If you’ve ever wondered how strong your leadership is – look to your team.
They are a reflection of how effective we are as leaders, and can also show us where we need to step it up!
Here are 7 things to look for in your team to see where/how strong your leadership is:
They hold themselves accountable and get stuff done with minimal ‘chasing’.
They are clear on their role and ‘stay in their lane’.
They care about your clients, about the business and about each other.
They are always looking for ways to improve how things are being done and freely share their ideas.
They are willing to go the extra mile without being asked.
They stay for a long time (years) and only leave when their career path takes them in another direction.
They tell you how much they enjoy working with you. 🙂
I’m curious how true this is for your team? How many were you able to say yes to?
Anything that is a no (or a maybe) is simply shining a light on a potential area to work on. An aspect of leadership that is calling us to take it to the next level.
If we want to have the best team we need to be willing to become the best leader we can be. <– And that is an ongoing growth edge for all of us!
In my role I constantly receive feedback from folks on all sorts of things, but perhaps one of the most disheartening things I hear is when I’m approached by a support professional who says they feel unappreciated in their role.
I know that in the throes of a growing business and the two-stepping, double-time pace that that growth can require, the simple “thank you” can get lost in the shuffle. But those two words hold great power, and when that power is untapped and unused, the wealth behind them lays in waste.
I like to use the example of a new dating relationship to illustrate my point a little. In that beginning “courtship” phase, we’re so quick to lavish our partner with compliments and praise on everything they do, but then over time we settle into routines and those once praise-worthy traits become the expected norm and we take each other for granted.
The same is true in our business relationships. When we first bring on a new team member and they’re just rocking out everything they touch, we’re quick to throw out lines like “I couldn’t do this without your help” or “your contribution is vital to our success,” etc., but then, just like in dating, over time we take our team members and their hard work for granted.
People want to know that they’re doing good work for you. They need to hear those words of gratitude and appreciation. For some people, a word of thanks can mean more than any dollar amount they receive in their paychecks. I find this especially to be true with support professionals. The need to be told that the work they do is of value.
So stop right now in the midst of reading this blog and take a mental inventory of the last time you said thank you to your team… If you can’t remember when that was, IT’S BEEN TOO LONG!
Pick up the phone, send an email, but get those “thank yous” out to your team, stat! Set yourself a reminder if need be. If you’re pleased with what they’re doing, make sure they know, and if money and circumstances permit, throw in something extra for them! It doesn’t have to be grandiose, maybe a gift certificate to a spa day or maybe a restaurant certificate for them and their spouse, but tokens of appreciation are invaluable.
Of all the things that could get lost in the hustle and bustle of this business world we live in, don’t let your gratitude for the team that serves and supports you be one of them!
(Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net.)
In my role I constantly receive feedback from folks on all sorts of things, but perhaps one of the most disheartening things I hear is when I’m approached by a support professional who says they feel unappreciated in their role.
