How to LOVE your people as a leader!
Love may seem like a strange word to use about your employees but hear me out. I believe that love is a verb! In fact, I have Love Does tattooed on my right foot to remind me that loving is actionable, not just something we say!
With that in mind, I wanted to invite you to explore “loving” your people in the following way:
L – Listen and Learn
Taking time to do one-on-ones with our team members and asking them thought-provoking questions and then listening to what they have to say is so valuable. Take time each week for quick check-in’s or longer strategic coaching sessions once a month to really understand your people’s needs. This means listening for what they are excited about professionally and personally. What motivates each team member? What keeps them up at night? What is the “Why” that sustains them when times get tough? A great coach once reminded me that “we learn so much in the silence.” When we do ask questions, it’s only valuable when we stop to really listen to what’s being said. Perhaps they have a ground-breaking insight that could transform your business. Maybe they’re too shy to share their idea publicly but would share their dreams and aspirations with someone like you. One on ones are sacred times to learn more about your people, put them in the spotlight and make them feel heard.
O – Ownership
Hold your people accountable! Most leaders I coach are too lackadaisical with their approach to accountability. Some avoid pushing their people because they believe that they will stress them out. I believe that people thrive in environments where they are pushed just outside of their comfort zones to try something new and challenging that makes them level up and build self-confidence! When you assign tasks or KPIs (key performance indicators) or special projects, demand excellence from your team in terms of quality and sticking to deadlines. People know you care when you’re willing to hold their feet to the fire!
V – Value
Your employees desperately want and need to feel valued and appreciated. Too often as leaders we get caught up in the busyness of our days that we rarely stop to acknowledge and appreciate a job well done. This can be as simple as a quick phone call or voice text if you’re working remotely. It could be as simple as popping a personally handwritten note in the mail or it could be as special as sending out gifts of appreciation. For fabulous gift ideas that can be sent directly to your employee’s home on your behalf, check out: https://virtualeventswagbags.com/
E – Engage
Involve your team in the higher-level strategic initiatives that move the needle in your organization. We all want a sense of purpose and when you give your employees an opportunity to either spearhead a major project or partner with the leadership team to accomplish a strategic initiative, they feel like they’re contributing on a level that really matters because they are! As a leader you have limited resources; you cannot take on all major projects so lean on your team to get involved with their ideas and contributions. Also, share your vision in great detail. Most leaders miss out on the opportunity to get full buy in from their people because they hold back. I know I used to do this. I held my goals, dreams and aspirations close to my chest. When I starting openly sharing the vision, strategic plan and emergency contingency strategic plans with my team, they became fully engaged. When your team knows what your expectations are, where the company is going and the specific role that they play to make sure the organization wins, magic happens!
Think of your best boss and why they had such an impact on your life. Chances are, they did one or all of the above. As leaders, LOVE your people by engaging, valuing, making them stretch to become the amazing professional they are intended to be and listen and learn from these exceptional humans in your care!
What ways do you love on your people?
