the eyes of those you lead. Put them down and you look small.

3. Look out for #2, 3 and 4!

The unwise leader looks out for #1. This fosters disloyalty and loss of respect. It is not about you, it is not what is best for you. Look out for the best of others.

4. Flatten the Structure
Empower those around you to be the leaders God calls them to be.

5. Create a Secure environment
A great team can handle failure, so long as it isn't brought on by sloth or stupidity. Healthy teams are environments where there is an utter lack of fear and intimidation.

6. Respect Others Intelligence
Great leaders don't have to be the smartest most intelligent members of the team. It is the unwise leader who has the need to always prevail in every meeting or conversation. It gets old after awhile.

7. Trust
Take the risk to trust people. Assign tasks and trust they will follow through. There is no point in having a team if you never trust them to do what they are supposed to.

8. Offer Praise
If you run out of things to say, why not try a few of these phrases: Good job. Great idea. Thanks. You did a terrific job. I am really proud of you. I really appreciate you.

9. Give away credit
You get more credit with others and with your team when you learn to give it away. Look for opportunities to give credit to your team. Look for opportunities to elevate them and promote them in the eyes of others. There is no room to write about the pay offs of doing this.

10. Lighten Up
Humor, a good laugh and the ability to have fun working with one another is not an option it is of utmost importance. In high demand, high stress atmospheres, it can mean survival!

Happy Team Leading!