Being a leader can be easy when things are going well. But when times are tough – say the recent economic downturn – this is when leaders are tested. Just as a farmer tends to their crops, a leader nurtures and develops their team. In tough times your team truly becomes your greatest asset, and so employee satisfaction and engagement should be considered as important as business finances.
So, when making decisions – tough or otherwise – always make them with your employees in the front of your mind. Ask yourself how this will impact them. What can you or the business do to navigate the change or minimise any negative implications. Happiness and engagement will show up during difficult periods, your teams will have fostered a mentality to want to work hard and try their best for leaders that they know have provided a great place to work.
Be authentic.
This brings me to my next point – authenticity and integrity. When decisions are made, ensure to deliver them in a genuine and timely manner. Your team will be able to see through leaders who are not true to themselves or support shared values.
You have most likely been on the other side earlier in your career – say if you’ve received ingenuine feedback from a manager or a business update from a leader. If you felt it was inauthentic then a feeling of distrust may appear and continues to only grow. The same is true day to day when interacting with your own employees.
Your team will recognise your authenticity and will appreciate and respect it even more. Trust is the foundation of any strong team and professional relationship, it can’t be underestimated.
Build a culture for your team…
When assembling a team, or nurturing existing talent, do consider what you want the culture to be, and how you can foster that.
If for example, you are looking to build a growth mindset within your team, ensure that you give those within it the forums to share ideas, problem solve or update on new opportunities. Actively encourage them to do so and offer guidance to help any new possible avenues become reality. The team will begin to trust their own judgements and ideas if they see positive responses from what they share.
…and bring in those who match your culture.
When looking for new people to join your team, it isn’t just about what’s on their CV. Look for those that match the mindset you are trying to foster but will also offer something different and bring something new to the team. When a leader hires the right person, they bring the necessary skills & expertise to the team, they will feel the new hire offers great value and further reinforce their trust in leadership in bringing the best people into their business.
Let them be their best selves.
Finally, to truly get the best out of your team and ensure they trust not just you as a leader, but also one another, let them be themselves at work. Build a workplace that thrives on honesty and encourages all members to speak their minds in a professional manner, a place where one can challenge directly whilst showing that they care personally at the same time. Fostering a leadership culture of wanting to help multiply your teams’ brilliance will encourage each person to be the best they can possibly be, it’s a leader’s responsibility to help their team members look back every year and be proud of how far they have come, how they’ve grown, what they have learnt and what they have been able to accomplish.
If a team consists of members who are true to themselves, who work on their professional development, continue to stretch themselves and grow, you will see such positive results. After all, you always reap what you sow.
