Beyond Zero-Sum: The Role of Leadership in Product in Shaping Mindsets in a Remote World
6 Leaderships Lessons and 5 Tools for Creating a Positive Environment
6 Leaderships Lessons and 5 Tools for Creating a Positive Environment
There was a moment, standing in front of my newly-formed team, when I felt like an alien. I had just taken the helm of a diverse team across Europe, each person bringing their unique cultural background to the virtual table.
Having spent the previous eight years in Canada, where the atmosphere was ripe with opportunities and optimism, I was unprepared for the cautious, even gloomy mindset that seemed pervasive among my new European team. Despite our everyday language, I felt we were worlds apart.
In trying to bridge this divide, I understood that mindset isn’t a fixed attribute. It’s a complex tapestry woven from strands of upbringing and environment. A person’s background, class, culture, and current surroundings can significantly influence their outlook on life. It became clear to me that, as a leader, it was not enough to see opportunities where others didn’t. I had to understand why others might not see those opportunities in the first place.
Challenge: Fostering a Growth-Oriented Mindset
Leaders need to understand this complexity. We must acknowledge that circumstances beyond their control may shape an individual’s mindset. It’s not about seeing opportunities where others don’t. It’s about understanding why others might not see those opportunities in the first place.
My journey made me realise that solid relationships with mentors and peers are vital in fostering a growth-oriented mindset. These external influences could introduce my team members to new perspectives and help shift their mindsets. This was particularly crucial in challenging environments, where survival might precede seizing opportunities.
As leaders, we should strive to create environments that nurture a positive mindset, support personal growth, and promote the belief that everyone has the potential for success. After all, authentic leadership isn’t about winning alone; it’s about helping others win too.
New Normal: Leadership Lessons
From this journey, I gleaned several lessons on leadership and team management:
Gain Cultural Knowledge: Reading a book like ‘Culture Map’ can significantly improve your understanding of the diverse cultural backgrounds within your team. This knowledge fosters empathy, enriches collective perspectives, and enhances team dynamics.
Master Leadership Principles: Books like ‘Tribal Leadership provide profound insights into leadership dynamics and practices. They can equip you to better influence your team, navigate challenges, and foster a productive work environment.
Understand Employees’ Backgrounds, Influences, and Motivations: Understanding your team members involves more than knowing their professional backgrounds. It requires recognising their motivations, aspirations, and the factors that have shaped them. Often gleaned through 1–1 meetings, this understanding can foster deeper connections and enable tailored leadership approaches.
Find Your Leadership Style and Model a Growth Mindset: Your leadership style should reflect your personal values. By embodying a growth mindset, you demonstrate to your team that challenges are opportunities for learning and improvement. It’s essential to establish a list of intrinsically crucial values, agree with your team, and live with them daily.
Create a Positive and Fair Environment: A supportive and positive environment encourages risk-taking, the expression of ideas, and continuous improvement. It’s a place where employees feel valued and motivated to contribute their best. Maintaining fairness, recognising and addressing when you are discontented with someone’s work or behaviour is also essential. Deciding what should be discussed privately versus within the team helps prevent unnecessary conflicts.
Provide Training and Support: Continuous learning and development opportunities are vital to keeping your team engaged, motivated, and ready to tackle new challenges. Regular training and support can broaden their skills and perspectives and foster a more optimistic mindset. One-on-one meetings are invaluable for understanding what team members need and how you can assist them in reaching their goals.
Tools for Creating a Positive Environment
During my ongoing leadership journey, I’ve identified several valuable tools that have helped cultivate a positive, engaging environment. This is an environment that I, and my team, eagerly look forward to being a part of each day:
Tribe Definition and Agreements: I define our team’s identity on paper. I then present this to the team and establish certain agreements that everyone must consent to. This process fosters a sense of unity and shared purpose.
One-on-One Meetings: These meetings' primary objective is to understand each other better. These regular individual meetings offer an opportunity for personal feedback, guidance, and a deeper understanding of each team member’s motivations, aspirations, and even aspects of their personal life.
Daily Meetings: Team meetings ensure everyone remains aligned, informed, and connected.
”Talk About Whatever You Want Meeting”: Allocating open-ended discussions on any topic — such as the latest show or movie watched or music listened to — helps build relationships and encourages open communication.
Release Meetings: Celebrating the completion of projects or milestones provides closure and an opportunity to reflect, learn, and acknowledge the team’s hard work.
Every leader’s journey is unique, filled with unexpected challenges and lessons. Yet, the goal remains: to create an environment where every team member feels understood, supported, and motivated to reach their full potential. Because, in the end, authentic leadership isn’t about winning alone; it’s about helping others win too.