Article 10: Seven (7) Ways To Win At Situational Leadership
In the previous blog, I explained 7 ways leaders can lose at Situational Leadership. In this month's blog, I will cover 7 ways leaders win at Situational Leadership. As you advance on the leadership journey, always lead yourself first. Leadership starts with you, then how you choose to show up for others.
Situational leadership is the shortest phase in becoming a Purposeful Accountable Leader (PAL). Stopping at phase two on the journey across the leadership bridge prevents you from achieving your true potential. Leaders must understand the most precious asset in their business and start investing in it immediately. Do you know what yours is? Your team, the individuals who show up daily to progress your vision and move the company forward. The PEOPLE! Leaders inherit authority when starting a new role, which is temporary. Authority has limited influence but, most importantly, does not inspire others to action. A leader's goal is to move away from rank, title, and situational authority as quickly as possible and build individual relationships. Here are 7 ways to inspire you to win in Situational Leadership.
Leaders who win at Situational Leadership focus on serving others versus how others can add value to them.
-Joshua K. McMillion
Seize Your Opportunity
Regardless of how you obtained the leadership position, someone believes that you have the potential to lead well. Maybe you were in the pipeline or the only one available, but the point is to seize your moment. What are you doing right now to be ready when that moment comes? Have you determined what your House Of Leadership (HOL) looks like? Purposeful Accountable Leaders (PALs) understand opportunities are rare and own their position. Once you have the chance, do not be in a position wishing you had prepared. Remember, to lead well starts with yourself, and the thought, "what got you here will not get you there," holds true. When I was in Ranger School in Florida, I was on the verge of recycling a second time. The leader chosen for that mission froze, and the platoon began to descend into chaos with no leaders stepping up. I was assigned as a squad leader under the platoon leader. I took bold action, "disciplined disobedience" when others did not, seized the opportunity, and helped my team achieve a decisive victory. You never know when you're opportunity will present itself. But you can be ready for that moment.
Set The Bar
When a leader takes over a new team, one of the first steps is clearly defining what excellence looks like in the formation. What is the bar other leaders, including yourself, will be measured against? PALs do not leave room for interpretation of what is expected within their organization. Clearly define what you expect, counsel your top-line leaders, and tell them what they must do to succeed. The most critical part is letting the team know what they can expect from you; how you show up for them. Leadership is a two-way street, and PALs understand to become inspirational, they must also meet the standard. What values will you prioritize in your team, and are you living those values now? The organization is a reflection of the leader. If you only talk without deeds, your words are hollow and meaningless.
Commit To Growth
From day one, you need to state the mission and vision of your organization confidently. To truly commit to growth takes discipline and routine. Every opportunity you get to restate the mission, "the why," and the vision, "the end state," do it with your team. You must be committed before others will buy into the vision and mission. I like to call it a "come and see" confidence that inspires others to follow on the journey. Your team knows if you are genuinely excited or just saying words without enthusiasm. It's easy to spot a transitional leader; they talk but do not walk the walk. Be ready on day one to back up your talk.
To commit to growth, you must embrace the suck. This term is often used in the military and is widely popular within the infantry when times are horrible. For example, when I was in Ranger School, we had a medical emergency with a fellow Ranger. We halted our movement in the middle of a swamp in 50-degree water up to our chest. My platoon stayed in that condition for the remainder of the night. Growth is uncomfortable, and you must believe in what you're doing so passionately that you refuse to stop. Remember, leadership is about taking our team on the journey. Before you ask them to begin this journey on the leadership bridge, believe in what you are doing.
Embrace The Suck
My family recently took a walk near our home in northern Alabama. When we arrived, I was taken aback by the uncanny resemblance of the swamp crossings in Ranger School. Instantly I was transported back and remembered how uncomfortable growth could be. When you believe you are at your limit, push further!
Leadership Is A Privilege
Make no mistake; your job is to create, produce, and deliver results. Leadership means to inspire, and part of that formula is output. If you cannot create wins, you will not build momentum end momentum is unstoppable. Our goal is to start making change and getting small wins quickly as leaders. When I first took over my platoon in Afghanistan, I wanted to get swift wins for my team. I knew the mission we had was dangerous. The platoon was war-weary, suffering heavy casualties before I took over. Call it luck or excellent planning, but the team produced win after win. Our first mission resulted in over 76 IEDs found, a police station built, and over 32 enemies taken out of the fight. I am grateful for that opportunity and the men who achieved those results.
If leaders are unable to produce results, they must be held accountable. A leader that rules from authority and fails to inspire is doomed to spend their duration as a leader in phase two. Those leaders need to be quickly identified or will cause extreme harm to the organization. For example, transitional leaders prevent individual growth, cause talent to leave, and kill the organization's climate. Eroding not only the position but also the culture. What does it say about an organization that allows poor leaders to remain? It's saying mediocre performance is acceptable and leaders are above the standard. Leaders are the standard period.
Be Humble
Leaders understand that humility is an essential characteristic of the position. Every leadership role presented complexities I did not fully understand. It takes a confident leader willing to ask questions others are afraid to ask. In fact, it will be well received by your team and allow you to transition to the 3rd phase of leadership faster. Choose to be a confident leader. PALs are grounded and understand that one person's ideas are weaker than the collective. No matter your background, experience, and certifications, you are not the smartest person on the team. If you believe you are, you should not be a leader. Leaders ground themselves, move toward their people, ask powerful questions, and remain humble. PALs are lakes when it comes to knowledge. Your understanding of the organization is a mile wide and a foot deep. Allow your team to be a well, a mile deep and a foot wide. If you can start in Situational Leadership with humility advancing to Strengthening Relationships become much more manageable. Great leaders take individual team members' strengths and marry them together, causing momentum.
My Daughter
First Wrestling Match
I could not think of a better picture to illustrate being humble. My daughter completed her first wrestling tournament, won both matches, and ultimately won first place. But what you don’t see in this picture is the hard work and preparation that went into winning. Not once did she say anything that could be preserved as cocky or arrogant. She has greatness inside her and will be a much better leader than me one day!
The Bigger Picture
PALs understand they are part of a larger picture. When a leader takes over a position, they are gifted temporary authority. That authority was granted by the hard work and sacrifices others have made. Leaders can ruin their reputations and destroy their position through transitional habits. PALs understand their actions lead to the legacy of the position. If you erode your team members' trust by making selfish decisions, you erode your reputation and the reputation of others who come after you. Your team, family, and you deserve a great leader now and in the future; look for the bigger picture and lead well. Do not give in to easy decisions for temporary comfort. Choose the hard rights consistently over the easy wrongs. The position you fill is more significant than you. Leaders make decisions for the future generation, not the present.`
Move Towards People
The seventh way PALs win in Situational Leadership is to move away from the title and toward their team. Situational Leadership is the most straightforward phase and should be the shortest. The primary objective is to start caring personally for your team to build trust and earn respect. Leaders who rule with authority and title will fail to produce measurable change. You need quick wins, and without results, building traction is impossible. The most challenging thing I experienced was learning to lead without a position. Luckily I learned that valuable lesson early in my career at ranger school. The Army's premier leadership school shaves your head, strips you of rank, and provides you the same tools as everyone else. Why? Because everyone on the team is equal and only as good as the weakest member. Positional authority is stripped, but what remains is your ability to inspire. Can you lead starving, sleep-deprived, angry testosterone-filled humans? Leaders inspire by their actions; you can not do that from rank.
Final Thoughts
Do not waste your opportunity to become a transformational leader. Someone believes you have what it takes to lead and produce results. Ensure your team clearly understands what is expected of them and what they can expect from you. Assume your new title with humility, and do not be afraid to ask for help. I've never met a great leader who did not possess that characteristic. Finally, begin to move toward your team and establish personal connections. Do not come into a position with confident arrogance. Instead, go with a curious, coachable, confident charisma that leads with words and follows through with powerful action. Do not lead with positional authority and leverage your rank; it only erodes your reputation and the overall legacy of the position. Share in the comments below, or send me a personal message. Use these 7 ways leaders win at Situational Leadership to inspire you to become a more PAL. We all have greatness inside, but it's up to us to forge those abilities. Become the leader your team needs!
After Action Review
What are you doing now to prepare for your next position?
How can you hold yourself and your team accountable?
What is more important, the position or the people?
My Mission: I will end toxic leadership practices by equipping leaders with transformational leadership skills.
Together, we will impact 1 MILLION lives!!!
Every day is a gift, don't waste yours!
Joshua K. McMillion | Founder MLC | Founder MLC
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