30 DAY PLAYBOOK: EARNING THE RESPECT OF THE TEAM.

I am passionate about developing a culture of respect, brand values, data-driven decisions, teamwork and growth.

Given the opportunity, my goal would be to earn the respect of the team and strive daily to inspire / build a culture that gets everyone excited and fully engaged in their work. Here are a few ideas on how I would tackle the first 30-days… and beyond.

LISTEN & SHOW THAT I CARE

My team needs to know that I am there to help THEM succeed. That their success (and the success of the organization) comes before my own. This starts with listening and respecting the knowledge / experience of the group. I’d make myself available to spend meaningful time (both as a team and via one-on-one meetings) to better understand the challenges and frustrations, strengths and opportunities, and gain insight into what’s worked and what hasn’t. This helps establish an on-going framework for the team to ask and receive feedback, build mutual respect, and provide a space for me to keep everyone accountable on a regular basis.

PRACTICE RADICAL HONESTY

Trust is the foundation for everything. It’s not easy or fast, but vital. I’ve always been a person of my word and would work diligently to establish that early on. If I say I’m going to do something, I’ll do it. If I’m wrong or make a mistake, I’ll admit it. This honesty is fundamental to who I am and has helped establish a foundation of trust in every team I’ve ever managed. When it comes to providing feedback to the team, I will give it honestly, sincerely, and often. My goal will be to motivate and inspire everyone to do a better job, not punish them for trying new things or making mistakes.

BE HUMBLE, PATIENT & GO WITH THE FLOW

It takes time for any team to acclimate to a new leader. It will also take time for me to ‘learn the ropes.’ My approach to this challenge is to be patient and humble. I’d regularly be thinking of ways to put my team in the spotlight for well-executed work or innovative ideas. I would encourage these ideas (and honest mistakes), knowing that if we’re collectively trying to improve the business, things will break along the way.

STAY POSITIVE AND GENUINE

Showing up everyday with a positive and upbeat attitude makes all the difference. I’ve been lucky enough to get along with those I’ve worked with and have found that if you genuinely respect those around you, they in turn will respect and work passionately by your side.

ASK ADVICE FROM OTHER LEADERS

I am not afraid to try new things or make mistakes. I’m also not afraid to ask for help when needed. I have cultivated a strong network of successful business leaders who I can call on when a challenging managerial task pops up, or if I just need a professional and experienced sounding board.

In Summary…

To quickly gain the respect of the team, I would put the success of my group (and the organization) ahead of my own. I’d listen more than talk and cultivate a culture of candid feedback.

If personnel changes needed to be made, I would make the necessary changes (certainly not in the first 30-days) in order to assure a cohesive, healthy and engaged team.

Thank you again for your time and continued consideration. I continue to be pumped about this opportunity.

- Chris Accardo