Perhaps the most important way a leader can show they have their team members’ backs is to defend them from unjust or unfair criticism.
Not only are good leaders vocal advocates of those they lead, but they also maintain a sharp eye for derogatory remarks, putdowns, and unfair feedback directed at their team members.
Any time a team member is viewed negatively by someone outside the team, strong leaders rally to their defense.
They don’t let those outside the team hurl insults, make negative comments, or accuse them without a strong defense. This is true whether the team member is present or not.
When team members know from experience that a leader will step in to set the record straight, speak up when others accuse them, and explain their judgment when others question it, they will be willing to walk through walls for that leader.
Loyalty like that is rare, and team members know it.
Good leaders don’t jump the gun, however. Before responding factually, they ask for more context and clarity to more fully understand why the team member is under fire.
But regardless of the circumstances, they then mount a defense. And they do so publicly.
They may have to coach the team member privately about what they could have done differently (if anything), but they make it a public point to let everyone involved know that no one can speak ill of a team member. If they do, they can expect to hear from the leader.
Sharing a perspective on the team members’ intentions, efforts, and constraints that the critics might not see is a good strategy, but sometimes leaders can’t defend the team members’ actions. In that case, they defend the person instead.
Leaders can always defend the quality and value of the person.
The best leaders do this by emphasizing the respect and confidence they have in the team member, separately from the way they view their actions, choices, or decisions. A leader can admire the person without condoning specific behavior.
The critical point is that good leaders always protect their team members from negative aspersions. The idea of having someone’s back refers to protecting a person’s blind spots in a fight or dangerous situation.
By watching the areas their colleague can’t see, the leader helps to protect them from an unknown assault. This translates to a simple code for leaders: Any slap directed at a team member becomes a slap aimed at them. They strike back in a supportive but professional way.
Who wouldn’t run into traffic for someone like that?
A Daily Dispatch from the Front Lines of Leadership.
