Although every organization has times when the grind seems to be harder than others, there are many organizations out there which run like a well-oiled machine for the most part. One of the reasons may be that the leadership is aware of the daily processes, and is watching for any signs of struggle. Here are a few of the indications a strong leader may pick up on and correct before they become major issues:
- POWER STRUGGLES will crop up any time that there is a lack of leadership. If you are watching your staff engage in arguments, you may want to step back and ask yourself why. Do they feel that someone needs to make decisions? Is your leadership style wishy-washy, or are you giving them some reason to think you don’t care?
- APATHY shows a lack of interest. Find a way to get your employees interested and vested in the end result. Whether you assign more responsibility, a special project, or something new doesn’t really matter. Find what sparks them. Is it possible that you are wasting a talent which would excel in another position, rather than withering due to boredom? Why do you have apathy in your team?
- BICKERING indicates a lack of teambuilding. If you are hearing the sounds of nitpicking or spatting, begin some activities to build teamwork. See our previous blog on building teamwork for more ideas.
- ABSENTEEISM on a large scale tells you that you are not providing the incentives needed by team members to come to work. Whether your pay is too low, the stress is too high, or you simply are not recruiting willing employees, there is something going on within the structure which cancels the motivation to work.
- TARDINESS, although not quite as bad as completely missing work, also indicates a lack of motivation. Investigate whether the issue is within the administration, or whether your hiring process needs to be revamped. You may also want to look at your employee handbook and find out if you have a clear process for discipline. Positive reinforcement is great, but having a clear policy regarding missed work may be a deterrent. If you have a policy and are not following it, that may also be a sign that your team is missing the leadership mark.
- MISSED DEADLINES are a strong sign that leadership is faltering. If you are leading, then it is possible that there is a missing link in the leadership at the next level. Start asking questions to find out where the responsibility lies, and then remedy that situation.
- LACK OF PROFITABILITY says without question that something is going on. Business evolves to make money. If that isn’t happening, then it is time to look at everything from the top down, and find out why.
If you are seeing several of these indicators, it is time to roll up your sleeves and get into the trenches. Sometimes it involves working out the details before they become too big to resolve. Check out Mike’s Book, The Diamond Process for tips and tricks to lead your people and processes more effectively!
MG (Retired) Mike Diamond is CEO and founder of Diamond Strategy Group. Diamond Strategy Group is a leadership development and consulting company. We focus on improving the quality of leadership within organizations by utilizing the same methods Mike and his consultants have used in both military and civilian sectors. We invite you to stay connected! Order your book now online at www.DiamondStrategyGroup.com and connect with Mike Diamond on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter! E-mail us at info@diamondstrategygroup.com!
To request Mike as the keynote speaker for your next event, e-mail SEM4MD@gmail.com.