Leading by Wandering Around
Learn
Effective leaders know what is going on in the organization because they practice “management by wandering around”. Effective leaders make it a regular habit to get out of their offices and interact with people: team members and peers, customers, suppliers; anyone who has some impact on the organization’s ultimate success. Management by wandering around, when done with purpose and focus accomplish two important goals: leaders keep themselves informed and they find out what people are thinking.
Unlearn
However leading by wandering around does not mean that leaders wander around without an aim or until they run into something. They are several things leaders do in order not to “wander” around aimlessly.
Relearn
Therefore for me to be an effective “wanderers” I need to practice the followings:
1) Have a reason for being there
Effective wanderers are prepared for their visit. The key is that they are focused and have a reason for their wandering.
2) Look and Listen
The visits are often unannounced so they can get a realistic picture of the operation. They also make it a point to listen to what people are saying to them and to what is being said around them.
3) Lead with Questions, not Answers
Effective leaders know that the best way to increase their understanding is by asking questions, not by telling people what they should do or think. Questions such as “How could we improve that?” and “What do you think about it?” give people and opportunity to express their opinions.
4) Talk about Work
Effective leaders have a genuine interest in their people, but they avoid asking personal questions that could lead to embarrassment. In most cases they keep the focus on work because that is what they have in common with their people. Work provides a common ground on which to build a relationship with the people.
5) Follow Through
Effective leaders act on ideas. When team members make suggestions about how things can be improved, effective leaders make an honest effort to try the suggestion.
Learn
Effective leaders know what is going on in the organization because they practice “management by wandering around”. Effective leaders make it a regular habit to get out of their offices and interact with people: team members and peers, customers, suppliers; anyone who has some impact on the organization’s ultimate success. Management by wandering around, when done with purpose and focus accomplish two important goals: leaders keep themselves informed and they find out what people are thinking.
Unlearn
However leading by wandering around does not mean that leaders wander around without an aim or until they run into something. They are several things leaders do in order not to “wander” around aimlessly.
Relearn
Therefore for me to be an effective “wanderers” I need to practice the followings:
1) Have a reason for being there
Effective wanderers are prepared for their visit. The key is that they are focused and have a reason for their wandering.
2) Look and Listen
The visits are often unannounced so they can get a realistic picture of the operation. They also make it a point to listen to what people are saying to them and to what is being said around them.
3) Lead with Questions, not Answers
Effective leaders know that the best way to increase their understanding is by asking questions, not by telling people what they should do or think. Questions such as “How could we improve that?” and “What do you think about it?” give people and opportunity to express their opinions.
4) Talk about Work
Effective leaders have a genuine interest in their people, but they avoid asking personal questions that could lead to embarrassment. In most cases they keep the focus on work because that is what they have in common with their people. Work provides a common ground on which to build a relationship with the people.
5) Follow Through
Effective leaders act on ideas. When team members make suggestions about how things can be improved, effective leaders make an honest effort to try the suggestion.
1 comment:
Very interesting learning experiences.
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