3 Small Moves That Push Your Team into Productivity without Being a Tyrant about It

Sometimes, it’s not what you do but how you do it – as far as leadership goes, finding the right way to speak to the people that work under you really does make all the difference in the world.

Yes, it may be true that as a leader, you must focus on your own productivity. However, doing only that could only get you so far – it is simply not enough. You will not be able to reach astounding goals if you do not get help from your team and utilize their innate talents and skills.

Now once you have prepared everything and have taken all the necessary training you believe you need for your leadership position, it’s time to connect to your team. This applies regardless of your tenure as a boss or team lead – you have to drive your team to do actions that accomplish themselves without being too bossy or too pushy.

While it may often be easier said than done, it is possible. For starters, define your goals as a team and give your people a clear sense of direction. How? Tap into three key behavioral touch points, namely assertiveness, flexibility, and expressiveness.

Here are tips on how to go about them at work:

What it is: Communicating goals clearly to your team

What you can do:

·         Company goals may be announced and set forth during a meeting like in “town hall” type of staff meetings, but make sure to meet with the people one on one too. This allows for an introspective way of setting goals.

·         Understand communication may be different for some people. This takes some effort as you may need to either adjust to a slower response time or accept meetings for those who want a more personal interaction to talk things through regarding any goals they either do not understand or have a lot of clarifications to discuss.

·         During brainstorming sessions or problem-solving meetings, do not put pressure on everyone to be creative or to create solutions immediately. As much as you can, accept suggestions or ideas after the meeting instead.

What it is: Being interconnected and collegial, but with a good twist.

What you can do:

·         Make sure there is a good atmosphere that keeps spirits high, minus the aggressively competitive nature. There can be a little bit of friendly competition, but never let it get out of hand.

·         Not everybody will be as aggressive as the person next to them when it comes to certain goals. Keep that in mind and let people realize it’s perfectly fine.

·         Allow time and effort for peacekeeping. Make sure that goals are being followed through and that everything stays on a healthy and conflict-free direction.

Let the more aggressive types push things quickly but not too forcefully.

What it is: Being focused but open to change and adapting.

What you can do:

·         It’s important to prioritize goals and let people know when it is okay to switch their focus on other tasks and projects. However, make sure to define a deadline that allows the team to stay on track.

·         Keep track of people’s opinions – hear them out and let the people know their thoughts are appreciated.

·         Should goals be changed depending on the situation or new information? Observe and take note of people who welcome change, and allow them to take charge.