It’s been said people in business don’t leave companies; they leave their managers. While that may be true, I think it misses the mark. The most important skill any leader can have is inspiring their employees to grow and improve!
Here are five tips for how to do that:
- Identify your team’s strengths and weaknesses
- Show appreciation
- Provide leadership development and training
- Empowering employees to make decisions
- Cultivate a positive work environment
Identify your team’s strengths and weaknesses
The first step in improving your team is identifying its strengths and weaknesses. A skills assessment is a great way to do this, as it gives you an objective look at how well your employees perform based on specific criteria.
The results of these assessments can help you focus on training efforts that will have the most significant impact on each team member and give you insight into what areas need improvement to help them reach their full potential.
Show appreciation
Recognising good work is one of the most effective ways to improve productivity because it boosts confidence and morale. Recognise achievements that are difficult or take much effort, even if they fail. It’s easy to acknowledge and reward successes, but what about those who worked hard on a project that didn’t pan out?
Acknowledge everyone for their contributions, no matter how small they may seem to you personally. Everyone feels part of something when they are recognised for their contributions toward a common goal or task—even if it’s just making coffee!
Provide leadership development and training
Leaders are made, not born. It is essential to recognise that everyone can be a leader, even if it means helping someone else complete their tasks. You want everyone in your team to take the initiative and problem-solve, so give them the tools to do it.
If you want to improve your business by improving the people in it, you must provide leadership training and development for all your employees throughout all levels of the organisation.
Empower employees to make decisions
Now that you understand the importance of empowering employees, it’s time to implement this knowledge. Remember: if you want your employees to be empowered, you must empower them.
Don’t micromanage. Micromanaging will not only make your employees feel stifled and insignificant but also make them resentful about the work they do and the company they work for. It’s essential that they feel like they have a voice and that management actively listens to their opinions.
Feel free to delegate tasks or responsibilities based on each person’s strengths and weaknesses. It will ensure the job is done correctly while also allowing everyone on your team some flexibility in their chosen areas of focus while at work.
Cultivate a positive work environment
It’s no secret that a positive work environment is key to employee satisfaction, loyalty, productivity, and retention. A positive environment also leads to happy customers loyal to your business.
The happiest employees are twice as likely than those who are not happy to recommend their company’s products or services to others (American Express).
The most important skill a leader can have is the ability to inspire the people around them to grow and improve
Leadership is a skill that can learn like any other skill. It also takes time to develop leadership skills. You wouldn’t expect a novice pianist to play Carnegie Hall in one sitting, nor would your team immediately act on their best behaviour after only one talk from the CEO.
While it may seem evident that leaders should set an example for those who follow them by being open to feedback, taking responsibility for their actions, and taking time each day to reflect on how they can improve as leaders, many people don’t realise these things take time and effort.
A leader’s most important skill is the ability to inspire the people around them—especially when things get tough—to grow and improve.
Start making small changes to see big results from your team
Improving the people in your business is one of the most important things you can do to improve your company. It doesn’t matter how much money you have or how many employees you have. If they don’t feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves, you’re not getting their A-game every day.
By showing appreciation and providing opportunities for growth, development, empowerment and positive work environments, businesses will thrive because their people are happy!
