Want to be a better leader? Here are 5 quick exercises

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There’s no cut-and-paste blueprint to being a great leader. These exercises are drawn from a discussion with public servants about leadership. They’ll help you build specific leadership behaviours — and become a more effective and inspiring leader.

1. Write a values manifesto

“One of the leadership traits I always respected most in leaders is leading by example.” —Canadian public servant

High-performing teams are motivated by shared values: values that determine the team’s priorities and signal your group identity.

A great leader can identify the values that are most appropriate to their team and context — and then live them.

Exercise:

1. Write a values manifesto for your team. If you can, call on your team members to either write theirs or contribute to a shared manifesto.
2. Reflect on where your team agree — and where you disagree
3. Ask yourself: how could you adapt your leadership style to suit the individual and shared values of those around you?

2. Map your team’s strengths and weaknesses

“A great leader has the humility and courage to know one's vulnerabilities, stripped of pretense and hierarchical attitudes.” — Senior Policy Analyst

"Leadership is not about being the best. Leadership is about making everyone else better." — Business Analyst

Exercise:

1. Draw a map of your team’s individual strengths and weaknesses (Better yet: draw it together as a team!)
2. Do your team’s responsibilities match their strengths? How might they change?

3. Write your own performance review

“My favourite manager says: nobody wakes up and plans on messing up at work today. It’s simply a mistake, let’s see how we can learn from it.” — Senior Program Officer

Leaders don’t have a monopoly on good ideas. To empower your team, you need to foster an environment where everyone can be an owner and bring new solutions into reality.

How can a good leader create a “safe environment for innovation and growth”?

Exercise:

1. Imagine it’s 5 years from now. You’re one of your team members, writing a review of your leadership skills.
2. Write a review of yourself from your colleague’s perspective: What qualities do they mention? How did you impact their career? What steps did you take to develop as a leader?

4. Create user manuals

“A great leader I once worked with didn't just make decisions and declare them. They turned their inner decision-making thought process into an outer discussion.” — Team Leader, Government of Canada

You’re managing people, not telepaths. To lead your team, you need to communicate. Here’s what public servants said they valued in communication from leaders:

• Openness, honesty and candour
• “Listen, observe, recognise and incorporate your team’s input in the decision-making process.
• Invest in understanding your colleagues as people. Learn about their personal lives.
• Have fun! “Humour is often overlooked, but it is very important to break down barriers and put people at ease.”

Exercise:

Encourage your colleagues to create user manuals. These can include important details such as how they like to work, what motivates and demotivates them, how they like to give and get feedback, plus their quirks and personal intrigues. Be sure to make one for yourself!

5. Take what’s good, leave the bad

“[A manager] showed me that even though I was not a manager, I was still a leader within my group and that individuals looked to me for guidance and support.” — Public servant, Government of Antigua & Barbuda

Being a “leader” and a “manager” are not the same thing. Learn from the leaders that inspire you (and from the ones that don’t).

Here’s what public servants said they learned from good and bad leaders:

• Empower yourself and empower others
• Leadership is more than “getting a to do b”. A good leader actively, inclusively shapes the culture, agenda, morale and goals of your team
• Take good care of yourself. Remember that the emotions you radiate will be reflected in the people around you.

Exercise:

• Think of 2 excellent leaders you’ve worked for, and 1 that’s not so great.
• List 3 things you can learn from each person.
• For each thing, think of a specific action you can take in your job now.

What next?

Join the conversation. Tell us about excellent leaders you’ve worked for in government — what can we learn from them?

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