How To Build Productive Teams (And Why Leaders Struggle)
Are you having trouble getting your employees or team members to be productive?
Sometimes when talking to other managers and leaders, I’ll hear things like, “I can’t get my employees to do anything,” or “my team just isn’t being productive!”
When I hear phrases like this, my first thought is: There’s a leadership issue here…
Why Teams Aren’t Productive
There are certainly employees and team members out there that seem to be naturally motivated and productive. But, most people just need – and want to be – developed.
In fact, the issue is often not unmotivated employees at all, but rather unmotivated leaders.
One of the real dangers in leadership — especially when things are going well — is to become complacent and lazy.
Leaders often have the mindset that they will walk in, solve whatever problems there are… and Presto!… everything will run like a well-oiled machine from that point on! If that’s what you signed up for in your leadership role, you will always be a frustrated leader.
Cars need maintenance. Houses need upkeep. Leaders, employees and team members are no different.
So, the question for you leaders is, what are you doing to actively develop those you have been entrusted with, as well as yourself?
This is a hard question for many leaders to hear — much less answer — because they are simply trying to make their organization or team profitable and productive. But the pathway to sustained profitability runs directly through development.
Mission Critical: Development Of Team Members
Development requires a commitment of time and resources. Development requires patience and persistence. Development requires leaders who are not only committed to developing their teams, but who are committed to learning and continually being developed themselves.
Maybe your team needs more training.
Maybe they need encouragement.
Maybe they need inspiration. Inspiration can come from you OR from outside sources. Don’t be so proud to think you have to be the one to inspire them all the time.
I believe most people want to do a good job.
Ask your team members what would help them to be more productive and to become better employees. Do everything possible to give them what they’re lacking. In doing so, you will be on your way to not just managing, but DEVELOPING, your people.
To help you with this, check out “Top 5 Leadership Fails (And How To Fix Them” This is a great resource and reminder for you as an aspiring leader, and one that desires to continually improve.
And then, maybe I’ll hear you talking about how awesome your team members are!
