The Team Management Systems view on leadership is that it is primarily about relationships. Excellent leaders monitor and develop relationships with their team members and ensure that this emphasis cascades throughout the organisation.
What is Linking?
The concept of Linking was developed from the empirical studies carried out by Drs. Margerison and McCann. Their research into teams and leaders identified 13 Linking Skills essential to effectively integrate the work of individuals and teams.
The Linking Leader Model describes three levels of Linking: People Linking, Task Linking and Leadership Linking. Each level is necessary for successful leadership and teamwork and together they ensure sustainable high performance in organisations.
The overwhelming response from those managers, is the Linking Leader Profile provides a wealth of practical and detailed feedback against which they can compare their self-perceptions.
Paul Jones, Paul Jones & Associates
The Linking Leader Profile (LLP|360)
People Linking Skills
For a team to be high-performing, there are six People Linking Skills that shape the team’s working environment, fostering a sense of alignment and trust among its members. These are Active Listening, Communication, Team Relationships, Problem Solving & Counselling, Participative Decision Making and Interface Management.
Task Linking Skills
The five Task Linking Skills are essential to the key tasks of the leader and the more senior team members. Relating to collective team tasks, these are Objectives Setting, Quality Standards, Work Allocation, Team Development and Delegation.
Leadership Linking Skills
Motivation and Strategy are the two Leadership Linking Skills, which relate specifically to transformational leadership skills. Unless the leader has these skills and makes them part of their daily behaviour the team is unlikely to reach its full potential.
Connection to Leadership Theory
Well-recognised theories have been developed based on the identification of specific leadership behaviours. Transformational Leadership and Situational Leadership are two of these theories. This context for the Linking Leader Model can be helpful when integrating the LLP|360 into a broader leadership development program that incorporates competencies from other models.
Transformational leadership is a leadership approach that instigates change in individuals and social systems. It creates valuable and positive change in teams through a variety of mechanisms, resulting in increased levels of engagement and performance. Nine Linking Skills measured in the LLP|360 strongly correlate to the key transformational leadership skills.
Situational Leadership focuses on a concern for the individual and a concern for the task. It meets people at different levels of ability or development, by tailoring the approach with a combination of supportive and directive behaviours. These behaviours are well catered for in the LLP|360 Questionnaire.
GET STARTED WITH LLP|360
To access the LLP|360 you can enlist the services of one of our associates who are accredited in the tool, or you can become accredited to deliver a LLP|360 debrief yourself.
- Through an Accredited Practitioner gain access to TMS Global, our product delivery platform
- Answer the LLP|360 Questionnaire
- Attend a debrief with your Accredited Practitioner
Learn more about Accreditation
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Our other profiles
Team Management Profile (TMP)
Building Capable Teams: COLLABORATE
The Team Management Profile (TMP) is a science-based feedback tool designed for personal, team, and leadership development. It integrates work-focused feedback to help individuals understand their work styles and improve collaboration. Underpinned by models that combine work and people contexts, TMP offers a holistic view of work preferences, enhancing performance at individual, team, and organisational levels. By promoting understanding and leveraging personal insights, TMP fosters effective teamwork and high-performance environments.
Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient (QO2) Profile
Building Capable Teams: CALIBRATE
The Opportunities-Obstacles Quotient (QO2) Profile is a unique tool designed to determine how individuals balance their efforts between seeing opportunities and obstacles, which influences their approach to risk. By enhancing team dynamics, it helps individuals understand their predispositions, manage responses to change, explore risk orientations, and build resilience. This comprehensive assessment aids leaders in improving decision-making, problem-solving, and goal clarification, ultimately enhancing their competitive advantage.
Window on Work Values (WoWV) Profile
Building Capable Teams: ALIGN
The Window on Work Values (WoWV) Profile is a comprehensive tool designed to enhance individual and team performance by aligning personal work values with organisational objectives. Measuring eight core value types—Individualism, Collectivism, Authority, Equality, Compliance, Empowerment, Independence, and Conformity—it provides detailed insights into individual motivations and behaviours. This understanding aids in identifying value alignment, addressing misalignment, and fostering team development through a customised Team Values Statement and Team Charter.