Leadership Challenges, Part Four

Someone recently asked me, “What are the common interpersonal and generational errors that leaders should avoid when managing a team?”. That is a huge question. However, after some thinking, I came up with four challenges that a new leader often faces:

1. Understanding how cultural differences impact a team

2. Using the Golden Rule

3. Learning to lead vs. manage

4. Learning the 80/20 rule

My last blogs talked about the first three challenges. Let’s look at #4, learning the 80/20 rule. Jim Collins, management guru and author of ‘Good to Great’ and ‘Built to Last’, says that the best leaders use the 80/20 rule: they ask questions/listen 80% of the time and talk/answer questions 20% of the time. Why is it so important that effective leaders listen and ask questions? Because the right kind of questions encourage innovation and collaboration; they empower employees to do their best thinking, allowing the manager to do what she’s supposed to do in leading the team forward.

This is harder than it looks because managers are busy people who get paid for results; they often think they don’t have time to ask questions and start a discussion. So what’s the best way to listen more? Truly focus on the person while they are talking; get engaged in what they are saying. When you do this, you start to listen more and the next question comes naturally from a place of curiosity. This is especially important with Gen Y or Millennials, who are used to having a voice at the table from an early age. Go ahead and try…you’ll see immediate results!