Fundamentals of Leadership

I just heard it again, "Why can't my boss be the kind of leader you just talked about?!" Many managers exempt themselves from leadership training opting to only send their employees. So here is what your employees want you to hear:

1. Personal Integrity. Managers think they're doing a special favor for an employee by deceiving or omitting influential data, and they may be, but they just showed that employee that they cannot be trusted. If they'll do that for you, you can bet they will do that to you. Real leadership is based on principles (not situational ethics), and principles don't change. Circumstances change. People change, but you're integrity should not. Integrity is more than mere honesty - or not telling a lie. It includes an absence of convenient omission ("I didn't tell a lie"), deception, or allowing people to believe a non-truth unabated.

2. Communicate. If things are not going well, tell them. Be transparent. They know you're not perfect and neither is the company, but they want to bear the burden and be a part of the solution if possible. If you don't like the job they're doing, tell them. It's your job to adapt your style to your employee's preferred method. It is not their job to adapt to your style of leadership. If you have an employee that needs face time, give them as much face time as possible. If you have an employee who only likes to use the phone, then communicate with them via phone. If they prefer email, communicate via email. The majority of my teams prefer email, but I've always had a few who love the phone.

3. Be on Time. On time for the leader is before time. If a conference starts at 8, be there at 7:45. Five minutes early is ten minutes late for the leader! I don't want to be called the "late Rollan Roberts" as long as I'm alive!

4. Don't be Needy. Your staff is not your therapist. If you feel the need to let everyone know how you're feeling or the only friends you can get are your employees, get some help. They are there to do their job - not listen to all of your problems as they've got plenty of their own.

5. Show Respect. Show respect for your manager, peers, direct reports, staff, vendors, and the company paying you. Anything less than genuine respect, and your team loses respect for you.

6. Set the Standard. You're the leader, whether you're a good one or not, you are in a position of leadership. Your team needs you to communicate a vision. They need to see you lead the charge. They need to see you passionate about their work. They need to see that you are committed to them and their success. And don't lower the bar for low performers. You hired athletes so respect them enough to dismiss the low performers. You should hold yourself to a higher standard than you do your employees. The standard is excellence.