Growing a Successful Front-Line
“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
~Benjamin Franklin
What do you want your front-line leaders to know? Have you told them? Have you taught them? More importantly, have you worked with them?
Recently, I spoke to a group of leaders about the role of the Foreman in our work and what working as a Foreman in the field involves. I did some research with current Landscape Branch Managers and Operations Managers on what they needed from a Foreman.
The number one answer was, when you’re growing your front-line leaders teach them to work side by side with their crew. The Foreman, as a leader, should not be afraid of jumping in to give their people a hand. It is important for them to be a mentor and coach with their crew members. One person told me, “Don’t ask the team to do something you wouldn’t do.”
Leading by example is a part of being a leader. When you see a leader consistently sitting in a truck and ignoring their crew, then you will see a drop in the crew’s trust. Working with the crew, side by side, involving them in conversation, growing their understanding of our job, in turn, grows the crew’s trust and respect for their leader.
“Before you are a leader, success is all about growing yourself. When you become a leader, success is all about growing others.”
~Jack Welch
Keep growing others,
Jeff
