Give a person a fish and you feed him for a day; show him how to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.

 

1.  What can I do for you?

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Regular one-to-one sessions are essential for both team leader and team member. This provides a great opportunity to learn about your leadership style, team performance and your fellow team member.  Use your one-to-one meetings to build trust. Find out if there is anything you can do for the team.

 

Great leaders ask their teams the question: “What can I do for you?”

In asking this question you are saying, “I’m interested in you!” You are giving the team member an opportunity to say something they may otherwise have left unsaid. And, if you agree to do something make sure you follow it through!

 

2. What should I do differently?

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Listen with presence — give your audience every attention — and create an opportunity to learn about your leadership style.  If you wish to improve your performance, seek feedback and ask this question: “What should I do differently?”

 

3. What can we do better?

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Next, focus on the team. Ask the team this question: “What can we do better?” Find out what can be improved, why it should be improved, and how the team can do this.

 

4. What is holding us back?

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Teams often get frustrated because obstacles get in the way of doing a great job. As team leader it is your responsibility to remove those obstacles and make sure the team is performing at its best.  So ask “What is holding us back?” and uncover the barriers to progress.

 

5. What’s working well?

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Finally, grasp what’s going well for the team and acknowledge this. Just ask: “What’s going well?”  Now build on those strengths!

After spending time listening to the team answer these questions you’ll have confidence to tackle issues and keep your team on course.  Involving your team in this way creates confidence in them and in your leadership.