One of my friends in the Book Club sent me a link from the National Post of Canada about a boy who defended a classmate who is being bullied at school. The title of the report is “No heroes allowed: Calgary student, 13, reprimanded for defending his classmate against a knife-wielding bully.” (http://news.nationalpost.com/2013/05/31/briar-maclean-reprimanded-for-stopping-a-knife-wielding-bully-at-school/)
The school principal summoned the student who stopped the bully and was told that the school does not condone heroics.
My jaw dropped from disbelief. A good behavior was just punished. How do you expect the right behavior to be replicated if it is being punished? This type of leadership incompetence is not limited to schools. – even corporate walls are not exempt from faulty decision and poor leadership.
Erroneous decisions will make or break your team. When you lead a team ask yourself “What good behaviors would I want to see in my department?” Make a conscious effort to write down the good behaviors you expect to see so you will be able to spot them easily as the behavior is manifested. Reinforce this good behavior by praising in public.
Catch your team members do the right things. Reward them on the spot if possible and explain how the behavior impacts the group.
