People put their effort into what is measured
Posted: 16 May 2018 at 8:41 am | Author: Laura Morris
The level of instruction and guidance that you give to your team will no doubt vary depending upon a range of factors such as how big your team is, how experienced they are and the complexity of the tasks at hand.
Depending upon your own personality you will have a preference for a leadership style too. You may choose to have a democratic approach or alternatively you could opt for a more relaxed laissez faire attitude. No matter which style you are, you will still need to provide an element of guidance to your team.
A team is by definition a group of people all working towards a common goal. To do this we need to set objectives that are measurable and have a deadline (SMART objectives – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time Bound). Having clearly defined targets allows people to be clear about what is expected of them and know what they will be measured on. If there is no defined outcome to a task it is unlikely that people will put much effort into it as they will not receive praise, nor know when the task is even deemed completed.
Positive stress caused by realistic deadlines can also help the procrastinators amongst us. You know who you are! You’re the ones who write your assignment the day before deadline day despite being given six weeks to complete it. However, just think, if there was no deadline, would it have been completed at all? Having a deadline is good to spur all of us into action!
If you want to find out more about how you can help lead your team to success you may wish to look at undertaking a recognised qualification such as the ILM Level 3 Certificate in Leadership and Management. A qualification such as this can give you a real understanding of how to navigate the complexities of leadership and management and help you get the most out of your team.