A presentation for Human Resource Managers

Good morning. Today, I want to discuss a vital aspect of leadership development that often gets overlooked: cultivating your team’s potential.

Think of a high-performing sports team. The coach, while essential, cannot win the game alone. They need skilled players who are well-trained, motivated, and capable of working together effectively. Similarly, effective leadership in any organisation relies not just on individual brilliance, but on the collective strength and capability of the team.

Let’s consider a scenario. A highly motivated leader, keen to take on a challenging project, is overlooked in favour of a colleague. Why? Because their team lacks the experience and development needed to handle the increased complexity. This highlights the importance of followership stewardship – the active and intentional development of your team members.

Why Followership Stewardship Matters

Investing in your team’s growth isn’t just about delegating tasks; it’s about empowering individuals to reach their full potential. It’s about creating a culture of learning, growth, and shared responsibility. This benefits not only the individuals themselves but also the organisation as a whole.

Key Strategies for Effective Followership Stewardship

1. Bridge the Gap: Be mindful of the skill gap between you and your team members. Provide opportunities for training, mentoring, and skill development to close this gap and empower them to take on greater challenges.
2. Create a Talent Pipeline: Develop at least one team member who can step into your role if needed. This ensures business continuity and demonstrates your confidence in your team’s abilities.
3. Harness Diverse Strengths: Recognize and leverage the unique strengths of each team member. Encourage collaboration and create opportunities for individuals to contribute their expertise, fostering a sense of value and belonging.
4. Embrace Inclusivity: Actively recruit and promote individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those with disabilities. This creates a richer and more dynamic workforce, bringing diverse perspectives and experiences to the table.
5. Foster Open Communication: Encourage open dialogue and constructive feedback. Create a safe space for team members to challenge ideas, offer alternative perspectives, and contribute to the decision-making process.
6. Cultivate Critical Thinking: Discourage blind agreement and foster a culture of critical thinking. Encourage team members to analyze information, evaluate options, and form their own informed opinions.
7. Plan for the Future: Develop a clear succession plan. Identify and nurture potential future leaders within your team, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership and minimizing disruption in the event of your departure.
8. Model Work-Life Balance: Demonstrate a healthy work-life balance, prioritizing your own well-being and encouraging your team to do the same. This creates a sustainable and attractive work environment that fosters both productivity and personal fulfillment.
9. Promote Continuous Learning: Encourage continuous learning and development. Provide opportunities for training, mentoring, and skill-building, ensuring that every assignment offers a chance to both apply existing skills and acquire new ones.
10. Provide Real-Time Coaching: Offer timely and constructive feedback during the course of a project. Capitalize on teachable moments and provide guidance, fostering continuous learning and improvement.

The Benefits for Your Organisation

Investing in followership stewardship offers significant benefits for your organisation:

• Increased employee engagement and retention: Employees who feel valued and invested in are more likely to be engaged and committed to the organisation’s success.
• Improved productivity and performance: A well-trained and motivated team is more productive and capable of achieving higher levels of performance.
• Enhanced innovation and creativity: A culture of learning and growth fosters innovation and creativity, leading to new ideas and improved problem-solving.
• Stronger leadership pipeline: Developing future leaders within your team ensures a strong leadership pipeline for the organisation’s continued success.

Call to Action

I urge you to prioritize followership stewardship in your leadership development programs. Provide the resources, training, and support needed to empower your leaders to cultivate their teams effectively. By investing in your people, you invest in the future of your organisation.

Unlock your leadership potential by cultivating a team of capable and empowered individuals.

Imagine this: You’re eager to lead a major project, but your boss, instead of entrusting you with the responsibility, assigns it to a colleague. Why? Because while you’re undoubtedly dedicated, your team isn’t quite ready to handle the challenge. This scenario, faced by many leaders, highlights a crucial aspect of leadership often overlooked: followership stewardship.

It’s not enough to simply deliver results yourself. True leadership lies in cultivating a team of capable individuals who can contribute, grow, and ultimately, share the responsibility of leadership. Think of it as building an orchestra: A conductor, no matter how skilled, cannot create a symphony alone. They need talented musicians who can play their instruments harmoniously.

The 10 Commandments of Followership Stewardship

1. Mind the Gap: Be mindful of the skill gap between you and your team. While it’s natural to have more experience, excessively large gaps can lead to you shouldering too much of the burden, hindering your team’s growth and your own ability to scale.
2. Build Your Bench: Cultivate at least one team member who can step into your shoes at a moment’s notice. This not only demonstrates trust and confidence in your team but also ensures continuity and minimizes disruption in your absence.
3. Embrace Diverse Strengths: Identify and leverage the unique strengths of your team members. Seek out individuals who complement your weaknesses and foster a collaborative environment where everyone can contribute their expertise.
4. Champion Inclusion: Actively seek out and embrace talent from diverse backgrounds, including individuals with disabilities. This not only broadens your talent pool but also fosters a culture of inclusivity and respect.
5. Encourage Constructive Dissent: Create a safe space for your team to challenge your ideas and offer alternative perspectives. Embrace constructive criticism and foster a culture of open dialogue where everyone’s voice is valued.
6. Beware of “Yes People”: Discourage blind agreement and encourage critical thinking. Foster a culture where team members feel comfortable expressing their opinions and challenging the status quo, even if it means disagreeing with you.
7. Plan for Succession: Always have a succession plan in place. Identify and develop potential successors, ensuring a smooth transition of leadership and minimizing disruption in the event of your departure.
8. Lead a Balanced Life: Avoid the trap of overwork and burnout. Demonstrate a healthy work-life balance, not only for your own well-being but also to create a sustainable and attractive leadership model for your team.
9. Promote Continuous Learning: Encourage your team to “leverage a skill to learn a skill.” Provide opportunities for growth and development, ensuring that every assignment offers a chance to both apply existing skills and acquire new ones.
10. Coach in the Moment: Provide timely and relevant coaching during the course of a project. Capitalize on teachable moments and offer constructive feedback, fostering continuous learning and development.

The Rewards of Followership Stewardship

By prioritizing the growth and development of your team, you not only empower them to achieve their full potential but also unlock your own leadership capacity. A strong team allows you to delegate effectively, tackle bigger challenges, and scale your leadership to new heights.

Take Action Today

Reflect on your leadership style. Are you effectively cultivating your team’s growth? Identify areas for improvement and commit to becoming a true followership steward. Your team, and your own leadership journey, will thank you for it.