Quick Tips for New Leaders

Project Management

You need well executed projects to accomplish your goals. Clearly define and delegate.

• Define the elements of the project and assign responsibility to those best able to manage and execute those elements.
• Once assigning a task to someone – let them handle it. They should be accountable to you, but you should not rush in to micro-manage or to give others pieces of the project.
• Respect the chain of command you have established.
• Allow project leaders to pick your own team (committee) and manage them
• Clarify team (committee) goals and deadlines – hold people accountable.
• Always give positive recognition.

Meeting Management

Your time and everyone else’s is of incredible value. Invest it wisely.

• Set and keep a time schedule.
• As meeting manager (CEO or facilitator) be on time.
• Have an agenda – and publish it – also have paper copies.
• No surprises – everyone involved should know the purpose of the meeting.
• If guests are invited, advise them in advance that they are guests and will be given the opportunity to speak when it is appropriate to the reason they are in attendance.
• Nurture a climate that encourages people to express their own views – and to offer constructive disagreements and/or criticism.
• Share the responsibility of the meeting with attendees by having them responsible for different aspects of the agenda.
• Have a living agenda rather than a static one and allow others to input into the agenda before it is published.
• Start and end on time – that shows respect for others

Time Matters

Maybe it's because I grew up in New York City where time was critical and people were able to squeeze in many appointments in one day - but whatever the reason, I think time is important - and the commitment to meet someone at a certain time is very important.

To be late except in unusual circumstances, is a way of insulting the person you are planning to meet. It is as though whatever else you were doing is more important than them. It's OK, you think, for them to be cooling their heels while waiting for you.

It's down right rude. It indicates poor planning, or over-committing.

Years ago I worked with a woman who was 20 minutes late every day. Her excuse never varied: "There was a lot of traffic on Saratoga Ave."