Page 45 - Develop your leadership skills- John Adair. -- 2nd ed

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36 ■ Develop your leadership skills

Some of the supreme examples of leadership occur when a
leader takes over a demoralised group and ‘turns it around’.
The initial briefing meeting can be especially important in this
process, for first impressions are as basic in working relation-
ships as in love and friendship. The impression that you make
on people at that first meeting will stay with them for ever. The
task may have to be covered in general terms if you are new to
the job – you can do little more than share your first thoughts.
But you can share your vision, your spirit of resolve, and your
determination to change the climate and standards of the
group. That may require some tough talking, and people
will wait to see if it is going to be backed up by equally firm
deeds.

Controlling

Controlling is the function of ensuring that all the energy of the
team, and the resources at its disposal, are turning wheels and
making things happen. Sometimes teams are like inefficient old
steam engines, with much of their energies escaping like hissing
steam into space and doing nothing to move the iron monster
forward.

Of course humans are not machines, and some of their energy
during the day will go into discussions or activities unrelated to
the common task. Within reason, this ‘time wasting’ is accept-
able, but it can become a problem in a team that does not have
a really positive attitude to the common task.