John Adair's Action Centered Leadership model is a simple leadership model which is easy to apply to real life situations. Adair was probably the first to demonstrate that leadership is a trainable, transferable skill, rather than it being an exclusively inborn ability.
Adair approached leadership from a more practical and simple angle; by describing what leaders have to do and the actions they need to take.
According to John Adair, Leadership always has three Elements to Address :
The Task
The Team
The Individual
The Task :
Identify aims and vision for the group, purpose, and direction - define the Task.
Identify resources, people, processes, systems and tools (financials, communications, IT)
Create the plan to achieve the task: deliverables, measures, timescales, strategy, Tactics.
Establish responsibilities, objectives & accountabilities by agreement and delegation.
Set standards for review / evaluation : quality, time and reporting parameters
Control and maintain activities against parameters.
Monitor and maintain overall performance against plan.
Review, re-assess, adjust plan, methods, change course, Plan B as necessary
The Team :
Establish, agree and communicate standards of performance and behaviour
Establish style, culture, approach of the group - soft skill elements
Monitor and maintain discipline, ethics, integrity and focus on objectives
Anticipate and resolve group conflict, struggles or disagreements
Develop team-working, cooperation, morale and team-spirit
Develop the collective maturity and capability of the group - progressively increase group freedom and authority
Encourage the team towards objectives and aims - motivate the group and provide a collective sense of purpose
Identify, develop and agree team- and project-leadership roles within group
Enable, facilitate and ensure effective internal and external group communications
Identify and meet group training needs
Give feedback to the group on overall progress; seek feedback and input from the group
The Individual :
Understand the Individuals personality, skills, strengths, needs, aims and fears
Assist and support individuals - plans, problems, challenges, highs and lows
Identify and agree appropriate individual responsibilities and objectives
Give recognition and praise to individuals - acknowledge effort and good work
Where appropriate reward individuals with extra responsibility, advancement and status
Identify, develop and utilize each individual's capabilities and strengths
Train and develop individual team members
Develop individual freedom and authority
At whatever level of leadership, The Task, The Team and The Individual needs must be constantly thought about. The goal should be to collectively achieve the Defined Task, Maintain Teamwork and Develop the Individual.