12 minute read
A JOURNEY OF LEADERSHIP
By Mr GRAHAM CORNELISSEN RT 217, Southern Africa
This article is written from a Tabling point of view with the timelines of being Vice for a year before starting the Presidential (Chairman) role.
THE START OF THE JOURNEY – UNDERSTANDING YOUR WHY
The first step to take on the road to leadership is to ask yourself several critical questions.
Start by asking yourself why you want to do this? Do you wish to be in charge? Do you want another medal on a jacket? Do you want to prove something to someone else? If any of these are the driving force of you deciding to occupy a position, it is best to leave the leadership roles to someone else.
Do a realistic analysis and assessment of yourself, focussing on your strengths, weaknesses and where you should improve. Be hard on yourself and dig into your emotions and values.
This journey of self-discovery and personal growth be worth more than any possible position in the organisation.
Once completed, share your motives and selfassessment with a handful of people you trust. Choose the ones you share this with carefully, as you want experienced and valuable feedback. Constructive criticism is sometimes hard to receive but much better than a good friend trying to save your feelings by deceiving you.
You might not be the right person to fill a particular leadership role. You might need time to mature and develop further. Just because you can win an election does not mean that you should. If you genuinely love Round Table, be prepared to take a step back if you are not the best person to lead. That is the true sign of a leader.
A YEAR OF PLANNING – PLAN HOW TO LEAD
After the excitement of winning an election wears off, the real work of planning starts. Your first priority is to serve in your current elected portfolio and to assist the existing team in achieving all of their goals. One eye must, however, be kept on the future.
Your future team and their successes will determine the performance of your leadership year. Realise early that you cannot do all the work yourself and that multiple minds are always better than one. In cases where you can select team members, spend much time on this to ensure that your team is well rounded and can function effectively. Select those team members who differ from you and challenge you to make you better. Select team members smarter and more skilled than you in certain aspects.
Never interfere in the election of your team members. Support, guide and share advice where needed, but do not interfere in any election. It is your responsibility to build trust and integrity in yourself and your team.
A team should consist of various types of personalities, and it is essential that these be understood. Using a tool such as a Myers Briggs personality test can be a great tool to help you know your team and their dynamics. The website www.16personalities.com provides a free tool to assess various personalities and offer detailed explanations of each. I am an INTJ-A personality type, and it is good to understand how your personality works with the rest of your team.
As a future leader, you must always be the first to share personal details and your growth to date. Be open and honest with your team in a detailed, open and honest conversation. Share your strengths and weaknesses and areas where you struggle and need help. Sharing your trigger points and values system is particularly important as this will let the team know you better. Sharing how you think and how you make decisions builds trust and develops consistency in your leadership style.
You will also naturally start working on plans for your upcoming year during this year. Take input from others, especially members you serve and your future team members. Take time to set realistic goals and expectations for the coming year and write these down. Discuss these amongst the team to ensure that everyone buys into the plan for the year. Share this plan with others at the start of the year to ensure you are held accountable for achieving these goals.
The little things matter as well. If you have a theme or design work needed, ensure to get this done early. Any regalia must be finalised so that the team functions as one and looks like a team. A personal touch to team members makes a big difference in the motivation of others.
DO'S & DON'TS
By keeping all of these below points in mind, you will reach new heights, not only in a leadership position but also in your personal life.
DO: LEAD BY EXAMPLE
You will be asking your team to maintain a high standard, so make sure that you're at least giving the same effort as they are. Always be on time, pull your weight, do your share of the work and keep yourself accountable. It is impossible to respect someone who is unwilling to do their part for the team. Being hands-on means that you are part of the team and that you will be more realistic in your requests to the team.
DON'T: IGNORE YOUR TEAM'S EMOTIONS
Some organisations have an attitude that emotions should not be a factor. To an extent, this is true, but everyone has feelings and personal investments about every aspect of their involvement. Never dismiss any of your team's feelings offhand. Ensure you make time to listen to each team member, and act on them if necessary.
DO: IMPROVE YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Communication is the core of most leadership roles. You have to be sure that you are clear in all of the communications you make, both to your team and external parties. Once an email is received or your voice is heard, it should be clear what has been communicated. Always proofread the written word and be prepared for any remarks made. Communication is not what you send out, instead, it is what is being received by the other person.
DON'T: BLAME OTHERS FOR MISTAKES
When things go wrong, poor leaders place the blame on others without looking at the bigger picture. This causes distrust, resentment, and things quickly turn unpleasant. Rather focus on understanding the root cause of why something went wrong and implement plans to stop this from happening again. Ask for feedback from your team and use the lessons learned to improve in the future.
DO: TRUST AND EMPOWER YOUR TEAM
The true strength of a team lies in trust between members and the effective functioning of the team. Trust in the skills and experience of your team members. Training, supporting and empowering your team to achieve their goals brings out the true synergies available. Give your team the power and authority to make decisions based on the shared goals as mutually decided on. Do not micromanage the team by having everyone run all of their actions past you for approval. This frees up your time to perform your primary function – to lead the team.
DON'T: TALK MORE THAN YOU LISTEN
Many leaders think that what they have to say is more important than everyone else's voice. The opposite is true. A good leader is a facilitator, bringing together everyone else's ideas and making them work in unison. Listen more than you speak, and you'll get much more done with your team. If you have to talk a lot, share information with your team and encourage them to contribute their views on any subject.
DO: SET SENSIBLE GOALS
A good leader can balance the needs of a project with what the team can realistically achieve. You need to understand what your team can reasonably accomplish and track how well they reach the agreed targets. Sensible goals increase motivation and buy-in from team members.
DON'T: BE AFRAID TO MAKE MISTAKES
If you're afraid to make mistakes, your team will be too. This means that they take fewer risks, get less done, and contribute less than they would have otherwise. Allowing mistakes and learning from mistakes allows for more freedom for the team. It's much better to work to the best of your ability, and when the mistakes happen, learn from them and move on. Know what to tolerate and what not.
DO: BE PREPARED
Good leaders are always thinking about the future, and by keeping one foot in the future, you can take advantage of opportunities as they arise and be prepared for any issues that come your way. They also take advice from others, including their team, about what they think should be done to plan. Have 2 or 3 persons outside your team who are well-rounded as mentors who can help and guide you when you need it - Use their wisdom often.
DON'T: NEVER COMPROMISE YOUR VALUES, EVEN IF YOU STAND ALONE
A leadership role is an extremely lonely role. Whilst your team is there to assist and support you, only the leader fully understands the true weight of expectations. There will be times when you will be challenged, and sometimes you will stand alone. Always remember who you are and why you are in the role to lead the team. Being a leader is not always popular.
THE SUBTLE ARTOF
SPORTING YOUR SUIT
By Mr PAUL HOEKSEMA RT 32, Southern Africa
Admit it, as Tablers, we love to suit up. Whether it be a day at the office, an AGM, or a Gala evening, the perfect suit never goes out of style. Coming across as refined & confident takes more than just slipping on the old faithful black suit. Adding subtle details & knowing how to finish off your look can add so much more suave to your presence when the occasion calls for it. Here are 8 hand-picked tips to ensure you look more dapper than Bond (before the shooting starts of course)
1
A TAILOR CAN BE YOUR SAVIOUR
FIt Is Key to WeARInG youR suIt Well
Without the right fit, your suit will look cheap & sloppy. Invest a few coins (not the friendship kind) in proper tailoring & your overall appearance will come across as more polished. If your budget does not allow for a completely tailored suit concentrate on the sleeves & shoulders. The perfect fit weighs heavy on the right shoulder fit - avoid the dreaded shoulder divot.
3
INVEST IN QUALITY BELTS AND SHOES
CooRDInAtInG youR sHoes AnD Belt Is A suRe-FIRe WAy oF CReAtInG A CoHesIVe looK.
If you are not familiar with proper suit etiquette, you might make the mistake of mixing a brown belt with black shoes, or vice versa. While shoes and belts don’t have to match perfectly, try to match the colours as close as possible. Quality shoes and belts (aim for genuine leather) not only look better, but they're also a lot more durable
2
COMPLIMENT YOUR SUIT WITH A QUALITY DRESS SHIRT
youR suIt neeDs tHe RIGHt CoMBInAtIon oF AttIRe to tuRn HeADs FoR All tHe RIGHt ReAsons.
A quality shirt, in the right colour combinations, is a must. If you keep your wallet closed here, you will run the risk of cheapening your suit. Dress shirts made from long-fibre cotton are more breathable, durable, and softer than those made from cheaper short-fibre cotton which adds to the fit and comfort of the garment. Show attention to detail by exposing your sleeve cuffs by a half-inch. To get this look, your jacket sleeves should end about a quarter inch from the top of your hands
4
ALWAYS UNBUTTON YOUR JACKET BEFORE SITTING DOWN
sIttInG In A suIt MIGHt Be tHe FAstest WAy to RuIn It
If your buttons are not undone - make sure you unbutton your jacket before sitting down. Another way to make sure you don't wreck your beloved suit is to always leave the bottom button of your suit jacket open. The same rule applies if you’re wearing a vest or waistcoat.
5
BLACK IS NOT ALL THAT
ConsIDeR otHeR sHADes As An oPtIon
Black might be Joe Tabler's go-to as a classic suit colour but can sometimes come across as a little stark. Don't be afraid to opt for dark charcoal, grey, or even a navy suit. All great choices when coordinated with the correct accessories.
6
CHOOSE THE RIGHT TIE & LENGTH
youR tIe sHoulD Be DARKeR tHAn youR sHIRt to CReAte BAlAnCe
Try not to match your tie to your suit, a black tie with a black suit, as an example. If you’re wearing a dark-coloured suit, choose a tie in a lighter shade, and vice versa. Solid colours are somewhat dated, you can always opt for a tie that has a micro-pattern for a more stylish, contemporary look. As for length, your tie should graze the waistband of your pants or the top of your belt buckle. However, it should never reach below the belt. When pairing a tie with your suit, be sure to match the width of your tie with the width of your lapel. This creates a more symmetrical look, which is essential for rocking any suit.
7
WEAR AN UNDERSHIRT
youR suIt WIll tHAnK you lAteR
Between your dress shirt, and suit coat, these layers can create a recipe for sweat marks and stains. Your undershirt can protect your suit while hiding those embarrassing sweat patches.
8
DON'T FORGET YOUR SOCKS
DRess soCKs FoR tHe WIn
Although you might not think anyone will see your socks, it’s sure to happen when you least expect it. We can't stress this enough, steer clear of white socks. Invest in long dress socks. Look for darker colours that could work with a wide range of suit colours and styles. For a bolder look, try patterned or brightly coloured socks that make a statement.
