As a leader planning your next team project, how do ensure everyone is willing to get on board, and everyone is keen to jump in the same waka (canoe) with you? 

How do you facilitate a culture of trust and commitment that you need from your team, while ensuring at the same time, that they benefit from professional and personal growth and a sense of achievement and empowerment? 

Consider how you can create the following 8 key conditions for your team.  

1. Create a shared vision

Create a vision that is for the common good of all.  Paint a picture in which everyone benefits from the experience.

2. Elevate the shared vision

Articulate the vision in the form of a collection of ideas. State your ideas simply, and avoid complicated and complex jargon. What will the future look like when the vision is fulfilled? How would this impact the lives of your team members? What will life be like for them and for the wider community when the vision is fulfilled? The clearer the picture you can paint, the more realistic the future will appear to your team members.

3. Energize the shared vision

Allow the team to contribute their thoughts, ideas, structure and direction to the vision, so it feels like a shared vision and creates a sense of ownership of the vision amongst the team. This gives the vision energy and momentum.

4. Communicate the vision

Talk about the vision.  Discuss the vision.  Have conversations about the vision.  But most importantly, listen to what your team members have to say and contribute to the vision.  Listen actively and intentionally, with ears, eyes and heart to uncover the aspirations of your individual team members.

5. Nurture relationships

Spend time nurturing collaborative and reciprocal relationships. Be sincere, be open and approachable, engage in two-way dialogue, and most importantly, remember to listen without judgement. Do not listen with the intention of replying, instead listen with the intention of understanding. Listen more and talk less. 

6. Provide guidance

Mentor when needed. Coach when needed.  Provide challenge and upskill others when needed. Support, encourage and inspire when needed. Stand back and observe when it is needed.

7. Demonstrate trustworthiness

Act with integrity.  Be consistent. Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Remain respectful.  While actions speak louder words and demonstrate consistency, our trustworthiness is also revealed through our conversations and in our ability to maintain confidentiality.  Remember the old World War 2 slogan ‘loose lips sink ships’?  Beware of careless talk and gossip, as these practices are toxic and create a culture of distrust. 

8. Aim for results

Determine goals and set dates.  Keep your team motivated, updated, accountable and on track.  As a team, celebrate small wins along the way.  Celebrate the successful completion of a project together. Give credit where credit is due, and acknowledge the successes and contributions of others. Be guided by these words of Lao Tzu: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.” 

© Gaynor Clarke, October 2011

Gaynor is a teacher educator and mentor facilitating personal & professional leadership wellbeing outcomes for teachers.

Reach Education Ltd

Reach. Teach. Lead.

www.reached.co.nz