How to Create High Performance Leadership

How does a leader deal with a hierarchical organizational model that is slow to respond and lacks accountability? The leader must reconceptualize the business by changing the view. The organization should be viewed as a flat organization where authority is pushed down to the team. Secondly, the team given authority must practice accountability. Leadership must dismiss the notion that I am responsible for my department. The best leadership is accountable to achieving results for the leader, each other as well as holding the leader equally accountable. The biggest challenge is overcoming the team's reluctance to cross discipline lines, challenge their peers and deliver honest feedback. The following actions will help to inspire a workforce to be true high performers.

Action: Walk the Talk

Leaders must lead by example to encourage an open dialogue. They must listen attentively when they are critiqued by team members and then act upon it by changing their behavior as suggested by the team. Leaders must do this without pulling rank or not cutting off dissenters. Done correctly, this behavior will extend to teams everywhere throughout the organization.

Action: Ask for Feedback

Leaders must initiate a conversation that makes it easy for team members to give the leader honest feedback. Leaders must let employees know they have permission to give honest feedback without repercussions. Getting good, honest feedback is difficult when there is a natural fear within the system. Leaders must disarm employees to get the truth by giving permission for feedback in subtle ways.

Action; Admit When You Are Wrong

The best way to get team member accountability is to admit when you are wrong in front of them. This is a great method to learn by your mistakes so young leaders utilize this behavior for their personal development. The leader must be open to hearing the bad news as well as the wins. To be effective, do not beat up the person making the mistake but allow the discussion to become a learning experience for all team members.

Action: Get Help as Needed

Many leaders are successful at transitioning the behaviors of the team but have difficulty changing their own behaviors. If this is a problem, the leader should seek to have personal coaching. This can happen when a leader gets unexpected feedback from his team and doesn't know how to connect the dots on what behavior is causing this reaction.

To create a leadership change, it begins with the mindset of the leader. Once the leader has changed their mindset, they can go forward with changing the behavior of the team. Once you start to see positive changes in your team, begin to recognize and reward this progress. This will create an even more open environment by demonstrating the correct way to give and receive feedback.