OneByOne Team Achievement...simple, fun, and everyone

the excitement program! Component: "Books"

The books I recommend feature information about how to create, energize, and lead exceptional teams. Books that feature servant, participatory, and "Golden Rule" leadership styles. Common sense approaches to developing great teams without being dominated by corporate-speak, graphs, surveys, or theories. Techniques, exercises, strategies, etc., that can be implemented soon after reading about them.  There are few "how-to" leadership or management books that provide effective tips, techniques, or themes, so I would appreciate any input on similar readings that I can recommend to team leaders and managers.

the excitement program! Component: "Mission"

Mission: "Inspire managers to learn the people, communication, and persuasion skills required to become a respected "LeaderManagerCoach" capable of developing teams that are focused on being one of the best of the best.

The biggest challenge for me is helping people believe they can become someone they have never been or ever considered becoming. I was fortunate that I was forced into leadership in Army Basic Training. I was the oldest, biggest, and most educated (six years of college and still no degree). But when my Drill Sargent told me I was going to be the platoon leader (Platoon Guide) of 48 men, I panicked and begged him to reconsider. However, after about a twenty minute discussion, he sold me on the having courage (I had just spent six years in college because I didn't have the courage to complete the Speech 101 requirement for graduation) to give it a go. He sold me on the fact that my concern was to be expected because our abilities are simply a matter of learning how to do things. My only problem was that I was yet to learn how to lead. That was his job all I had to do was follow his advise.

A week later I knew I was in love with team leadership, but I didn't  know I would  have the passion for the rest of my life. I had learned that leadership was a matter of personal discipline. Be honest, sincere, and communicate clearly with a smile. Make people want to follow you because they trust you, respect you, and like you. 

He said we were going to be the best platoon, and were. He said we would have fun, and we did. He said we would have discipline, courage, personal and team pride, and we did. He had people skills, communication skills, and persuasion skills like no one I had previously known or met since. 

My mission has always been to to do for others what Sargent McClellan,  the first mentor I actually listened to, did for me. Sell managers and employees on the simple fact that we all do things based on what we know at the time. The difference between leaders is how well they have learned and developed their people, communication, and persuasion skills (soft skills). They are key to developing an exceptional team that follows their lead, not because it is demanded of them, but because it is the smart thing to do, the right thing to do, and it "just makes sense."

the excitement program! Components: "Blog Definition"

Blog Definition: "Leadership, management, and coaching tips, techniques, and themes that develop engaged, empowered, and happy high-performance teams..."

Beginning with the blog definition in the banner, In the next few days I am going to write about the components-Mission, Blogroll, Team Development books, etc.-of the blog so someone interested in the full story here can always find information about it in the category "tep!Kickoff Month."

The definition is simply about the discussion I plan to have here. Regardless of whether a team is a large company, small business, region, department, frontline team or a support team, if a team leader wants to learn new leadership, management, and coaching skills there will be information here to help them with their desires. But my hope is that there are many people who not only want to learn new skills, but also want to create teams that are truly something special.

Team leaders and managers who check their ego at the door, sincerely want to do things right, enjoy empowering their staffs, take pleasure in engaging them, and are sincerely concerned if they aren't happy in their work. People who are "in it to win it" with teams that not only enjoy working together and helping each other succeed, but are also focused on extraordinary team achievements.

In other words, I hope we discuss what goes into creating a "Best of the Best" Team Leadership System.