Usually, HOSA officers get one shot (one school-year) to make a significant impact and improve upon the legacy of their HOSA chapter or state. Yet, too often team dynamics (aka drama) creep in and hinder progress.

 

On occasion (rare occasion!), an officer team may gel seamlessly and manage their chapter with ease. But 99.99% of the time, teams eventually experience conflict and consequently lose focus. If teams strive to achieve these seven characteristics early and often, they’ll overcome friction and produce positive results. 

What are these characteristics? Well, to be a highly effective team, you must …

 

… remember the reason.

Cast a shared vision for the future that inspires your HOSA team to do whatever it takes to get there. The best teams clear away roadblocks that constrain natural creativity and initiative, unleashing a tremendous amount of energy in the process.

 

… remain positive.

It’s all fun and games… until it’s not. Hey, sometimes it’s work and that’s okay. In the moments that seem dull, challenging, or test your patience, smile and remember the big picture. You chose to be an officer to make great things happen. Accept problems as an opportunity to make things even better than they were before. 

 

… demonstrate character.

Members don’t trust your content until they trust your intent. Be honest, fair, candid and forthright, and treat everyone in the same way that you would want to be treated.

 

… encourage ideas.

For people to do their very best work, they need an environment that supports them by making it safe to take risks, to tell the truth, and to speak up … without being ridiculed for doing so. Support your team by creating this kind of environment, and it will promote growth toward attaining your HOSA goals.

 

… exhibit confidence.

Highly effective teams know deep down that they and their members can accomplish anything they set their minds to. Failure is not an option. Tentative leaders make for tentative members. If you’re confident, your members will be too.

 

… communicate.

Knowledge is power, and great teams ensure that everyone, from the teacher to the member, is provided complete and up-to-date information about HOSA’s goals, performance, successes and failures. To achieve this level of connection, teams should provide ample channels for two-way communication between members and officers, actively soliciting their ideas for improvement and rewarding members for submitting them.

 

… get their buy-in.

Officer teams may have been elected to lead but they still need members to make things happen. Be sure to gather ideas and support from the members before you make decisions. The more people take part in developing a project, the more they also develop a sense of obligation and loyalty to the finished product. Strong officer teams include everyone in the process.

 

Your team is sure to encounter trials this year. Provided the right tools and attitudes, these challenges will only cause your team to strengthen its effectiveness. Make a point of practicing these 7 leadership traits, and you will be a highly effective team.