Being replaceable in a team or not…

Read a post couple of days back and still thinking about the point raised there. Quoting the post: “One of the maxims of being a leader is to make yourself replaceable.”

I have been continuously expected to be irreplaceable to a task, to a project, to a role. I am told many a times directly or indirectly that this is the way organization will see your value, recognize your efforts and will have to follow you (read follow your monetary expectations).

Strangely, I have never belonged to that school. Somehow, I always get at least one team member who is capable enough to replace me with relevant training or access to the kind of authority required. I loved to groom my team-mates touching the next level with better knowledge, decision making or you can say the required ammunition. A few made it good, few learned the right tricks and I also had my share of failures too. But somehow, most of them easily replaced me off my duties in due course.
Mr. Gagandeep Sapra, who taught me initial nitty-gritties of business and mentored me, never suggested to be irreplaceable. And he always followed it in his actions. Always tried to replicate his competencies in his team members, deliberately attempted to make his juniors think and act towards the larger approach.

Following in his footsteps, I also try to do the same today when I have my team, where I see a potential in my team members.
Doing it right or you feel, I am heading to a disaster. Put in your thoughts….

Successful leaders

Just read a nice article. Sharing it: http://www.theplatinumcircle.com/blog/management-leadership/become-a-successful-leader-with-these-tips-to-manage-a-team/

Inspiration or motivation

Posted my question about yesterday’s discussion to the linkedin group. See what the experts are saying.

Motivate my team – Why?

I have been thru a few CV’s for an opening and an attribute in all of them attracted me to one word – Self-motivated. If all my new team members are so motivated, do I need to motivate them further to get the best results. May be not. Then I wondered what are all motivation factors that can put my team up to do something out of the routine.

• Money – the foremost point came from the team.
• Team outings – Hmmm Okay – was the reply
• Some motivating Gyan – Yawn came thru

And for the first two points, I can make recommendations or somewhat bound thru organizational policies. So expecting a manager to motivate his/ her team has only indirect levers. But my question still remains – If any team member (or team) need(s) motivation as expected by senior management?

Some thought to it and I feel a manager can inspire its team to attempt the higher orbits. Inspiration is something that can infuse motivation in them. Though the two words are used interchangeably sometimes, there is a difference in their impact. A dictionary.com result says inspire is “to fill with an animating, quickening, or exalting influence”.

I feel, without inspiration, motivation would die out soon. Inspiration can be the source of motivation. It is a driving force that lasts longer.

Let me know your views and discuss it further.

Leadership – different facets…!!!

Couple of days back, a friend asked about leaders and their skills. I told him a few words that I read somewhere on the Internet quite a long ago. Here it goes:

There are different types of leadership styles. Similar to three shepherds. The one that opens the gate and walks through, allowing the flock to follow—leads from the front. Second stands behind the sheep and guides them through, a supportive leadership style while third that moves from front to back has an interactive leadership style. Knowing how to apply any of these leadership styles to a particular situation helps respond effectively.

Certain styles suit particular situations. While a leader is likely to succeed in a situation where process is important, other may be one who manages a professional group of people. Dominant leaders may be more effective where there is a real drive for change.

Leaders are expected to give teams consistent, positive energy to sustain momentum. A leader grows with his followers who frequently change depending upon the context.

It is always important for a budding leader to look-up to his role model but equally important is not to emulate him. It can create a false impression of oneself and can hit back. Every person has his own persona and personality that should be grown to reflect oneself, the behavior should come from within. It cannot come from outside. Building up leadership skills, increasing self-awareness  and evaluating own capabilities have much more potential for success.