By Dr. Paul L. Gerhardt, PhD
www.paulgerhardt.com
Business as usual probably is a key indicator that something VERY important is being neglected. That something may lead to ultimate failure. What is that very important thing? It is quite simple, but vitally essential. That something is recognizing the numerous efforts put forth by the informal leaders in your organization. Everyone knows that leaders play a crucial role in the success of each organization. Formal leaders are usually titled managers. Managers must always find ways to create value for employees, and give them no reason to be anything but loyal while focusing on to delivering the best results for valued clients and team. Creating value for employees means giving exemplary support, systems, benefits, opportunities for growth, and a positive working environment.
Effective leadership is the foundation of exceptional customer service and organizational greatness. Leadership is a phenomenon that occurs at every level. It is not only a formal, but informal too. The presence of leadership should be visible in the quality of a vibrant organization’s customer service and in team effectiveness.
Informal leaders emerge throughout every organization. They thrive when formal leaders recognize and praise successes of every size in a genuinely appreciative way. Informal leaders are the employees that are giving their best in accomplishing tasks and goals. They are the ones who are showing pride in going above and beyond, while looking for ways to make things even better in their departments and company. Although informal leaders have roles that are different from official leaders who have been appointed by the organization, their accomplishments are as important to the success of the organization as any manager’s. Smart leaders recognize these informal leaders and help them flourish and grow.
Managers can recognize informal leaders as those individuals who are consistently contributing to accomplishing goals, facilitating work and offering direction, support and other necessities to team co-workers. Informal leaders pave the way for success and allow others to follow. Smart managers must recognize the power these informal leaders have. Their influence can be either positive or the opposite if not his/her accomplishments are not genuinely shown appreciation on a regular basis.
The actions informal leaders are powerful in motiving, inspiring and influencing the actions, ideas and perceptions of other employees. Therefore, informal leader’s actions must be fostered, praised and allowed to serve as role models for exemplary work performance. Smart managers know that workers who are happy while on the job, wholeheartedly give his/her best, greets customers in a positive way, helps colleagues solve problems, and positively influence other workers. Happy informal leaders inspire their colleagues to be successful in accomplishing excellence in all they do.
Informal leaders truly are the ones who make it possible for each department and team to make change and maintain daily operations. The informal leader’s ability to influence excellence stems from giving trust and recognizing trustworthiness. Leaders must celebrate informal leaders create systems that enable them to do what they do best. By doing so, formal leaders will soon recognize a kind of charisma and magnetism which helps them to influence success in countless ways by their followers.
After all, informal leaders are often the ones who build team spirit and create an eagerness in employees to be motivated in performing excellence and creativity in their work. When it comes to the delivery of customer satisfaction, informal leaders can influence greater levels of quality service that their co-workers will emulate. Informal leaders make it possible for leaders to be appointed by their organization. It is informal leaders that truly are the backbone of success.
Smart managers recognize that an informal leader’s ability to direct and influence others rests on his or her support by their managers. Leaders support and cultivate talent. They evoke confidence, build trust and always show genuine respect to others. Informal leaders are exceptionally important to organizations. They are the ones who build the success of the formal leaders. Therefore, informal leaders must always feel supported and genuinely appreciated on a daily basis. Informal leaders who do not feel supported and valued will not support the vision and the goals of their organization’s formal leaders. When this happens, the informal leaders can become barriers to the organizations.
The bottom line is leaders identify who your informal leaders are. Give them what they need to be successful. Their success is your success!
