Do you wish there was a way to supercharge your staff and help them achieve their full potential? Do you wonder if you are doing your best to support their efforts and put their best foot forward? Over the last 25 years, I have helped thousands of business owners just like you become great leaders.
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Hiring capable team members that are able to take ownership of tasks is half the battle. Spend your energy recruiting the right people and being clear about expectations, standards, boundaries and accountability. Then focus on onboarding them in a way that gets them off on the right foot. This formula will take some time up front, but will reward you tenfold down the line.
Sure you might have to coach and support them in setting the right goals and creating the best plan, but let them take the lead and shine. Leaders need to practice ‘self-leadership’ and that requires you give them the space to do this. (If you practiced #1, this step is easier to do)
Think about this as a “dimmer” that you turn up bit by bit over time (versus an “on/off” switch.) As your team shows you what they can do, let them earn progressively more autonomy and control of their work, their day, and their role in the company.
Demanding respect from team won’t get you very far. Instead invert the pyramid and serve your team. How can you help them? Support them? Empower them? Not sure? Ask them! And then when you commit to something, stick to you. If you make a mistake, own it, learn from it and then clean up the mess. The goal is to earn their respect, not their approval.
Here is the phrase to say to yourself, “Principles before personalities.” This means you let principles guide the tough conversations, and you deal with the tough stuff right away instead of letting it fester.
You put a lot of time and effort into finding your staff, so it is imperative that you treat each staff member like an individual (not a number or a means to an end). Get to know their needs, strengths, styles and oversight needs. By doing so, you can help coach them to reach their full potential.
There is an old expression that has made an impact on me with respect to how I manage people–“With people, fast is slow and slow is fast.” Take your time with your team. Connect with them. Serve them. Listen to them. Over time the relationship and your results will blossom.