Build Relationships

Set the Example

Look in the Mirror

What you Don't Know

Good leaders build their relationships with their team members. They understand that the task will not be accomplished without people stepping forward and working together. Teams grow when they have good examples from their leaders, are provided training to help them, and are given the authority to accomplish the task in their own way.
In order to build effective teams, you must build a relationship with your team. Trust and confidence comes as your team gets to know you. It is far easier to work through misunderstandings and other difficulties, when you and your team have a strong relationship.
You will grow as a leader as you get to know your team members. You will find different personalities and different motivations for why each team member’s participation. You will learn from each of them and together you will form an effective team.
Build relationships in your Grange and become a better leader!

---

 

If you want to make your time as the leader in your Grange productive, you must first set the example. Your attitude, your words, and your actions all combine to set an example of leadership that your members will respond to.
Set the example for your members by ensuring your attitude is a positive, can do, our Grange is going places, attitude. When you show up at meetings and activities smiling and talking about how fun it is to be with your members, they will respond positively. Over time, they will adopt your attitude.
In words and action, your example is critical. Asking members for their ideas and incorporating them into the Grange goals and plans is a great start. Requesting help on projects from members and nonmembers shows others how to start building a team. If your Grange is late, be on time. Find ways to set the example for how things should be and those things will start to happen.
Become a better leader by setting the example in your Grange!

---

Ever wonder why your Grange isn’t bringing in more new members? The person responsible is the one looking back at you in the mirror. Responsibility means you must be a leader in recruiting new members.
To be a leader, you must create a welcoming atmosphere in your Grange. What happens when a person walks in the door? What happens when a member stands up and proposes something new and different? If the members of your Grange don’t introduce themselves and welcome all visitors and new people and if they don’t take a proposal and give it consideration and look for ways to do it, you need to create a new attitude in your Grange. Leaders create new attitudes by having them.
With a great attitude, it is necessary for you to show the way by talking to non-members about your Grange. Brag about something to people you know outside the Grange. Tell non-members what you are doing at the Grange. Talking about Grange to people will require most members to step outside their comfort zone. As a leader, you must set the example in sharing the Grange message outside your Grange.
Look in the mirror and take responsibility and you will find it is easier to attract new members in your Grange.

---

Successful leaders realize that they don’t know everything. More important, they understand that their teams often don’t have critical information that would help them. Great leaders look for ways to share information and they are always on the lookout for information that will inspire and motivate their team.
If you, as the leader, never get outside your Grange, you will miss out on a lot of positive information and ideas. Go to your State Grange Session or maybe the National Grange Session and learn about Granges that are doing exciting things in their communities. Ask to get electronic communication from National or State leaders. Talk to other Grange leaders about what is working in their Granges. The time you spend outside your Grange will benefit your fellow members.
When you see something different that works, you need to share it with your team. Encourage your members to share successes that they see in other Granges or other organizations. Especially share success stories about other Granges in order to enthuse and motivate your team. Your team will start down the road of achievement when they try a new method or activity from your example.
Look at other Granges and other organization’s successes so that you can avoid the trap of what you don’t know and you will become a better leader in your Grange!