Gauge Commitment to Strategy: Homework as a Leadership Test

As a business owner, how can you tell if your team is truly committed to implementing your strategy? Here's a simple yet powerful method: give them homework! Yes, seriously. Assigning relevant and appropriate tasks to your team members can be a surprisingly effective way to gauge their engagement and support.

Here’s how you can put this into action:

Define Success

Ask your leadership team members to articulate what a successful outcome looks like for their area of responsibility. Request 2-3 specific success objectives. For example, if your strategy is to enter a new market and your team member is in charge of finance, ask them to define what a successful market entry looks like from the finance perspective. Then, have them outline how they would measure that success.

This task is more than just busywork; it’s a strategic exercise that requires them to develop a clear vision. Any team member who is genuinely supportive of your strategy should be able to do this.

Get on Their Agenda

Another effective homework task is to ask your direct report to invite you to one of their regular meetings. Ask them to give you time on their agenda so you can ask their direct reports what they are doing in their capacity to bring your strategic vision to reality. If they keep finding reasons for not making this happen, it might be a red flag about their level of commitment.

Role Play

Consider a role-playing exercise. Ask your team member to simulate how they would address questions their staff might have about your strategy. You could start the conversation like this:

"I want to ensure we’re all on the same page. Let me pretend to be one of your employees and ask you a few questions about this strategy. I want to hear how you would respond."

This assumes you’ve already shared key information and messages about your strategy. If you haven’t, then this exercise wouldn’t be fair and won’t provide valuable insight into their engagement.

However, if you have, then it will be enlightening to hear how a leader in your company articulates your vision from their perspective.

The Homework Effect

Giving your team relevant and appropriate homework is a straightforward way to gauge their commitment. It’s not foolproof, but it can provide you with some early reassurance or warning flags. If they complete the tasks well and promptly, it’s a good sign they are genuinely engaged and supportive. If not, it might be time to dig deeper into their reservations.

In conclusion, a little homework can go a long way in understanding the true commitment of your team. It’s a simple method that yields quick insights, helping you identify the truly engaged members of your team. So, go ahead and assign that homework—your strategy’s success might just depend on it!