Set The Pace From The Helm

During my 22 years in the Navy, I have heard a saying "The Captain is the Ship" and I must say that I couldn't agree more. The commands (offices) where I have worked had the "personality" of the person in charge. During my two tours as a Commanding Officer, my commands took on my personality as well - good and bad traits. Take a moment to reflect on where you currently work. What is the office mood or character? Who is the ring leader of your office's atmosphere? Most likely, the leadership--whomever is at the helm has set the office climate. Why!? It's because we take our "cues" from those who are steering the vessel (organizationally or departmentally).

To set the right tone for your "ship" as it heads into new waters, try the "COPY" leadership system for modeling organizational success. COPY stands for:

Be...

Concise

Optimistic

Playful

Yourself

Concise

With being concise, I am referring to concise communication in relaying the mission, vision, and overall strategy to team members. There are three basic questions that come with any strategy. They are:

1. Where are we now?

2. Where are we going?

3. How are we going to get there?

In being concise, knowing where you currently are is the first step. The second question of "Where are we going?" is critical to organizational success. The vision should be clear, tangible, and easily understood. More importantly, everyone should know what it is and where he or she fit into the value chain in producing the end result. A teammate who knows, with precision, where the organization is going will help you figure out the third question of "How are we going to get there." All of this starts with stepping out and reaching each teammate with concise communication.

Optimistic

As the "Captain," your optimistic attitude will permeate throughout the rest of the "ship" and will dictate the performance of the team. When you are excited about where you are going and have used concise communication to let everyone know, your team will be excited as well. Although there may be grumbling (because resistance to change can happen), you have the power to quickly turn it around. As you believe it and are positive about it, the rest will follow. Mountains, valleys, highs, lows, and even large ravines shouldn't keep you from losing focus - the battle is won (or lost) in your head prior to it's start and it all begins with PMA (Positive Mental Attitude)!

Playful

Do you remember how much fun it was to hang out, laugh, and play with your friends when you were a kid? So do I! That's what work should be...FUN! Cell phones, deadlines, finances, and email pound down on employees every day - stifling creativity, productivity, and morale. You, as the leader can mitigate the effects of stress by infusing "fun" into each day. It could be as simple as hosting a weekly "potluck" - something to break the workweek/day up. Work should be like a game of kick ball. The focus stays strategic (win the game) but the method is fun. You set the pace and the entire "crew" will take their cues from you...go ahead, kick the ball!

Yourself

During Officer Candidate School, one does A LOT of push ups (I did more than most). As we went down to the floor in the push up position, we had to scream "INTEGRITY" and on the up we had to scream "DISCIPLINE!" Honestly, although it was done as a punishment, it was one of the most motivational moments of my life - hearing 80 people scream in unison can help you tap into strength reserves that you didn't know you had. When times have gotten bad and I may have been tempted to cut a corner and not be true to who I was as a person, I think of those two words and my teammates yelling them in my ear "INTEGRITY!....DISCIPLINE!" and I am able to tap back into those reserves and stay the course. We all have those times of trial and if we stay true the entire team appreciates it. Always be "you" and always stay true to your core beliefs.

Modeling the way for your team through the "COPY" system will help your team achieve greater productivity, creativity, cohesion, and will, simply, make work a much better place to be. It's very much like when your mom used to say "monkey see monkey do" - you get to be the head monkey, model the way and, let's face it, monkeys are cool! Remember to COPY and never give up the ship!

Chip Lutz is a professional speaker, trainer, and retired Navy Officer with 22 years leadership experience. He speaks and trains on the power of positive leadership and the infusion of humor in the workplace to increase morale, productivity, and teamwork. He served as Commanding Officer of two separate Navy Facilities and was the Director of Security for Naval District Washington, DC during September 11th, 2001. Additionally, he is adjunct faculty for two colleges where he teaches classes in leadership, teamwork, and organizational behavior. Find our more about his work at http://www.funsquadinc.com or email him at czar@funsquadinc.com to be put on his weekly newsletter distribution.