The Ten GrassRoots Leadership Principles
	The Most Effective Leaders…
1.	Lead by Example. They know they must demonstrate changed attitudes and behaviors first, before expecting their team to change. They ask for input from their teams, especially when making decisions that affect them or their work. They respectively listen, discuss, and commit to decisions during meetings. They proactively “walk the talk.” And they commit to the team and organizational peers by consistently following through. They never forget the effect they have on their people, and are acutely aware of how they are being viewed and perceived by their teams.
2.	Communicate Purpose & Meaning. They help their team members understand - collectively and individually — how their work contributes to the success of the overall mission, as well as understand how that work supports their own personal goals. They work to align work opportunities with team members’ personal and professional goals. They proactively communicate and help to manage changes that affect the organization’s culture and strategic direction. They clarify desired outcomes and set clear expectations for individual and team assignments. They genuinely acknowledge and reinforce the contributions of every team member.
3.	Create a Climate of Trust. They trust their team members and cultivate trust from their team, and understand that without trust, a leader can not create the organizational climate and personal rapport with each team member necessary to achieve sustained, long term organizational excellence. They make themselves available and accessible to each team member and communicate the fact that all ideas and opinions are valued and considered. They stand up and support the team’s decision and action, especially in front of superiors. They understand the importance of leveraging the good will of the team in a positive work environment. They are open to criticism and aren’t afraid to admit when they are wrong. And they encourage the team to speak up and share their opinions when they disagree.
4.	Look for Results, not Salutes. They focus primarily on maximizing the performance and expanding the competencies and knowledge of their people rather than achieving personal recognition or higher status within the organization. They trust their team to make the correct decisions within established guidelines. They make decisions that benefit the team, even if those decisions might be unpopular with others in the organization. They exhibit patience in evaluating the effectiveness of new ideas or approaches. And they give the team credit for its successful efforts and assume personal responsibility when efforts fail.
5.	Take Calculated Risks. They encourage their people to take responsibility in making processes better, and promote thinking about what’s best for the organization. They believe that the reason they are successful is because of the performance and decisions of their people. When there is a better way of doing something, they encourage their teams to take action and make the right decisions without asking permission first. They support decisions made by their teams and are constantly promoting growth and advancement in their peoples’ careers by allowing them to take ownership in the organization.
6.	Go Beyond SOP. They define Standard Operating Procedures as guidelines, not as a rigid rule that must be followed at the expense of achieving excellence. They know that SOPs do not change as rapidly as environmental and competitive factors. They understand the importance of fostering a climate that encourages people to discover more innovative ways to accomplish their mission. They proactively entertain and adopt team suggestions for new ways of doing work. And they encourage and support the team to take responsibility for their own success — to chart new ways of working without excessively seeking approval from senior staff.
7.	Listen Aggressively. They don’t simply listen — they listen intensely and carefully to what their people are telling them about their work experience, as well as short and long term goals. They know that those on the front lines possess a unique perspective on how to improve operations. A key to maintaining high morale and a healthier organization is to provide team members with an authentic voice in how the mission is carried out. They devote attention to each team member and value all ideas and opinions. They seek to understand issues from all points-of-view. They inform team members if there is a problem with their performance. And they seek clarification and additional information before responding.
8.	Strengthen Others. They focus on expanding the personal growth, skills, knowledge and opportunities of every team member by creating an environment where everyone can flourish. They understand that, as a result, the team is strengthened. They encourage team members to develop individual career goals, and provide opportunities for the development of new skills. They help the team see strengths and talents
9.	Generate Unity. They work relentlessly to help their team see the benefits of working collaboratively as one, unified unit. They strive to change undesirable behaviors and alter the underlying attitudes that undermine most teams. By committing to treat everyone with dignity and respect, GrassRoots Leaders level the playing field and create an environment that encourages all team members to perform at their highest level. They value and leverage team member differences to make the team collectively stronger. Everyone on the team is held to the same performance standards and expectations are clearly communicated. They actively encourage team members to seek help from each other.
10.	Cultivate Quality of Life. They actively integrate fun into the work experience and strive to ensure their team has as much fun from 9 to 5 as 5 to 9. They encourage their people to work with the same passion, enthusiasm, and creativity they enjoy in their personal lives, and work to create a climate that makes this possible. They promote a balance between personal and professional interests, and strongly support personal goals and priorities.