LEADERS CAN MOVE FROM “ME” TO “WE” THINKING
When you read the title for this week’s newsletter, what did you think of? Did you think of former leaders who think “it’s all about me” and then “see the light” and realize leadership is really about building a team and focusing on their teammates?
That would be a logical interpretation of the title, but that is not the situation to which I am referring. I am alluding to those leaders who without realizing it, have adopted the role of martyr for their teams. How is this behavior reflected in a leader’s behavior?
-The leader knows he can do something best, so he chooses not to take time to teach the process to a teammate
-The leader knows he can do something faster than anyone else, so he decides to complete the task himself rather than delegate it to someone else
-The leader knows what he wants to address at a meeting, so he drafts the agenda and circulates it without seeking team input
-The leader knows what must be accomplished at a meeting, so he talks first in order to save everyone time
-The leader keeps challenging news to himself because he does not want to worry his teammates until a resolution is achieved
-The leader keeps projects on his desk for long periods of time because he wants to have adequate time to come up with the best possible approach
-The leader moves quickly from one project to the next so he can get as much done as possible in a work day
-The leader’s emphasis on getting things done causes him to repeatedly underestimate the amount of time needed to successfully complete a project
-Sometimes the leader gets intimidated by the number of projects he has reserved for himself, and this produces a tendency to procrastinate and a piling up of tasks in his inbox or on his desk
-The leader thinks he knows best, so he plans and facilitates any long-range planning meetings
These are just a few examples of “me thinking” by a leader. These kinds of leaders are not necessarily self-centered. They may not be driven by inflated egos. They may see themselves as doing what is best for their office because they truly believe they are the best person to tackle a myriad of projects or tasks.
They are not being intentionally selfish. Rather, they are being unrealistic. No leader can do everything himself. Leadership is truly about developing our teammates so they can fulfill their own potential and hopefully move on to leadership positions themselves at our organization or at other similar organizations.
We are not serving our teammates if we carry a “me” mentality throughout the workday. We can be well-meaning. We can be honest and transparent. We can be authentic and kind. However, if we hold onto that “me” mentality, we are hurting three entities:
-Our teammates
-Our organization
-Ourselves
When we intentionally change our thinking pattern, moving from a “me” mindset to a “we” mindset, we adopt a paradigm that focuses upon the well-being of each teammate, our customers, our organization and ourselves.
We ask ourselves questions like:
-What are the most appropriate projects for me to delegate this week?
-Who on our team is best-suited to handle this delegated project?
-What is the best use of my time today?
-How can I best develop my teammate’s skills via this project?
-How can I best teach this teammate why this task is critical?
-Who else can run this meeting besides me?
-Who else can take meeting notes and disseminate those notes besides me?
-Who else on the team needs to get up to speed on this development?
-What small committee could handle this project and report back to the entire team?
-Who is best qualified to review cover letters and applications for our vacant position, then report back to me?
-Who has the most appropriate experience to plan our team retreat and then communicate with me about a draft agenda?
-Who on our team do I trust the most to help me be more mindful about my own time management?
-How can I best help each team member focus on and achieve his or her annual goals?
When leaders move from unintentional and even well-meaning “me” thinking to mindful and intentional “we” thinking, amazing positive results can happen.
Teammates grow into more effective contributors.
Leaders have more time to focus on their most important priorities.
Internal and external customers benefit from a more efficient and directed team.
Please think about your own mindset. Pause during the workday to examine your approach. Reflect on that old saying “We are all in this together,” and intentionally adopt a “we” mindset.
If you believe this content would resonate with a friend or colleague, please feel free to forward it along!
-Larry