Non-Negotiables for Developing Your Team

One of the most important responsibilities of a leader is the development of other leaders. Too often we're guilty of expecting our team members to grow, but we do little to help them in the developmental process.  If those on my team aren't developing their leadership capacity then I have to ask myself, "What do I need to do differently?"  I must assume the proper stewardship of my team and do my part to contribute to their growth.  But unfortunately many team leaders neglect getting involved in their team members development.Here are 5 Non-Negotiable actions I would require as a team leader that will help build a culture of leadership development among your team.

1. Require written goals - Have the individuals on your team turn in a one page written summary of their goals for the next 4 months.  This lays the ground work for shared expectations and gives you a basis from which to coach their performance.
2. Require regular 1-1's. Meet with each person on your team at least once a month if  not twice a month.  During those meetings review their goals, ask what problems they are encountering and use it as a time for individual coaching.
3. Require reading - A team that reads together learns together.  Reading a leadership book and discussing it during team meetings creates an atmosphere of shared learning and development.
4. Require reproduction - Leaders should be producing leaders.  Ram Charan in his book Leaders at All Levels recommends that everyone in your organization have "raising up new leaders" as a part of their job description.  When someone is teaching others to lead it reinforces those principles in their own life.
5. Require evaluation - Have times of regular evaluation as a team.  Ask them:  What have we been doing well?  What can we learn from that?  Where do we need to improve?  What can we learn from that?

Remember leadership development is a discipline that we must exercise everyday.