Saturday, May 23, 2009

Leadership & Team Work

Describing what they term the 'quick wins paradox', the authors explain how many leaders taking on new roles attempt to prove themselves as soon as possible by seeking "quick wins - fresh, visible contributions to the business".

However, in the process, they can fall into traps that undermine or negate the benefit of their achievements.

A study of over 5,400 leaders found that five behaviours were exhibited by those overly concerned with achieving quick wins. These were:

* Focusing too much on details

* Reacting negatively to criticism

* Intimidating others

* Jumping to conclusions

* Micromanaging their direct reports

To guard against the quick win paradox, the authors recommend concentrating on collective quick wins.

"If you are a manager making the transition to a leadership role," they explain, "quick wins should not be about your personal scoreboard or pet projects but about your management of a group of individuals. A focus on collective quick wins ensures that your work as a leader is a success."

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