foragingleader

A couple of weeks ago I stumbled across an article on LinkedIn and its title grabbed my attention:

“Leadership is what it takes to stand up and speak. Leadership is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

I agreed with the statement (and the authors position), but I had a gut feeling that something was missing…

When I told one of my mentors that I was feeding a squirrel everyday, her first response was, “You need a cat.” When I went on to explain that I was beginning to write a blog about said squirrel (named Chip), and the tips and tricks of leadership, her second response was, “LeaderChip!” It was brilliant. Not only was I jealous of the fact that I hadn’t come up with it myself, I was also smacked right in the forehead with a concerning thought; I had not been thinking of Chip as a leader.

Here’s what’s missing from the article’s title/statement:

“Leadership is what it takes to stand up and speak. Leadership is also what it takes to sit down and listen [while others are standing].”

When it comes to leadership practices and the impact of body-language, we are often taught to address each other on equal levels. Both standing, everyone sitting, eye-to-eye, those types of scenarios. And while this approach is appropriate in most cases, it is important for you as the leader to encourage your team members to be the ones standing. Instead of thinking of the act of sitting as something that creates or equates a hierarchy (because we all have egos, and let’s face it, some are better managed than others), think of the act of sitting as being a strong platform. Sit down and listen, but create a stage for your team member to stand on.

To be a great leader, you must acknowledge that you are not the only leader on the team.

During your weekly check-ins, ask yourself these 3 questions:

1. How many leaders did I identify this week?

2. How many times was I a stage this week?

3. How can I get more team members to stand on the stage next week?

1. How many leaders did I identify this week?

The answer could be 0 or 11. Neither is greater than the other. What matters is how you respond to the answer. Either way, you need to move on to the next step and shift from identification to development. Use your answer as motivation, not confirmation.

2. How many times was I a stage this week?

It’s time for some self-reflection. Think back to that budget meeting and the conversation you had at lunch on Wednesday. You may have been listening, but did others feel that they had the option to stand? Did you finish eating your sandwich alone because your co-worker raced off in excitement to start that new project? If you can’t remember whether or not you were a brightly-lit stage during that budget meeting, chances are you weren’t, and it might be time to check to see how sturdy your stage is. Everyone needs a strong platform, including you!

3. How can I get more team members to stand on the stage next week?

This one is a nice follow up to question #1, and it will probably challenge you the most. Whether your answer was 0 or 11, your next step is to focus on development. Your numbers will fluctuate and so should your methods of engagement. Do you as the manager need to present the budget report? Or, can one of your team members do it? This isn’t about shouldering your responsibilities onto someone else, and keep in mind that there is a fine line between pushing someone outside of their comfort zone and making someone feel vulnerable and misplaced, but take the time to think about how you can not only share the limelight, but let someone else be the star of the show.

As I watch Chip try to find the perfect spot to store the peanut in his mouth, I no longer pat myself on the back for being the one who gave him the peanut to begin with. Instead, I think about how a leader like Chip could probably teach me a thing-or-two about an RRSP and/or investing for the future… Maybe Chip would like to present next week’s budget report!

Sitting down and listening is the easy part, but how do you encourage others to stand up?

-Brianna

Employee Relations, Leadership

Our new team member, Chip!

November 5, 2018December 10, 2018 foragingleader

Hello, everyone,

Please join me in welcoming Chip to our team at Foraging Leaders!

Chip brings a wealth of knowledge and years of experience to the role of Associate Neighbourhood Squirrel. He has been recognized by industry experts for his work in Protein and Stock Management, and in 2017, his Toronto nests were featured in popular home & cottage publications, and were noted as “must-see, must-build” feats of design.

Chip is excited to be joining the Foraging Leaders team, and we look forward to having his expertise on board!

-Brianna

Image: ©Brianna MacLellan

Employee Relations, Leadership, Motivation

Be the fuel, not the fire

October 14, 2018December 12, 2018 foragingleader

Two months ago on a particularly slow afternoon, I noticed a squirrel sitting in the tree outside of my kitchen window. It had a chip in its left ear. Black fur, patches of brown here and there. I scrambled to find some trail-mix before it moved on to another tree. I slid the window open, quietly, trying not to startle it, and dumped sunflower seeds, peanuts and dried cranberries onto the window ledge. An hour later I returned to the window and the trail-mix was gone. I was thrilled and couldn’t wait to tell my partner about my new friend when he got home.

“WHAT!? YOU FED A SQUIRREL?”… “What if it comes into the apartment!?”… “IT’S GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR FOOD HERE NOW”…”BAAAABE!”… Well, it wasn’t quite the response I was expecting, but I quickly began to list all of the great contributions the squirrel could make to our daily routine.

In my first year as a manager I was told to always defend my employees. If a customer issued a complaint or an employee made a mistake, it was my job to defend them. But I quickly began to re-think what it meant to defend someone. “Defend” is a tricky word and can easily be misunderstood. Being on the defence doesn’t necessarily produce a solution, nor is it a great way to de-escalate or progress a situation in a productive manor. The last thing you want is to hit a wall or even worse, become one yourself.

So let’s change a word and see what happens…

Always support your employees. The best way to support your employees is to create perspective. Whether it’s for yourself or the customer on the phone, take a moment to look at the bigger picture. People will make mistakes (including you and me), but as a leader it is not only your responsibility to hold your employees accountable, but to inspire them to make improvements and take on future projects with confidence. Here is one simple thing you can do to immediately create perspective in a challenging situation:

List 3 reasons why that employee is a great contributor to your team

Recite them in your head, write them down on a piece of paper, or say them out loud. As a customer is giving you an ear-full or you see someone press the wrong button, remind yourself of what makes that person a great employee. Trust me, sometimes this will be easier said than done, but dig deep and start listing.

Having that employee’s contributions fresh in your mind will change your approach to communication and inevitably, your approach to management. You will address the contributions first, then the feedback, then next steps.

Perspective is the difference between coming in HOT; “Bob, I just had a customer scream at me for 25 minutes! There are no product pictures on the website. Fix it!” And coming in cool and collected; “Bob, thank you again for all of the hard work you’ve put in to the company’s website. I just received a phone call from one of our customers and they’ve noted our product photos are missing from the website. Can you look into it right away? Thanks!”…Which Bob do you think really wants to fix that website?

So before you hang up that phone or walk in to your employee’s work space, make that list, create perspective and take the heat down a notch. Feed the squirrel some peanuts and be the fuel, not the fire.

– Brianna

Author: foragingleader

Sitting down and listening is important, but are you encouraging others to stand up?

“Leadership is what it takes to stand up and speak. Leadership is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”

“Leadership is what it takes to stand up and speak. Leadership is also what it takes to sit down and listen [while others are standing].”

Our new team member, Chip!

Be the fuel, not the fire