Utilize your management team
Selecting the right senior team members is the most important decision a leader makes. Shanahan surrounded herself with a senior team that has been in the industry 20 years, while she has only been in it four years. While she has experience around her, she also wants a team of people who respects each other, shows professionalism and has integrity, which means staff members who speak their minds and who also have the skills to do their jobs.
“A key part of the reason that we’ve worked together is that I really respect what they do, and they do it very well and they respect what I’ve done for the company,” she says.
Shanahan recommends the book “Team of Rivals,” about Lincoln’s Cabinet for some good advice to form a team, but she also has some of her own.
“You do not need yes-people,” she says. “It is valuable to have people around you who respectfully disagree with you and explain why. It is important for the leader to listen and learn.”
You have to create a feedback loop to hear the information and learn from it.
“A feedback loop is very important, because it can’t be just you with your ideas pontificating,” she says. “You’ve got to create a way that they feel that they can disagree or that there is a free exchange and that a group makes a decision, which is best for the company as you go forward.”
Feedback loops are created by getting back to people and closing the loop on all communications — e-mails, letters or offers to help.
“It’s important to listen and respond — follow up on tasks and getting back to people with feedback and direction,” she says. “People feel relevant when they are listened to.”
The more relevant your management team feels, the better the atmosphere will be around you and the team when you have discussions.
“A key part of leadership is making sure that environment is there and viable and that people feel free to express their true opinions, i.e., to disagree,” she says.
That open environment won’t develop under a leader who is constantly shooting ideas down or criticizing when a dissenting opinion is brought to the table.
“You can’t judge them when they disagree with you,” she says.
You need to be open to new ideas and let everyone on the senior team know you want to hear what is on their mind.
“Being open and transparent with the senior team helps ensure everyone is pursuing a consistent strategy,” she says. “Including everyone in the same communication loop is also a more efficient form of communication, as it drives a clear path for all members toward our goal.
“Communications efficiency also drives greater productivity, which positively impacts the bottom line.”