Four Groups Blog

Nick McCormick very kindly sent me a copy of his ‘Lead Well and Prosper‘ book to read and review. Rather than provide a standard review, I thought it would be fun to run the book’s chapters through the leadership model we’ve been exploring recently, just to see if any interesting patterns or emerge.

A breakdown of the 15 chapters and their respective quadrants.

It is interesting from the table to see the heavy emphasis on self awarness, which to me makes complete sense when Nick said to me

As for the audience, my target is middle management. I believe it can benefit others too. I’ve heard many comment that it’s great for new and aspiring managers. Others have said that it’s good for upper management as well. I think the fact that it focuses on the fundamentals does give it broad appeal.

My questions for Nick on the back of this are;

1. Would you agree that self awareness (and arguably self acceptance) form the foundations of successful leadership – hence the focus on middle, new and aspiring managers and the fundamentals?
2. What do you make of the breakdown in the table? Does it seem right for the audience? Is it out of balance? Does it make sense to you?
3. Are you planning on writing a follow up and if so, in what direction will you take that book?

I’ve included extracts from each of the chapter summaries below to give you more of a flavour and to illustrate why I put each chapter into its respective quadrant.

Self Awareness

Listen

• Give your team members your undivided attention when they come to speak to you
• Encourage team members to provide ideas and feedback
• Keep meetings to four hours a day or less. You need time to listen to your team members and to get some work done

Treat People like Human Beings

• Put yourself in other’s shoes

Learn

• Take ownership of your career and commit to continual learning
• Take advantage of what your company has to offer and get whatever else you need on your own. Make the same recommendation to your team members

Embrace the Uncomfortable

• Make a commitment to venture outside your comfort zone
• Reward yourself when you do

Clean up Your Own House First

• Have a positive attitude
• Voice concerns constructively. Be prepared to offer solutions – and work them
• Vent occasionally to your boss but not with peers or team members

Persist

• Keep at it

Do What You Say You’ll Do

• Write promises and tasks down and schedule time to complete them
• Learn to say ‘No’
• Inform your team members of the importance of honoring commitments. Repeat this often

Relationships

Adopt a Serving Attitude

• Adopt a serving attitude towards the team

Teach

• Take the time to teach and develop your team members
• Hire those with potential

Provide Honest and Timely Feedback

• Make giving feedback a priority and do it frequently
• Couple positive feedback with personal rewards commensurate with the accomplishment

Share Information

• Share as much as you can, keeping in mind the sensitivity of certain information

Systems

Set Goals, Plan, and Execute

• Set the right example for your group by setting goals. Develop plans to achieve them, then execute them with a vengeance
• Make deadlines and stick to them

Always Follow Up

• Get organised
• Follow up

Plan Your Week

• Work on the most important things. Don’t forget that the team members in your organization are the ones who make you successful. They are important. Tend to them
• Use your electronic organiser
• Set aside time to prepare for meetings
• Limit interruptions. For instance, turning off the beep notification every time an email arrives is helpful

Culture

Do the Right Thing

• Do what’s best for the company, not just what’s best for the group
• Invoke common sense. When it makes sense to break the rules, do it
• Tell the truth