Page 205 - How to Create a Winning Organization

Make Greatness Attainable by All
RULES TO LEAD BY 187

Each Job Counts.
All roles on a team offer the opportunity for individual greatness.
This idea will be understood and accepted only if the leader rein-
forces it on a consistent basis. Everyone must feel that his or her con-
tributions count and affect the success, or lack thereof, of the team.

Encourage, but Manage, Ambition.
Ambition can be a valuable characteristic in a team member. How-
ever, those who aspire to advancement and greater responsibility
should be cautioned that it will occur only if they master their cur-
rent position. No member of the team should be allowed to let fu-
ture opportunities distract from present responsibilities.

Teach Your Players to Expect Unexpected Opportunity.
Unforeseen opportunity may arise for many reasons. In basketball,
it might be because a starter fouls out or is injured. In business, it
may occur when the company wins a new account or acquires a com-
petitor, or because an employee leaves the firm. The key is to make
sure that those under your supervision are ready, mentally and phys-
ically, when that opportunity avails itself. Let everyone know that
advancement often comes with little or no warning. They must be
prepared to seize the opportunity when it presents itself (or it may
not present itself again).

Believe in the Hidden Potential of All.
Create an environment that rewards hard work and improvement
and you unleash the unseen talents of those you lead. Employees—
team members—who feel they can better themselves by doing a
great job and helping the team will work at the highest level. Often
it will come from a member of your organization from whom you