It’s Not About You: Leading Thriving Teams

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Why do some teams thrive in the real-world messiness of projects, deadlines, and change? Recently, I joined the Profiles in Leadership podcast to talk about it.  One theme kept surfacing: effective leadership is less about being the smartest person in the room and more about enabling others to do their best work.

The theme of leading by enabling others shapes the way I work, teach, and consult.  Whether I’m working with a PMO, a project team, or a management team, I see that the most effective leaders focus on creating the right conditions for their team.  It’s not about them – it’s about their people.

Here are a few of the ideas I shared during the conversation and some practical ways you can apply them.

Enable Others

The phrase “servant leadership” has become a buzzword, but the concept is solid.  Your best leadership is not about you.  It’s when you create an environment where others can do their best work.   Here are some ways you can create it.

  1. Remove roadblocks before they get in the way
  2. Clarify priorities
  3. Use your hard-won experience to coach and teach others
  4. Make people feel safe enough to learn, innovate, and sometimes even make mistakes
  5. Balance high standards and accountability with strong support

Build a Band

Leadership means building teams that can solve complex problems together.   Don’t focus on finding a flashy soloist when you’re creating a new team or hiring a new employee.  Look for someone who can play in the band as well as solo.   Of course, individual skills and subject matter expertise are always important, but even the most talented individual will fall short without a functioning team.

When building a team or hiring a new employee, I ask these questions to probe beyond subject expertise.

  1. Is this person eager to learn continuously?
  2. How well can they handle change?
  3. What kind of teamwork and group work skills does this person have?
  4. How well do they fit with the organization’s values and culture?
  5. How will they challenge us to work and think differently?

Semper Gumby

Systems thinking is crucial to solving tough problems.  I was trained as an engineer, so I bring an engineering mindset to my work.   I like systems, lean process, and practical solutions. But I’ve learned flexibility is just as important. One of my guiding phrases is “Semper Gumby” — always be flexible.

As a leader, do enough planning to be able to give direction to your teams, but don’t over-plan. The world changes. Projects shift.  Your leadership must be flexible, too.

Bottom Line: Thriving Teams Drive Real Results

Thriving people are the engine of thriving projects.  To deliver lasting results, build your team carefully and support your people.  Your most important contribution as a leader may not be a decision or a deliverable. It may be the environment you create.

Ask yourself what kind of environment you are creating for your team.  I’d love to hear what works for you.

I teach and consult about highly effective projects, portfolios, and teams.  You can contact me at [email protected] and read more at spspro.com/blog.

Posted in Management, Projects.