7 Tips For the Unoffical Leader In You
April 28, 2008 by Christina Lemmey · Comments Off
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A leader can take many forms in many different business situations, often when a person isn’t even “the Boss”. If you find yourself in a group with a deadline with no leader in sight, you may have to be the one to take charge. When this happens, what should you do and NOT do?
When people normally think of a leader in business they think of the boss, but being a leader doesn’t require a fancy title, or even official recognition. Leadership simply needs one person to stand up, take charge, and achieve the goal. In an ad hoc or temporary group, others might not see someone as the leader, but that one person could still make sure the group operates as a team and accomplishes their goal.
How can someone who has not been anointed or appointed accomplish this? Here are some tips for those that find themselves in an unofficial leadership role.
Tread Lightly
The leader does not need to be the smartest – or the fastest, or best looking. It could be anyone, but since it’s you standing up to be the unofficial leader, realize that others in the group may not agree. Simply proclaiming that you are in charge will cause more harm than good. Subtly is your best friend in the beginning of the transition from mob to team. Often, a leader can be created in the other’s eyes by simply being the first one to say, “Ok, so what do we do first?”
Crawl Then Run
The first hurdle for an unofficial leader is to get the group talking. What are their ideas? What do they think is the best course to take? Of course if everyone agrees on one direction, then this stage is done, but that rarely happens. Most often there will be two different schools of thought. The leader should not take sides, but encourage discussion of opposing viewpoints and plans. Stay above the arguments to mediate and stimulate the flow of ideas. Soon, one course will become clear, or at least more feasible than the other. When this happens, you may be surprised to see everyone looking at you to give the final judgment on what to do. Already, you have become the lead person to go to in their subconscious minds.
Group Triage
An important step for a leader is to recognize all the various tasks that need to be done to accomplish the goal. Who is best at what? Who would be most effective where? Hopefully you will already know, but most of the time you will need to find out. So ask what they would be best at within the available tasks to accomplish? You’ll get honest answers, but sometimes the answer is not what they are best at, but what parts of the work they would rather do. If they are the only one to volunteer for a certain task, let them have it. If two or more chime in, then prompt them to discuss among themselves who would be better suited. If they figure it out, great, but usually they will look to you to make the final decision again. Pay attention to their arguments and pick the best one for the job.
Not an Island
Realize that you don’t have to come up with a plan or best course of action all by yourself. You just have to pick the direction and get your people there. Recognize the best plan, even if it isn’t your own. Pay attention to complaints, and problems, but make sure to spot your own flaws as well. For the benefit of the team, volunteer for the job you are best suited for, even if it is one you don’t want to do. Remember that it is not about you being a leader, but your team accomplishing their goal and you are but one part of that team.
Not Omnipotent
Since you have no official power, there is nothing to back you up. You can’t hire, fire, or discipline anyone, so why should they listen to you? Remember, you will earn your leader position by what you do, not who you are. Since being a leader is not about ordering people around, you will spend most of your time suggesting the best possible course, or coaxing the others in the right direction. Your best course is to get your people to do what they need to do without them realizing you’ve done anything.
Motivate
A group with clearly defined capabilities to match all the tasks at hand with an embraced purpose and definitive goal is ideal. That almost never happens in the real world unfortunately, but then if it did, the real world wouldn’t need leaders. Once your team is all facing the same way, you will probably find that some need to be moving faster than the others. An unofficial timeline, with specific deadlines is a nice subtle way to show where each person is at and where they should be. A quiet, private, chat with the problem group member might help as well, but make sure your persona is that of a fellow group member worried about the project and their own part in it, NOT as the unofficial leader. Group cheers and celebrations when one person or another accomplishes their part will help get the lagging member moving. Remember, “problems in private, praise in public.”
Following Your Lead
Nothing gets a bunch of people moving faster than someone heading off in the right direction. Ideally, the team moves forward together, but there’s almost always a winding up period. Set the example by attacking your part with enthusiasm, professionalism, and vigor. If they see you working hard, helping others, and generally doing everything you can to get the team to its goal, then they will follow suit. They will notice if you are cheerfully doing a job they know you don’t want to do. They will notice you listening to other team members, taking advice, and following directions. It will motivate them to do their part for the team and add to your role as unofficial leader.
The Good Follower
There is an ancient saying: “A good leader is a good follower.” This would be a simple paradox if not for the fact that most aspects of a leader involve following others. The leader will follow the best path for the team to take. The leader will follow the advice and direction of those in the team if they are better than the leader’s own. The leader must follow the leader’s own examples. If you look closely at the tips above, you’ll notice that each one requires the participation of the others in the team. A leader cannot lead without people to follow, but a leader can’t move forward without following the team.
Leading people is a privilege and an honor; both not to be abused. Being a leader makes you special, but you are not special because you are a leader. A leader is just a part of a team that together is working towards a goal. Accomplishing the goal… that’s the whole point to being a leader. It is not about you, your status, recognition, or the fancy title. It’s about making things happen. But, if you make things happen, then your status will rise, you will gain recognition, and, yes, get that fancy title. Always remember though, you can’t do it alone.
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Amy Linley gives practical and usable advice regarding communication and meetings at AccuConference. Find out more about our conference call, web conferencing and video conferencing services from AccuConference.
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Paralegal and Medical Coder Resource Guides Available
April 7, 2008 by Christina Lemmey · Leave a Comment
When you think of the term “work at home opportunities,” what is the first thing that comes to mind? Do you think of scams or spending lots of wasted time answering survey questions?
Believe it or not, you can use your professional knowledge or background to work from home. A brand new guide called Paralegal Career Guide is available for free and it can help you understand what kind of jobs are available for paralegals and how to create a home business in this field.
This guide is perfect for those who might be considering a career as a paralegal. Before enrolling in a paralegal degree program, first read this report and decide if this career is the right choice for you. This guide leads you through an overview of the industry, ethical dilemmas, tips for choosing the right paralegal program, and what kind of certifications are necessary.
If you prefer a career in the healthcare industry, the Medical Coding Career Guide is another free resource that explains every facet of medical coding. Learn what this title means, how much coders can earn, what is HIPAA, what is the job market like, and what kind of certification is necessary.
Research is necessary no matter what field you choose and these two resources are packed with information and it’s all free.
To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Biz’s Guide that shows you How to Start a Medical Transcription Service.
After School Activities: Part Time Jobs For Your Teenager
August 26, 2007 by Kelly · Leave a Comment
During the teen years, your child may want and need more things. Allowing your child to have a part time job may be a good way to offset your expenses and teach your teenager the skills needed to manage money. The following information will help you decide how, when, and if you should encourage your teenager to get a part time job.
In order to learn responsibility, discipline, and establish a good work ethic, part time jobs for teens is a way to achieve all of these goals, which will be beneficial to them later in life.
It was recently reported that the job market for teens has risen, but that the number of teens applying for part time jobs has decreased. This is due in part to the fact that some teens do not want to work at menial jobs. As an incentive to increase the number of teens to apply for jobs, the current hourly wage has been raised to $7.50 an hour.
The report went on to suggest that teens are particularly looking for part time jobs in the technology and business sectors, but unless they have the acumen to handle these types of positions, they have to settle for less fulfilling ones.
For teens who are thinking about earning extra cash either after school or during summer vacation, there are a variety of positions available, including: tutoring, babysitting, working at well-known fast food chains or ice cream parlors, working for the city or working in an office.
No matter what positions are available, it would be advantageous for teens to begin working so they can learn about different industries, establish a good working record, and make connections with employers for future full time employment.
While the current wage may not seem like a great deal of money, a teen can make a nice sum over the summer months. It’s also a good idea to apply to different types of jobs to determine if it’s suitable. Teens learn early on that a good education will reap beneficial rewards when they graduate college. It is estimated that a college graduate with a degree in technology or economics can command over $100,000 in salary and benefits. That’s a hunk of change.
The advice to teens is not to be picky when applying for their first job. It can lead to other areas of interest and establish working relationships which can be fruitful in years to come.
To learn more, check out the Mom’s Talk Guide to Raising Happy & Healthy Kids - Tips and resources address nutrition, exercise, sleep, routines, and much more.
