Managers build a team, leaders build a community

Being a manager means you are responsible for the effectiveness of your organization. Quite a responsibility! How much can be won by just organizing better and more efficient? How much energy is constantly lost due to poor communication and working chaotically past each other. And what to think of the many poorly prepared meetings, which are often for about 50% useless. In short, there is plenty to ponder about for all our excellent managers out there. It is evident that they are absolutely needed, on all levels.

All that though, is just one side of the coin. Managers have to build a team, with whom they effectively realize projects. This is not enough nonetheless to captivate and bind talent. Who, anno 2012, wants to find, acquire, develop and keep ‘the talent’ has to have leaders, next to the mere managers.

Why? Because the professional of the 21^st century will only stay somewhere where he finds intrinsic motivation, and where he feels part of the whole. Therefore he needs more than just projects and a good team, he wants to be part of a challenging and meaningful community where he is a respected member. 

1. Meaningful communities

Communities where people have connected with each other because they all want to contribute something meaningful to their society. Intrinsic motivation grows where people are able to personally contribute through a meaningful way to the greater whole, to an exciting vision and mission.

How do you inspire your people, and with what vision and mission?

2. Respectful communities

Dr. Alfred Adler wrote: ‘a man who does not find an own place within a community will die emotionally.’ Everyone wants to be part of a ‘home’, somewhere where you feel like you have your own unique place. Such a ‘home’ is not really safe until you are fully respected because of who you are, instead of only how you perform.

How do you build a ‘home’ where everyone is respected within your team?

3. Challenging communities

In his book ‘Drive’ Daniel Pink has indicated that people only get intrinsically motivated when they:

·       are able to grow within their own mastery;

·       are constantly challenged to keep on developing themselves;

·       see a constant progress regarding their projects and work.

Communities become truly motivating when they translate a vision into a clear, applicable and realistic strategy. And in a way that every member is able to independently and fully go for it!

How will you translate your vision this year to a strong strategy, and to clear and realistic project-goals for your team?

Literature-tip: Gung Ho – Kenneth Blanchard