Page 127 - Just Promoted A 12 Month Road Map for Success in Your New Leadership Role

112 Just Promoted!

for leaders. Some team-building efforts can be led by the organization’s leader,
and occasionally, a task force composed of a cross-section within a manage-
ment group can conduct its own team building. However, it is often wise to
enlist the help of an experienced organizational consultant to add structure
and an unbiased eye to the process. In addition to infusing expertise, an inter-
nal or external consultant will free the leader in charge to fully participate with
his or her team in the development activities.

GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR PEOPLE

“Know your people.” This is a decades old adage that is as true today as it was
many years ago. Despite the advent of technology to aid in so many work and
leadership processes, what always ends up being one of the most critical fac-
tors for individuals in high-performance teams is the extent to which they are
strongly motivated and engaged in their role and responsibilities. Unfortunately,
according to a 2010 report published by the Conference Board, U.S. employee
satisfaction, which is closely linked to measures of employee engagement, is at
the lowest level it has been since their study began in 1987. Only 45.3 percent
of Americans today say that they are satisfied with their job, down from 61.1
5
in 1987, the first year the study was conducted. A vital role of leaders at any
stage in their career is to create the conditions for high levels of motivation and
engagement for those on their team and in the broader organization. There is
no time when this is more important than during the first 12 months when a
leader assumes new team and organizational responsibility.
Skillfully coaching and spending individual time with your team mem-
bers to understand what really lights their fire at work can pay off many times
over. We call this effort to really understand your people “creating Motiva-
tional Profiles.” One of the most frequently asked questions in this regard is,
“What do I really need to know about my people to be the best motivational
coach with my people?” This tool helps you deal with this question in a very
practical way.