GF Issue 54

THE AUTHOR Julie Wagstaff is the MD of ActionCOACH UK, the world’s number one business coaching franchise. With the UK franchise team having won Master Licensee at ActionCOACH’s Global Conference for 15 consecutive years despite stiff competition from over 70 countries, her lessons in leadership are just the tip of the iceberg of the world-class professional development available when you invest in an ActionCOACH franchise. actioncoach.com team member need to take over the next 90 days, as these will amount to a larger stride towards their long-term goal? When someone can see their own individual development and how this links with the rest of their team it’s a real motivator for further progress. They begin to do your leadership job for you, encouraging others in the team to make their own steps forward. 5 Support risk taking Leaders need to support risk takers and back the team members who come up with ideas with the good of the business in mind. Often these can be tested in a small way and then scaled up if they work. Whether or not the idea works out in the end, be sure to show appreciation for the effort and time taken to give it a go. So, how do you lead by example and set the acceptable parameters of risk taking? First of all, agree with your team what is acceptable to you as leader. Will you give your team ‘get out of jail free’ cards – a carte blanche for risk taking activity – or will you ask for approval on one test-and- measure organizational change each quarter? One thing is for sure, you won’t unlock a winning team without allowing them to innovate and take risks. 6 Involvement and inclusion This means offering everyone in the team the chance to have their say and contribute to the business, rather than solely feeding edicts downstream as the leader. And it depends on every team member participating fully. Everyone in the team will have a different way of working and learning, as well as preferred methods and styles of communication. This personal preference will also apply to how they like to share ideas and feedback. Allowing every team member regular opportunities to speak their mind – this is known as “What I Feel Like Expressing” or WIFLE – addresses issues early and creates a nurturing environment for finding better ways to do things. As a leader, you need to offer a range of ways your team can share ideas with you, as not everyone will be confident with group feedback. Encourage and acknowledge their ideas and you’ll soon find them feeling more confident, enjoying the sense of satisfaction that comes with being recognised as a valuable member of a team. Follow these six steps with your team over the next 90 days and see what progress you make – it won’t just be a win for your team, it’ll be a win for the whole business. “In the majority of roles you should recruit for attitude and train for skills” GLOBAL FRANCHISE.COM 77