Typically the most well-respected leaders have the ability to combine leading from the front and working in the trenches alongside their team. Anyone leading a team who believes they are above getting their hands dirty won’t last long.
The best leaders can lead from anywhere--the top, bottom, or middle. In the Navy SEAL teams, this philosophy is ingrained in each candidate from Day One of training, but especially for the officers. Naval officers attempting to successfully navigate the insanely rigorous selection process are taught to lead by example in everything they do. They are expected to be at the head of the pack during runs and swims and managing the obstacle course. This is the fastest way to garner initial respect from the rest of the class--willingly doing what everybody else does, only better. These standards only increase the further you move through the training funnel.
The expectations of great leaders in the corporate environment should be no different. I know, because I have gotten this wrong many times in the past. There is a distinct and measurable difference when senior leadership is highly involved in providing support and removing obstacles.
Here are four ways to dig in and be a better leader to your team.
Earn their respect.
Leading by example involves an element of servant leadership. As a SEAL you are taught to lead and be led. You train with your team and fight with your team. Any good leader will make a point to acquire the best possible talent they can. That talent will thrive when you provide them the necessary resources to succeed. I’ve set people up for failure in the past and it’s a terrible feeling. But if you work together with your team members and understand what they do every day, they will respect you for it. And that respect will go a long way for fueling company growth.
Learn from your team.
You should never assume you know everything. The minute you do, you've already failed. When new officers arrive to a SEAL Team the good ones know when to take charge and when to let the more experienced senior enlisted SEALs lead the way. They are always learning as much as they can from others who have paved the way for them. Professional development for any leader is critical, so why not leverage the amazing talent you've hired and learn from them? At our company, we have weekly "knowledge sharing" sessions and constant collaboration across all departments. If you're leading the team, you need to get involved and soak up as much knowledge as you can. You'll learn something new every single day, and you'll be better informed when making strategic decisions.
Share your lessons learned.
On the flip side, part of the responsibility of someone in a leadership role is to give back through knowledge transfer. You got to where you are by doing some things right, so be sure to pass along your lessons learned so your team can avoid mistakes and excel. Nobody leads--or learns--in a vacuum.
Make better decisions.
When you spend more time working directly with your team on various projects, you will have a better understanding of what each person’s skill sets are. You will be able to identify gaps, ensure people are in the right roles, and know when it’s time to adjust certain systems and processes. How can you expect to provide direction to your direct reports if you don’t truly understand how the machine underneath them works?
When running a company, you can become consumed with unlimited distractions. Don't forget about the fuel that makes the company thrive: your team. Diving into the trenches and earning its respect will improve your ability to fulfill the organization’s ultimate vision.
