Leaders Build Bridges not Barriers

One of my first managers was very well liked by those who reported to him. To get his team to like him, Charlie had them over for summer picnics, let them leave early now and then, and formed a tightly knit clique. He made sure they had the latest equipment and information. People who reported to Charlie revered him like he was a super hero.

If you were in his clique, you were golden. If not, you were treated as a second-class citizen by Charlie and his team. I know that because I joined his team after being on a different one for four years, and the treatment changed immediately. Suddenly, I was welcomed to the fold by Charlie. It took a little longer for the rest of the team, but the treatment definitely improved.

While I came to like Charlie, even to respect him and hold him in high esteem, it was clear that he was not a good leader.

The clique he formed served as a bridge for his own team but a barrier to others.

When there are barriers, people are not compelled to offer revenue-generating ideas, cost-saving efficiencies, or problem solving tactics.

Ideas and innovation, whether they are for new products, services, benefits, or processes, make the difference between survival and demise of organizations today.

Leaders work to generate ideas. They know they must build bridges between teams, clients, suppliers, and divisions to inspire innovation. They know internal bridges give them an advantage over tight competition more than barriers do.

While it may seem like a good idea to hunker down, now is the time to reach out. Identify 3 bridges you could build or repair, then reach out. You may be surprised at how eager others are to rely on the bridges you build.