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The quality of your relationship with yourself and those you
lead profoundly impacts your level of success and happiness.
1.
Communicate a higher purpose.
We
have all heard of the studies which show that people
accomplish more when they fully understand the significance of
their individual contribution. It isn't enough to merely post
a company mission statement.
Your values have to be lived. Staff members will follow your
lead and produce extraordinary results when they can identity
with powerful goals which provide meaning beyond mere
enrichment of corporate officers or shareholders. Give them a
compelling vision and model it.
2.
Believe in yourself and your staff.
Belief in one's self is paramount for a leader. Know who you
are and what you represent. People cannot respect someone who
won't take a stand and blows with the wind. Develop a
reputation for high standards and ethics.
Then, you will emanate confidence and strength and naturally
attract the loyalty of others. And, see the greatness in those
around you. People tend to rise up to your expectations if
they feel you truly believe in them.
3.
Treat others as equals.
Do
you treat file clerks with the same warmth and respect as the
board members? A new senior level manager I've known treated
her boss with great respect while barking orders to her staff
and conducted employee meetings with a superior air.
When major projects required people to stay late into the
evening and work weekends, she had to insist they be there.
Morale plummeted to an all-time low until I was called in for
damage control. Treating people with respect no matter where
they fall in the hierarchy will empower them to do their best
work.
4.
Open to the ideas of others.
A
common pitfall is subscribing to the "Lone Ranger Syndrome"; a
belief that one should know it all, tightly control projects
and take all the credit.
This approach is very limiting, does not support new
opportunities, and does not promote respect from your staff.
When was the last time you implemented someone else's idea?
Did you give credit to where it was due or do you believe all
good ideas come from you?
5.
Have nothing to hide.
Bag the hidden agendas and be transparent. By withholding
information, trust deteriorates. While the intention may be to
protect your people, it comes off being patronizing and causes
resentment.
Share as many facts with your people as you can and see them
being able to handle it. They probably sense the truth
already. Make yourself more human by sharing something about
yourself. Be real.
6.
Enroll your team.
Leaders often get so caught up in communicating what needs to
be accomplished that they overlook asking for the commitment
of their staff. Don't proceed with your working relationships
until you have the courage to ask each team member where they
stand and then be silent while waiting for the response.
A
key negotiating and interviewing skill is to be able to ask
hard questions without being uncomfortable with the initial
silence that follows. The inexperienced will rush in to fill
the space, mostly to their disadvantage. Without enrollment
your results suffer.
7.
Make your staff right.
In
most businesses today, you can hear the phrase: the customer
is always right. This premise often undermines your people,
especially when they were following the guidelines management
set for them.
How do you think it makes people feel when their decisions are
reversed simply because the customer complained to the
manager? Southwest Airlines' CEO, Herb Kelleher, believes his
employees come first. As a result, his company has had the
lowest customer complaint statistics in the industry.
8.
Give authority.
There are voluminous cases of where projects are delegated to
staff without appropriate authority to make decisions. With
the rate of change we are experiencing now, standing still
really means falling behind. It is no longer affordable for
leaders to be personally involved in all decision-making.
Granted the sharing of authority requires a great deal of
trust. To increase your comfort level, gradually start
coaching your people and equip them with their own "tool kit";
this will ultimately leverage your power and success.
9.
Look for good intentions.
What would change in your dealings with people if you presumed
good intentions? My experience in opening communication with
this premise allows for creative resolutions even amidst
employee disputes.
A key to advanced relating with others is to be able to see
the best in them. Be willing to give the benefit of the doubt.
Don't assume you know the Inspiration
s of others.
10. Acknowledge others often.
No
one likes feeling invisible. Most everyone wants being valued
and appreciated when it is sincere. Start focusing on what
people are doing right and praise them for it. Too many times
the only feedback that is provided is negative. Acknowledge
your team members in private and public often. See them grow
in ability and dedication.
About the Submitter: This piece was originally submitted by
Barbara McRae, International Coach Federation member, Business
Life Coach
Fiery Tiger - Tony Dovale
For more information or reprint rights please
contact Tony Dovale
of Lifemasters International
www.lifemasters.co.za Cell 083-447-6300
email: reprints@coachfree.com |
“Team-spirit is up, Sales are up, Client relationships
are clear, Profits are up!” Bruce Williams- MD Hardware
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