Some “food for thought” as we move forward toward the end of the year. Be a true leader, not just a boss.
Lead (lēd)
To show the way to, or direct the course of, by going before or along with; conduct; guide
To guide or direct as by persuasion or influence, to a course of action or thought
Webster’s New World Dictionary
According to thebalancemb.com leadership means:
A simple definition is that leadership is the art of motivating a group of people to act towards achieving a common goal. ... He or she is the person in the group that possesses the combination of personality and leadership skills that makes others want to follow his or her direction.
So, how do we “make others want to follow”? Inspiration comes to mind. As leaders, it is our job to inspire our teams to do well, because they want to! We need to get to know our employees and ignite their passions- related to the work they do.
Let’s face it, when you are passionate about what you do, you are happy, energized and motivated. Not only does that make your work more meaningful, but you put more care into what you do. According to many studies, happy employees are more productive, leading to more company profits. Not only that – happy employees stay! No retention problems.
When onboarding new employees, I like to ask some fun questions about their likes and dislikes, so I can reward in a way that pleases them, but also so I can get some insight into who they are as a person, not just a worker. When you remember what an employee likes and gift them with that item – WOW! You just earned major brownie points.
Also, to be a great leader you must show respect to your employees. Listen when they talk to you and empathize. Take a minute to truly give your time to them and their concerns. Your respect for them will solidify that the respect will be reciprocated. Mutual respect will also create loyalty.
Here's to your success!