This is the last part of our leadership series which discusses how to build up those we lead. Good relationship is a critical ingredient of leadership and needs be watched carefully. With good relationship, you are able to attract others toward you and work with them actively to achieve desired results.
KNOWING HOW TO BUILD UP THOSE AROUND US:
Reinforcement is a positive or negative message received by the members of the board, the staff or the members of a group when performing a task. If the message received is: “what you did is good” reinforcement is positive. If the message received is: “That’s not right” reinforcement is negative.
Positive reinforcement
1.Positive reinforcement emphasizes what is well done, emphasizes the talents of the members or emphasizes the progress they make. More than just a simple message of thanks, it offers encouragement and stimulation by concretely indicating how to make improvements.
2.Positive reinforcement stimulates member self-confidence and firms up the relationship between the leader and the members in a group. Members see their leader as a guide and someone who appreciates them and has a desire to help them become even better.
3.Accept the resistance of the other person
4.Recognise the point of view of the other person
5.Take an interest in what the other person is doing and congratulate them
6.Show empathy
7.Express and perceive the qualities of the other person
Negative reinforcement
1.We are usually first inclined to notice what bothers us or does not please us. Managers who emphasize what is done poorly undermine the confidence of the members in the group. That can discourage them and rarely leads to improvement.
2.Negative reinforcement affects leader/member relations in the group. Discouraged members come to see the leaders as a judge. They gradually become wary of the leader rather than working together for improvement.
3.Not accepting the point of view of the other person
4.Doing the work for the other person
5.Not delegating power
6.Asking poisoned questions
7.Not recognizing the work of the other person
Say it simply: the simpler your message, the better your chance of being understood. Choose words carefully. Be sure people understand what you want to get across.
The Art of listening
Our ears are usually open. But most of the time we hear and do not really listen carefully. Good leaders must work on listening carefully. They listen fully to what someone has to say before replying. Be an example to those around you. This will probably lead you to becoming more effective as a communicator.
Creating a climate of confidence
Each group is characterized by its atmosphere or climate. In some groups, people express confidence in each other. In others, a general feeling of mistrust prevails. Leaders have a lot to do if they wish to create a good atmosphere. If you are receptive to those around you, they will likely show their confidence in you and be open. If there is something you want to clear up, it is usually more effective to talk to that person directly instead of making comments behind their back.
Strengthen your message with action
Nothing speaks louder than action! What you do is often more important than what you say! Good leaders do not just use their talent as communicators, they reinforce their message with action.
Know how to motivate and mobilize
Above all else, leaders provide motivation and mobilize their team. Motivation implies creating conditions that encourage group members to work better. By motivation those around them, leaders strive to create conditions which will mobilize the group and create change to help the cooperative grow. Individuals and teams advance, develop and achieve results when they work in favourable conditions.
What conditions should leaders foster within their teams?
Leaders must not forget that everyone tries to:
1.find meaning in their actions:
Understand what they must do and the end result
Know what they are doing and why
Want to do what they do
2.play a part:
Make an effective contribution
Participate
Be an influence
Make a mark
Be efficient
3.Be esteemed:
Be respected, held in consideration, supported
Be treated with consideration
Be recognized for their contribution
Enjoy harmonious relationships with those around them
Be entrepreneurial
Good leaders should:
Fight to reach the goals set by the group
Defend the interests of the group
Promote development of the group in the community
Good leaders should not:
Accept whatever occurs without making an attempt to better the situation
Strive just to keep things calm in the group
Take the initiative
Good leaders should:
Take calculated risks to achieve the goals of the group
Take advantage of business opportunities which offer themselves
Good leaders should not:
Be too rash or take risks that endanger the future of the group
Let things go, on the pretext of caution
Be creative and imaginative:
Good leaders should:
Seek new ideas to achieve the goals set by the group
Good leaders should not:
Reject new ideas on the pretext of sticking to the activities of the group
References:
Comment déveloper votre enterprise, Banque fédérale de développment, Canada, 1986
Gestion efficace pour votre entreprise. Banque fédérale de développment, Canada, 1983
Animation et travail en équipe, Pierre Choquette, Economie rurale, Com 16277, September 1990
Construire ensemble, Notre leadership dans une économie en changement, Agropur.
