I’m sure you either saw or heard about the Men’s Marathon just prior to the close of the Olympics that took place in Athens. Like many, I watched the Brazilian runner, Vanderlei de Lima, in awe as he lead the group toward the end of the race, prior to being approached/ attacked/ interrupted by the disgruntled spectator attempting to make a political statement. Perhaps you’ve completed a marathon or two or may consider it in the future. I have undertaken the challenge a couple of times, and have always enjoyed training for it. Achieving your Leadership and Organizational objectives is like training for a marathon.

Below are 10 tips to stimulate your leadership thinking and the thinking of those that you coach.

1) Desire/ Passion needed!! I was asked to complete a marathon several years ago but didn’t have the desire. Desire to grow, change or develop is essential.
For Your Leadership: Have you been planning and working on developmental areas that are most desirable for you (and your leadership)?
For Coaching your team members: Do you know and tap into their desire/ passion areas within the job?
Tip: Ask coaching questions to understand and stimulate.– i.e. What areas of stretch/ development would you like to focus on? What would you want to achieve on the job that would result in huge personal satisfaction (and contribute to organizational performance)?

2) Keep Goal Focused. When training for a marathon, you need to know your desired finish time and milestone times along the way.
For Your Leadership: On a scale of 1-10 how have you been in setting and working on your own managerial and developmental goals? Are you satisfied with your progress? What can you do this week to enhance that ?
For Coaching your team members: Are your team members clear on objectives (departmental and individual)?
Tip: Building on questions asked in #1, ask “What would you need to do to achieve that?”

3) Strategize to Overcome Obstacles. While running, many obstacles are encountered – rain, heat, bugs, extended hills, etc… Learn from them and grow from them.
Find ways to combat obstacles or minimize their impact – and persevere. I have learned that taking Advil before my long run helps me to overcome muscle fatigue. As my friend Brian Tracy says, “obstacles come to instruct, not to obstruct.”
For Your Leadership: When was the last time you did a personal (not organizational) SWOT analysis (listing your Leadership Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats, then actions) in light of your goals? What is your biggest leadership obstacle now? What are 3 possible obstacles you need to overcome or minimize?
For Coaching your team members: Once there is clarity of a goal(s), help them to identify and overcome obstacles. Do not allow them to grow their focus on obstacles. Ensure that you assist them to become solution focused.
Tip: When they raise obstacles, ask: “What do you think you do about that? How would you suggest we resolve that? In meetings, take common challenges/ obstacles and have small groups (4-7) brainstorm possible solutions to a problem. Focus on quantity of ideas first (i.e. list 15-20), then select the top 3 to implement.

4) Patience to Take it a Step at a Time. In order to train to run 42 Km, one must have a plan to work up to it gradually. Too quickly and you’re likely to run into injury.
For Your Leadership: How is your implementation pace? Are you balancing the need for immediate results with realistic implementation pace? What could you do to ensure your team is achieving results while maintaining a sustainable pace?
For Coaching your team members: Do any of your team members have a crisis habit that impacts on results (theirs or others)? Develop coaching questions to stimulate their awareness of this before coaching for solutions.

5) Nobody Achieves Alone. Did you know top marathoners need to train with others? Nobody achieves alone. Organizations don’t achieve – their people do.
I have been very fortunate to have a number of friends to run with. They challenge you and hold you accountable when you really don’t want to get out of bed at 5am on Sundays to run those long runs through Sunnybrook.
For Your Leadership: Who’s cooperation/help do you need to achieve your objectives ?
For Coaching your team members: How well does your team work together? Are you sure? Take time to check in and coach team members by asking good feedback questions and listen carefully for potential barriers to teamwork. Are you familiar with the book 5 Dysfunctions of a Team? It’s a great read. (If you want details and a free overview, just email us.)
Tip: Encourage and invest time in regular and open group feedback. Align some outside help in team communications if budgets allow.

6) Creating New Habits Requires Consistent Effort. Consistent Regular Runs – If you have trained for half or full marathons you know the importance of consistency.
For Your Leadership: What do you need to prioritize consistently for your long term growth and development? Stephen Covey calls this Quadrant II behaviour.
For Coaching your team members: What do you want or need them to do consistently, as a habit in order to achieve objectives?

7) Increased Energy – Regular Running will bring your energy level up I’ve found tremendous energy from my marathon training. Running is not for everyone, but some regular activity does produce great benefits for you.
For Your Leadership: For your health – on a scale of 1 to 10, how much attention have you been paying to your health? What do you need to do more or less of?
For Coaching your team members: They say that “only the lead dog gets a different view.” How are you at encouraging a healthy lifestyle for your team? Do you lead by example? What could you do to encourage them? Energy on the job is the benefit.

8) Commitment. Commitment often requires one to forgo other options. I don’t drink much alcohol, however the odd beer on a hot summer night is so refreshing. I learned, however, that a few beers at a Saturday night BBQ made the long run at 6am on Sunday very tough. I haven’t had an alcoholic drink on a Saturday night for 2 months now. Management is all about deciding with consideration of opportunity costs.
For Your Leadership: What changes could you make to enhance your productivity? Recently I’ve found that taking time off and working from home have enhanced my work life.
For Coaching your team members: What do you think your team members need to change or forgo?

9) Prepare to Run Your Race. In training for the marathon, many runners experience blisters, injuries etc. I’ve learned it’s not enough to have the desire and ability to run. One also needs the right equipment – Shoes, CoolMax Socks/Clothing, Water, Energy Gels, etc. Similarly, in leading a team to accomplish objectives we need to equip them with the right tools in order to be effective.
For Your Leadership: Do you have a major organizational goal (race) ahead? What tools do you need to have in place? What are you currently missing?
For Coaching your team members: Are your team members adequately prepared? Are they missing anything that you could assist with?
Tip: ASK them. Whenever new and major initiatives are underway, practice open dialogue to understand their barriers and needed support.

10) Have FUN… In preparing for my first Marathon, I’ve read in a few books and a recent Runners World that it is important to enjoy the race. Likewise, in working with various organizations and leaders we’ve found that “enjoyment of the journey” is critical to sustainable organizational growth.
For Your Leadership: Are you enjoying the Journey? Does it show?

Chuck Reynolds is a Principal and Chief Performance Officer with Excel Group Development, a Performance Solutions firm that assists organizations in enhancing management and team effectiveness. He can be reached indirectly by emailing our admin group. Insert ‘ATTN Chuck’ in the subject area. Visit them at http://www.ExcelGroupWorks.com.

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