Learning to be a team player

Frustrations in organizational leadership Leaders who do not understand you Peers who do not support you Subordinates who do not cooperate with you Program mandates from above Fundraising anguish No control over the money Traditions that hold you back

You Are On A Team Play your position well Not everyone can hit the homerun Every day has its heroes Playing together is what counts Learn continually

It’s what you learn after you know it all that counts. -John Wooden

What is a team? A team is fundamentally different from individual efforts. Most of the time, teams work better than individuals. There are tradeoffs for belonging to a team. Some attitudes and behaviors ruin teams.

Coaching the team Motivate the players Provide training Plan the strategy Give orders Enforce the rules Win through the players

The essence of leadership is a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You cannot blow an uncertain trumpet. -Theodore Hesburgh

Playing on the team Self-motivation Discipline yourself Accept the strategy Obey orders Submit to discipline Win for the coach

Mid-level challenges Take orders Give respect Compromise Be loyal Curb your ambitions Support other departments Lead by example

Jesus and the disciples The Leadership of Jesus –Choosing –Teaching –Visioncasting –Defining strategy –Commanding

Jesus and the disciples cont. The followership of the disciples: –Submitting –Learning –Understanding –Cooperating –Obeying

Why were you (s)elected? No one else would take the job You had no strikes against you You met the basic qualifications Best choice among those available You were seen as a person of vision with leadership ability

What your election or appointment does not mean That you don’t have to take orders That you don’t have to ask permission That you can act independently That you can be obnoxious or arrogant That the department belongs to you

How to run a successful program or department Plan: What most organizational leaders do the least. You must plan –far enough in advance –with as much detail as possible –how you will effectively spend your money Gather consensus before you act Communicate Share the glory

There are two ways to raise the level of leadership in your organization: 1) Train them or 2) Trade them. -John Maxwell

Problems with a superior The sentiment usually supports the older, wiser person Think it through Call him up Ask questions before you make statements Be aware of peripheral issues Make every effort to resolve the problem

Problems with a peer Test the feelingsTest the feelings Consider the basic views or convictionsConsider the basic views or convictions Explain it to your superiorExplain it to your superior Meet with the other person (a third party may be helpful)Meet with the other person (a third party may be helpful) If you cannot agree, at least stop the warIf you cannot agree, at least stop the war Be friendly and supportiveBe friendly and supportive

Problems with a subordinate Consider what you may have done to cause the problem Meet with the individual privately Define the problem Go over the repercussions from the conflict Get a pledge of loyalty and support Don’t use it as leverage

We see things not as they are but as we are. -Harvey Firestone