The point of leadership is to produce some desired and intended end result.
To actually get something done.
Think about the word “executive”. The word “execute” is right there at the heart of it.
Leadership is all about taking action — and getting your team to take action, too.
So, what are the keys to getting it done? How can you encourage your team to be productive and efficient?
That’s exactly what we talked about on the latest #FlipMyFunnel episode. We’ve been doing a mini-series on leadership and for the past two episodes we’ve been focused on how important communication is to being a great leader.
But now we’re switching gears. We’re taking a look at what it means to be a leader who takes action. And Joe Kerner, Partner and COO at Prestige Leadership Advisors, is here to share his expertise on the matter.
Here’s what we’re unpacking today:
- How your organization’s purpose can motivate your team to take action
- Why it’s crucial to set and communicate specific goals
- And why you’ve got to connect people to the goal to have the best shot at executing a successful game plan
This post is based on a podcast with Joe Kerner. If you’d like to listen to the full episode, you can check it out here and below.
Make sure you really know your purpose:
Every organization was started with some purpose in mind.
One person, or maybe a group of people, started a business for some specific reason.
And almost every purpose is aimed at improving people’s quality of life in some way.
What’s your organization’s purpose? Do you know it? Really and truly?
If you can get your people fired up over that purpose, they not only become easier to manage. They also become far more productive and efficient as a team.
Make sure you know your purpose. And make sure your team knows their purpose.
Then rally everyone around that and watch them go.
A real purpose that people are passionate about can unlock action.
You can’t plan a trip to “Europe”:
If I say to you: “My goal is to take a trip to Europe”. That’s not a very good goal is it?
It’s not specific enough.
How can I even book a trip to “Europe”.
I can’t.
I’d have to know what city to fly into. I’d need to know what date I want to go.
In order to plan my trip to Europe, I need to be a lot more specific.
That’s true of business goals, too.
Business people will often say, “Well I want to be successful.” But they never define exactly what that means. They don’t have a very clear vision in their minds.
What does it mean to be successful? How will you know when you arrive at success?
You’ve got to be clear. And that clarity starts with the leader.
Once you know your purpose, you can define your goals. A leader has to be totally clear on the goals. Then those goals have to be communicated to the people. And not just once, but routinely, weekly, even monthly.
As a leader you’ve got to execute a game plan. So, make sure your people know what game they’re playing and how they can actually win.
Make sure your team knows how they’re helping you get where you’re going:
There’s a well known senior executive at Berkshire Hathaway. He believes that everybody has to understand what they’re contributing to the organization and its end result.
Whatever the purpose and goals of the organization, how does their job specifically relate to that? How does it contribute to that purpose? To achieve those goals?
Define your purpose. Set and communicate specific goals. Then let your people know what position they’re playing in your game plan. Make sure they understand exactly how they’re connected to achieving those goals and fulfilling that purpose.
And that’s how you execute a winning game plan.
