Leadership Tip Archive

Give Complete Authority to Your Teams

by Ed Luttrell
National Grange Director of Leadership and Membership

Being a successful leader requires you to build successful teams to get things done. If your teams aren’t performing up to your expectations, try giving complete authority to them. Giving responsibility is not the same thing as giving authority. Responsibility is defined as the team knows that they are accountable for what happens.
Giving authority to a team means that they can choose the methods and way they are going to accomplish the task they have. The Grange sets the goal. Teams can do anything that they agree on to achieve the goal. Giving authority requires that you, as a leader, throw away the “boss” mode and get into the “teacher” mode to help. Your job is to assist, not to control.
A team with complete authority and responsibility will gain confidence in themselves. They may be more creative and successful. They certainly will have more pride in their activity because they have ownership in how they get it done. The members of the team will also build their excitement in the Grange because they will grow as members and leaders.
Give complete authority to your teams and become a better team builder in your Grange!