Igniting Team Performance

Some thoughts about... Action Centred Leadership & Team Building

The Action Centred Leadership model was developed by John Adair. The iconic three circles diagram is a trademark of John Adair. A summary of the model is on the next page. The beauty of the model, to my mind, is that it focuses on what the leader does. Early model's of leadership tended to concentrate on the attributes of a good leader. To some extent we can each control what we do (i.e. how we behave) whereas physical or personality attributes are very much harder to alter. In our work with teams I find ACL a very easy model to introduce to participants. If working outdoors, the three circles can be drawn in the sand or in the mud and I find participants eager to examine examples of when they (or their leader) allocated time and energy toward the task, the team and the individuals. The main advantge of ACL, I find, is that minimal time is needed to outline the key principles and therefore discussion moves speadily back to what actually happened while the team now has a framework within which ideas can be examined. On many of our shorter team activities it is perhaps inevitable that most leaders predominantly focus on needs within the TASK circle. However even on these shorter task the more effective leaders find ways (often subtle ways) of addressing the needs of the team and of individuals within the team while maintaining a focus on the team's task. Of course, a team comprises a mix of people and we often observe a rather task-focused team leader being ably supported by team members who ensure that team and individual needs are not overlooked. The key here is that team members understand and embrace each others strengths and weaknesses rarther than it becoming a niggle that can, overtime, lead to conflict. There is some useful overlap here with models such as Belbin's Team Role model. It is certainly true that many of our team building events are specific attempts by the team or team leader to address the needs of the team. This matches closely with John Adair's viewpoint that not all areas need equal attention at all times. In the cut and thrust of the working day it is often the case that the TASK circle is predominate. This makes is important that the needs of the TEAM and of the INDIVIDUAL are addressed in other ways. The effective team leader seeks out and welcomes such opportunities.

Aurthor: Phil England, Managing Director of Eventus Training & Events

Tel: +44 (0)1558 668925

Eventus Training & Events Ltd. Email: info@eventus.co.uk

Web: www.eventus.co.uk

The three circles symbol is a trademark of John Adair.

Tel: +44 (0)1558 668925

Eventus Training & Events Ltd. Email: info@eventus.co.uk

Web: www.eventus.co.uk