Okay, forget for a moment that this title sounds a bit like a would-be Bryan Adam’s eighties power ballad. Instead, think for a moment about some of your best mentors and leaders. Maybe it was your mom or dad, a coach, a teacher or even a supervisor, but it was likely that if they stand out in your mind, it was because you shared a genuine personal connection.
The best leaders help motivate us to do our best because we sense they really care, and that feeling of being invested can be contagious. Great leaders lead from the heart with a mix of challenge and support. When people are recognized as individuals and have the feeling of being seen and valued, it can create a tremendous sense of loyalty.
As leaders of large teams, we can’t form a deep connection with every one, and yet we can find ways to connect with the individuals we work with each day. In business we talk a great deal about how elements such as loyalty, employee engagement and job satisfaction help lead to better business outcomes. So putting time into building connections is time well spent.
What can you do to help connect with so many people? Learn people’s names. I had a boss early in my career who always addressed each person by name. Given the size of the company, that was no easy feat. It has always stood out how this guy knew everyone’s name from the custodian to the front office team to the myriad of salespeople that came and went. Take employee photos if you can and spend some time learning about your people.
Another great way to connect is ask people about themselves. Being interested is one of the best ways to be interesting. It’s like dating 101, just ask questions. How are you? How are things going at work? Most people talk primarily about themselves and forget to check in with others. So when someone really asks about you and then listens, it is a surprisingly powerful thing.
Encourage you’re A-team to keep you in the loop about other employees. Is someone having a baby? Did an employee recently lose their dad? Did someone’s kid get into college? These are all great opportunities to acknowledge a life event with a note, a pat on the back or more.
Like any relationship, leading a team takes effort and like in the rest of life, sometimes it can be tough to tune in when there is so much on your plate. And yet, the work of leading from the heart can help sustain both you and your team in fundamentally good ways.
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