Here's how you can enhance your leadership skills through functional training.
Leadership is not just about having authority; it's about inspiring and guiding others toward shared goals. Functional training, which focuses on exercises that train your muscles to work together and prepare them for daily tasks by simulating common movements, can also be applied to leadership development. By enhancing your leadership skills through functional training principles, you can become more effective in your role, fostering a collaborative and productive environment.
Functional training often involves understanding and working with the natural movements of the body, which can be translated into leadership as developing empathy. By putting yourself in the shoes of your team members, you understand their challenges and strengths, leading to better communication and a more cohesive team. Empathy allows you to connect with your team on a deeper level, facilitating trust and respect, which are essential for any successful leader.
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I have found that at times understanding the role/responsibility of each member of the team isn't enough. I also need to be able to do what they do. If there is an emergency whether it's in the office, at a client site or during a project meeting, if I can't roll up my sleeves, get in the trench and help the team resolve the issue, the team will have a hard time trusting and respecting me as a leader. How can I provide performance evaluations or ask them to follow me as a leader if I don't know how to help fix problems, know what's going on or what I'm doing?
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A quote from Theodore Roosevelt is very true when it comes to leadership - "Nobody cares how much you know, until they know how much you care". Our teams are made up of people whose lives are filled with talents, experiences and energy rarely utilised in the workspace. The more you know the person the more they are likely to give to (what becomes) their team.
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1. Identify key leadership areas: Recognize areas like communication, decision-making, and team-building for focus. 2. Tailored learning modules: Customize training to address specific leadership strengths and weaknesses. 3. Practical simulations: Engage in role-plays and scenarios to apply learned skills in real-world situations. 4. Mentorship programs: Pair with experienced leaders for guidance and feedback on leadership development. 5. Continuous feedback loop: Regularly assess progress and adapt training to evolving leadership needs. 6. Encourage peer collaboration: Foster a supportive environment for sharing experiences and insights among colleagues.
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"By putting yourself in the shoes of your team members,..." I agree. Putting myself in my team's shoes moved me from an outside to an inside view. The script was flipped, if you will. I saw the "why" above the "what". My eyes and ears were dialed in to a different individual and team emotional frequency. The following developments occurred: -new leadership approach -healthier team response to my demands This of course, was not a one time build. It was ongoing, as external factors changed and demanded me to lead and manage differently.
Just as functional training requires setting specific, achievable goals for physical improvement, effective leadership involves setting clear objectives for your team. By establishing and communicating these goals, you provide direction and purpose, which can significantly boost motivation and performance. Ensure that these goals are challenging yet attainable, and most importantly, aligned with the overall vision of the organization.
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When you set goals for your team they need to be SMART but it goes beyond that. In my experience, people and companies set SMART goals in a portal somewhere and touch them twice a year. When they create them and when they are reviewed during performance reviews. Goals need to be baked into the executional framework of your AOP and your team's individual tactics. As a leader, it is also imperative that you also provide your team with Leaders intent (3 components): Mission: What are we doing and Why are we here? Tools: How are we going to do it? Endstate: What does success look like?
In functional training, adaptability is key as workouts are varied and often unpredictable. This is a valuable trait in leadership as well. An adaptable leader can handle change effectively and can pivot strategies when necessary. Encouraging this adaptability in your team means promoting a culture of learning and resilience, which is vital in today's fast-paced and ever-changing business landscape.
Functional training often includes partner or group exercises that require teamwork. Similarly, leadership involves fostering an environment where collaboration is not just encouraged but necessary for success. By creating opportunities for your team to work together, you're not only building a stronger unit but also leveraging diverse skill sets to achieve better results and innovation.
Reflection is an important aspect of functional training, as it helps in understanding the effectiveness of different exercises. In leadership, reflection allows you to assess your leadership style, decision-making process, and the dynamics within your team. Regular reflection can lead to insights that improve your approach and ensure that you are always moving towards becoming a more effective leader.
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In my experience of leading a team of long-served employees, it was clear that they had lost the knack of reflecting on their progress and celebrating when they had improved their own skill set or knowledge. I often ask them to reflect on how they have tackled a problem today compared to last year. It cuts both ways and I regularly ask my team to give feedback on me and how I am serving them, delegating our tasks or removing blockers. Feedback can be uncomfortable at first, but I have found that improving reflection on their own performance helps bring mine into focus as well. Reflection is key to so many elements of team performance.
Clear communication is as fundamental in leadership as proper form is in functional training. It ensures that everyone on your team understands their roles, responsibilities, and the expectations placed upon them. Effective communication helps in preventing misunderstandings and builds a transparent atmosphere where team members feel confident to express their ideas and concerns.
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In my experience the way to communicate clear intent is by providing simple concise direction to team members. It sounds simple but far too often people get lost or off track simply because you as a leader couldn’t effectively articulate what you actually needed done. Additionally, consider the method of communication in communicating said intent. Does this need to be done in email, call, meeting?
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My number one rule of leadership sounds pretty simple and somewhat brash. It’s simply…..give a shit. Your team knows when you’re not invested and locked in on the mission and if you don’t care about winning why should they. People know when they are being used. If you don’t care about your people and their well being they just simply won’t work for you. They do their job but there is a difference. Be genuinely concerned for anyone on your team. Leadership is an opportunity not an obligation.