The most powerful tool for successful teams

Have you ever managed a team that keeps underperforming? That just do not take responsibility and ownership? Maybe you have to tell them what to do, and how to do it? And then follow up to make sure that things get done? Or maybe you have been part of a that team, trying really hard but getting nowhere? What if there were a magic tool that could turn that team successful? Well, there is, and it is free of use.

"If we change the way we look at things, the things we look at change" (Wayne Dyer)

The most powerful tool to change your team into a successful one is actually in your mind, in the way you look at your team, and what you believe to be true about your team.

When you as a leader think of your team as unsuccessful, and see the team members as not willing, as not competent enough, then in your mind you have created an underperforming team. When that happens you as a leader will most likely try to help the team, by telling them what to do, maybe even how to do it, as you do not trust they have the competence or willingness to perform. And you will have to enforce follow ups, talk about ownership etc... And your team members will perform even worse! I know, because this has happen to me as well. When a manager starts, even when it is with good intentions, telling me what and how to do my task, I will get frustrated and unwilling, because I do know how to do my job, that is rarely the problem. I also must say that I do know how it is to be on the opposite side, when I as a consultant come in and have all these good ideas, that I know would make your work easier more efficient, and still I meet resistance when trying to implement them, when all I want is for the team to become more successful!

The problem here is the way we look at the team, the way we consciously or unconsciously are telling ourselves what is true about this team and the team members. If you as a manager instead would look at your team, that are at this point underperforming or not reaching the goal you have set for them, and see a successful team with competent people, what would be your next thought? As a leader, mine would be, why are they not able to perform? What obstacle is standing in their way? And how can I help overcoming that obstacle? Now, changing the way I look at my team, changes my team. They are in fact successful! Me telling them what and how to do their job will no longer help. But asking them what is standing in their way will be the first step to making them become what they already are, successful!

But remember, this is not something you as a leader can fake. You will have to believe this is true. You will have to actually change the way you look at things, and then the things you look at will change.This is truly powerful. So think about it, can you change the way you as a leader look at your team?