For instance, as you pass someone on your team working on a project, you can ask them simple things like, “Hi! Can I ask about what you’re working on?” and after they explain the task or project, you can ask more personal questions like, “Do you enjoy doing these projects?” and “Do you have any ideas about how this could be done better?” If your team feels like you genuinely care about them, they’ll be more likely to like and respect you as a leader.
For example, if you’re thinking of starting a new project that would require additional work from your team, you could say something like, “I really think this project could improve our efficiency in general and could end up increasing our profitability. But I recognize that it would also mean more work. ” You could then invite your team to give their thoughts and ideas.
For instance, if a team member comes to you and starts to explain a mistake that they made, be patient and avoid cutting them off. Let them explain what happened before you figure out what to do next. It doesn’t always have to be work-related, either. If you have someone on your team who just had a baby, for instance, let them tell you about it! You want your team to feel like they can trust you.
Don’t see the folks on your team as resources or tools for your own success. If you treat them with kindness and respect, they’ll respect you back.
For example, if someone’s computer keeps crashing and they’re losing all of their work, let them know that you understand how frustrating it can be and that you’ll work to have the problem fixed.
Taking credit for work that someone on your team did could really backfire and cause your team to lose respect for you.
For instance, never talk about someone on your team behind their back. It isn’t nice and it could cause others to lose respect for you.
For instance, if you run a team of sales representatives, you could set a goal of $10,000 USD in sales by the end of the month. That way, everyone knows what they’re working toward and will feel motivated to help the team achieve that goal. Your expectations can also include things like showing up to work on time, wearing appropriate work attire, and taking lunch breaks at set times.
For instance, if you run a marketing team, you could assign graphics to one person, calls to clients to another person, and copywriting to another. You could then ask them to check in with you when they finish an assignment so you can review everything. Delegating tasks also gives your team a little independence to get the job done without feeling like you’re micromanaging them.
For instance, if your company just landed a new big account that involves lots of data entry and phone calls to new clients, you could divvy out the data entry work to folks who enjoy or are better at using computers and the phone calls to people on your team who like talking to other people.
For instance, if someone on your team wants to take a course to learn how to use a program like Adobe Photoshop or Microsoft Excel, and you think it could be a useful thing, allow them to do it. If someone wants to start a fun project like a secret Santa or gift exchange, let them go for it!
For instance, if your company loses a big account because a client has decided to stop using your services, you could think about positive things such as the fact that now your team can focus more on your other clients, you can work to find a new (maybe even better) client, and you now have a chance to figure out what made them stop using your services so you can be better in the future.
For example, if you have a member of your staff who’s sick and can’t make it in for your shift, think about how you can solve the problem instead of getting stressed out. You may be able to find someone to come in for them or divide their work evenly among everyone else so no one is overloaded, for instance.
For example, if two staff members are arguing about something, it’s best to be understanding about both of their points and make a responsible compromise about their argument. They will both end out happier and you will be assertive and solve the problem.
