Leaders don’t just take the temperature of their team or their organization, they control it. A thermometer takes the temperature; a thermostat regulates it. So goes the life of an effective leader, otherwise known as….the thermostat.
To create change, you have to control the temperature. There are 2 primary tasks:
- RAISE THE HEAT: So people will sit up and pay attention;
- LOWER THE HEAT: to reduce the level of tension.
In their book, Leadership on the Line, Ron Heifetz and Marty Linsky point out specific strategies to both raise and lower the heat.
TO RAISE THE HEAT…..
- Bring attention to the hard issues or brutal facts;
- Ask the tough questions;
- Give people more responsibility than they’re comfortable with;
- Name and use the dynamics in the room (i.e. verbalize what is really happening here).
- Let people feel the weight of responsibility;
TO LOWER THE HEAT…..
- You provide structure by breaking problems into smaller parts and create time frames, decision rules and role assignments;
- Get small wins so the team gets confidence;
- Slow down the process of being the ‘challenger’;
- You temporarily reclaim responsibility for the tough issues.
How do your know what the temperature is? YOU LISTEN.
PLANT A LISTENING SEED TODAY: Be the thermostat on your team while always maintaining respect and integrity. LISTENING PAYS!