At a recent robotics retreat, which we use to bring the team together through team building activities, I was expressing an idea I had to a fellow lead. He understood what my idea was trying to accomplish but he asked a simple question in reply: What would you do if no one wanted to do it? Of course at that point, it would turn into a discussion with fellow teammates stating the problem and coming up with a compromise to see what would work. But it this post isn’t about what I would do in that situation, its about a question that spurred from it. What if no one wanted to follow?
Are you really a leader if you don’t have any followers? In robotics to hold the title as team lead, at the bare minimum, you need to make powerpoints, start the meeting, and make sure that the team is communicating with each other. But Team Leads are not picked every year so they can have an important sounding title. They are picked because they can improve the team. It’s easy going into a lead position thinking that people are just going to follow you but its not that simple. With a new leader comes new changes, and not everyone reacts the same way to change. In a setting where people choose to come and aren’t paid, you run into a problem where the effective way to lead is not by pointing fingers to get people to do things. You need to earn trust within your team. Trust is always a two-way street but when it comes to gaining followers it is important that you take the first step to make the effort to gain peoples trust.There are a few ways trust can be gained but some of the easiest ways are through consistency, honesty, and reliability. This could be as simple as doing weekly meetings or being open to your team about problems. Another way to gain followers is to lead by example. People will do something if someone else is also doing it. The behaviors you have as a leader define the type of team you will have. If a leader is inconsistent or rude, the followers will assume that behavior is acceptable. This goes along the golden rule we were taught in 1st grade, treat people how you want to be treated. This is another rule that is a two way street situation like trust.Also, this is another reason why many people don’t respond well when a boss or leader says that you need to do something but doesn’t do it themselves. The next part about being a leader is having the ability to point your team in the right direction. You can earn peoples trust all you want but that doesn’t mean they are motivated to follow. Its important when presenting an idea to communicate how the idea solves the problem and open the floor up to other ideas to the solution/ other opinions. By opening up the floor you are allowing your followers to have the ability to actually contribute to the decision making process. This way people would want to work more because their opinion was taken into an account.
3 Comments
Caitlyn Kleine
11/7/2018 08:11:03 am
I really liked how you tied your topic in with how it relates to your life. It seems like you have worked really hard to become the leader you are today of robotics and whatever else! I can tell that you have learned a lot from this experience of having others look up to you. I totally understand how tough it can be to gain the trust of others and vice versa, especially when you lead a club like robotics. Your post was well written and I enjoyed it a lot!
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Ashleigh Ellis
11/7/2018 11:19:17 am
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Lizzy Hoenes
11/7/2018 05:45:08 pm
I really enjoyed this blog! It was interesting to see how you use/ learned this in your life. I feel like a lot of people think it's impressive to say "I'm a leader" but lack what being a leader really means. This blog really shows what being a TRUE leader is. The emphasis you put on trust was truly inspirational. Thanks for a great post about leadership, its definitely something i plan on using with the upcoming track season... little nervous to be a leader.
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AuthorJust a highschool senior that wants to become a better leader! ArchivesCategories |