POWER THROUGH COOPERATION

A leader cannot do it all, and the good ones know this. Instead, they surround themselves with teams of people who are strongest where they are weakest and they ask for advice from others. They identify those who can help them the most, develop relationships with them, and put energy into keeping those relationships. Leaders can also set up a mentor relationship with people they look up to. One of the ways leaders compensate for their weaknesses is through cooperation with others and putting together winning teams. To put together winning teams, leaders should follow seven tips:

1. Leaders who win surround themselves with people who are stronger and better than they are.
2. In the beginning of building a team, the entire focus has to be on development and training.
3. Great leaders always get the facts, never assume, and plan a course of strategy in case things go wrong.
4. The right assignments are given to the right people.
5. Those who are unable to make a positive contribution must be let go.
6. Communication needs to be open so that the team can access it from anywhere.
7. Everyone on the team needs to commit to excellence.

Leaders need to communicate clearly because 85 percent of their success depends on it. The point of leadership is power and influence which happens through communication. In a truly successful company, all employees understand what they are trying to accomplish and what the plan is for the future. It is important that people like, respect, and value their leaders because they are more apt to listen to leaders they respect and value. Leaders should be able to persuade others to see their point of view and change their minds. Part of communication is listening, and great leaders pay just as much attention to what is not being said as they do to what is said.