According to Dwight D Eisenhower “Leadership is the art of getting someone else to do something you want done because he wants to do it.” (Mirriam Webster, 2007)
While this is not the only way to motivate a person or a team, it is certainly an ideal way to do so as it engages the passion of others to deliver a desired solution.
So exactly how does one do this?
- Set a vision — One who wants to build a ship can ask men to come to the pier with their tools and to expect to toil for 100 long days to complete the task… or he may describe distant lands with riches and new cultures to be experienced, and ask that the men help to build the ship to take them on this journey. While the result may be the same, few would argue that pursuing a vision is more satisfying. Even those of us not building ships know that a satisfied workforce performs better which radiates to client engagements and is reflected in the bottom line.
- Create a safe environment — Safety and security is a basic human need. If workers lack this, they will seek it elsewhere.
- Focus on customer satisfaction — Every member of the team must be empowered to ensure that customer expectations are met. Whether this means stopping an assembly line to fix a problem or implementing a change requested by the client, a leader helps his/her team navigate a mutually satisfying path to success. Repeat business depends upon client satisfaction so this is key.
- Invest in your team —Investor Morgan Housel states that every good investment is composed of a tried-and true component that delivers a dividend plus an innovative component that keeps you competitive. Overlook this investment to the peril of your staff’s skillset, of staff retention and of your business.
While we may not have the power to impact the leadership for our entire firm, we should strive to do so for our teams to improve life in our corner of the world, and we can only hope that our success becomes contagious.
