The Leading People 6
Leading People 6

Whether you are the CEO of a global organisation, or a newly appointed team manager, you can dramatically improve the engagement and performance of your team.


Whether you are in America, Asia, Africa, Europe or Outer Mongolia, the same 6 things apply.
Key Points:
  • To bring out the best in your team, focus on 6 things
  • They are not in random order, there is a logical sequence
  • Which one do you start with?
  • None of them, you start with yourself
A Universal Truth

The Leading People 6 is not just another leadership fad.

These 6 elements are fundamental to the human condition.

They apply the world over.

They are conceptually simple and extremely powerful.

For most of us, true mastery is a lifetime's journey, but even your first step in the right direction will bring greater team engagement and performance.

The more effort you put in, the more you will be rewarded.
Organisations have a specific focus of attention
Leading People 6

When you first read the descriptions below, they should already feel intuitively 'right', or even, obvious.
Focus on These 6 Elements
Respect:
  • At the heart of respect is to feel listened to and understood
  • To be valued and cared for is a bonus
  • Without respect nothing else matters
  • It's easy to achieve for your chosen few, but can you find a way for every member of the team to feel equally respected?
Clarity:
  • Clarity of direction, clarity of outcomes, clarity of responsibility, clarity of deadlines
  • The list goes on and on
  • If you truly want performance, then clarity is king
Strengths:
  • Work with people to discover and develop their strengths
  • Help support their weaknesses
  • Change roles if it helps
  • Move them on if you have to
  • But, don't waste too much time trying to develop their weaknesses
Praise:
  • Get the first 3 of the 6 right and praise should flow naturally
  • Give it where if feels right, but don't give it too freely
  • Sound easy?
  • It's not, there are many many different ways to praise and most of us only truly value a few of them
Growth:
  • It's true that some people are happy doing the same old thing day in and day out, but they are not fully engaged, or performing at their best
  • Finding the right amount of stretch for each individual is a delicate balancing act
Clear the Way:
  • What's the point of having everyone performing at their best if the systems don't work and the processes are broken?
  • Be prepared to roll your sleeves up and Clear the Way
But, not everyone reacts in the same way.

Some, question why these 6 and not something else.

Some, feel daunted by what lies beneath these simple concepts.

Some, see the simplicity and wonder if it can truly make the difference.

Some, are excited and want to dive straight in.

Some, feel that it could never work for them.

If there is one of the six that people question the most, it is Strengths.  Building strengths, rather than fixing weaknesses, runs counter to much established practice.
Whatever your reaction, I would encourage you to read more before you form a judgement.
Where Do You Start?

For most of us, there is a lifetime of learning beneath the surface of each one of the 6, or at least the first 5 of them.

But, you have to start somewhere.

It's true there is a natural order. 

People do not grow and develop well in an environment where they are not being praised.

There is little point in trying to praise people who are not playing to their strengths.

You can spend a lot of time getting people aligned to their strengths, but what's the point if they're not clear on the direction they're supposed to be going in?

Why bother giving clarity to someone you just don't respect?

All of that is true, but before all of those there's something more important.

You need to start with yourself.
Changing the focus of attention
There are some fundamental principles you need to accept before you can focus on your team.

Fail to pay attention to them and you risk doing more harm than good.
Created 03/08/2018
Last Updated 07/08/2018