“I am a teacher. It’s how I define myself. A good teacher isn’t someone who gives answers out … but is understanding of needs and challenges and gives tools to help other people succeed. That’s the way I see myself. So whatever it is that I will do eventually after politics, it’ll have a lot to do with teaching.” – Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada
Strong managers are great teachers. And great teachers are constant learners.
Organizations seldom describe the role of an effective manager as “teacher.” But indeed, the philosophy described by Canadian Prime Minister Trudeau captures the essence of what it means to lead a team in a way that nurtures staff engagement and maximizes results.
That’s why the first and foundational component of Stamp&Chase’s leadership model, MyTEAM® is “Teach.”
Think about the traits of someone who was one of your best teachers. Certainly, they were knowledgeable. But it’s doubtful that imparting facts and figures was the primary reason that they came to mind. Their ability to inspire, ignite curiosity and create an environment where you could be at your very best were more likely the characteristics that made the biggest impact on you.
Of course, to be inspiring and motivating, managers first and foremost must be visible and appropriately engaged in the work of the team. The strongest managers strike the perfect balance between personal availability and team autonomy.
At Stamp&Chase, we advocate three primary leadership practices to achieve that ideal balance:
- Daily Huddles
- Interactive Team Meetings
- Integrated Rounding
In our next three blogs, we’ll explore each of these evidence-based practices, emphasizing how to make the approach most powerful and effective.