Everybody who works in Gillian Beresford’s team agrees that she is a fine leader. ‘She is not perfect but then nobody is,’ says one colleague, ‘but she is always willing to learn.’ Her team members talk in glowing terms about her enthusiasm for the job and for her colleagues. Whether she is greeting somebody for the first time in the morning, having a discussion about a work-related topic or running a meeting, there is a visible display of energy, good humour and full attention to others. Her colleagues have many very positive things to say about her. Here are some examples:
‘She takes a genuine interest in our lives. It is definitely not mechanical and routine as it is with some people. She comes back with questions and comments when something important is going on.’
‘She is always straight with us. If things are going well she always thanks us for our particular contributions. It is really meant because she rarely resorts to vague comments. If there are problems with our work she is always upfront and explains what is wrong. However, the great thing is that she then gives us some help. She has a marvellous ability to help us to think things through by asking questions and giving support.’
‘I would describe her as a person with real integrity. She doesn’t take credit for other people’s good ideas. She doesn’t blame others when things go wrong.’
‘Gillian doesn’t lose her cool when we have a crisis. We are all encouraged to work things through systematically. She seems to believe that her most important job, as team leader, is to help us overcome difficulties and sort out problems.’
‘She has time for us: time for us personally and time for our work. She is a fantastic listener. You don’t feel that her mind is somewhere else. You just know that she is paying full attention.’
‘When I am running up against big problems she seems to understand what they are and more importantly how I am feeling. She is not a softy, she doesn’t let anybody off the hook but she does go out of her way to help with putting things right. I usually feel a lot better after a conversation with her. I have never had a boss before that I can say that about.’
‘I think that one of the more remarkable things about her is that she asks us for our views about her work as team leader. She likes to know how she is doing. At first I was a bit reticent about speaking up but I feel that I can be honest with her because I trust her and I trust her because she is always honest with me. It is easier for all of us to own up to shortcomings and seek help because she is very willing, herself, to admit that she has lots to learn.’
‘You have the impression that Gillian really likes her colleagues. It can’t be possible for her to like everything about everybody but she definitely has the knack of finding something good in all of us. You feel that there is a genuine warmth.’
‘I admire her most of all because she invariably meets her obligations to clients and to us. It is tremendous leadership by example. She is well organized and almost always on time.’
‘She encourages our opinions and ideas not only on the technical details of our work but also on our relationships with clients, on how we work together, how to improve systems and on how to get more business. She does this with everybody including the secretaries in the team.’
‘She is very tolerant of other people’s views and listens well to differences of opinion. Even with those that she disagrees with there is no personal animosity. In disagreements she sticks to the issues and avoids personality bashing.’
‘She expects high standards. I appreciate that but even more I appreciate the encouragement and support that she gives us all in living up to those high standards.’
‘She seems to lead steadily. There is a very positive mood in our team for most of the time. We know what is expected of us. Indeed we contribute our thoughts to those expectations. We get on with things with the right amount of encouragement and the right amount of prodding. If we don’t meet target dates, however, there is some explaining to do.’
‘I think that we are a well-motivated bunch because we all enjoy our work and we are successful on the whole. However, we have our down moments. Gillian is able to transmit her own get-upandgo and dedication to us on those occasions. I suppose it is because when things are not going as well as they should we do a bit of problem solving together, and help each other; then the motivation returns.’
‘The thing that I like about her is that she is optimistic about things. Even in difficult times she seems to be able to take a positive view and to find opportunities to explore with us. That’s quite uplifting.’
‘Gillian doesn’t let things fester. If there are problems between people in the team she seems to learn about them very quickly. She talks to the people concerned and helps them to come to some sort of agreement to put things right. Usually everybody comes away feeling that some useful progress has been made.’
‘Although she is a hard worker and expects us to be the same there is an easy atmosphere in the team. There is plenty of humour and good fun as part of the day’s work.’
‘The thing that I like about Gillian is that she is very responsive to our ideas. She listens and is willing for us to try something new if it appeals. If for some reason we can’t follow through then she gives good explanations. She also provides time in meetings for a bit of brainstorming and encourages everybody to voice their ideas.’
‘Gillian is very sensitive to feelings and is not afraid to explore them with us if she thinks that will help us to do a better job together.’
‘She is almost too good to be true. Having thought about it I have come to the conclusion that whilst some of it comes naturally I feel quite sure that she has also schooled herself to be a good team leader. She takes her leadership responsibilities as seriously as she takes her personal professional work. You have to make a real effort to be a good leader, in my view, and that is what she has done.’
‘We all play a part in setting the team’s objectives and developing the business plan which follows. We have a lot of good-natured battles during our discussions. Once everything is decided Gillian keeps us on track for what we have agreed to do.’
Do you know a team leader with similar characteristics to Gillian? If so, you have an excellent role model.