Leadership Team Behaviour – The Role of Team Guiding Principles

Sunday, September 27th, 2015

While all teams are different, leadership teams that have developed common guiding principles, or norms, demonstrate the most effective behaviour and results. Defined and agreed guiding principles for a team increases clarity, unity and motivation. They are the criteria the team uses to decide which actions and decisions to take and are the basis for evaluation of their actions. Identifying, agreeing and operating from team guiding principles unifies and strengthens the team.

Guiding principles are unique to each leadership team and provide a catalyst for new more effective behaviours and initiatives. They are many and varied. However, some examples of principles, which we have observed in effective teams, include:

• Disagree during debate on critical issues but once a decision has been made the whole team commits to it
• Be loyal to team members who are absent
• Be an effective listener
• Focus on a solution rather than a problem
• Establish clear criteria for success of all activities
• Respect, support and have confidence in the team and its members
• Agree on acceptable behaviour (such as timeliness, use of cell phones etc) at meetings
• Include self-evaluation

Consider what the norms are for your leadership team and ask what changes in behaviour must occur for the team to be more effective.

Find out how Leadership Team Coaching can benefit your team or your organisation or contact a Stepshift partner to discuss your leadership requirements.

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