We want people to believe in us and be able to potentially lead them in a work environment. This is especially true if you run a company, a division, or a department. Many times we wonder why employees just don’t “engage” the way in which we would like or want. Is it because they are uncomfortable? Lazy? Don’t know really how to approach a problem or project?
A simple answer could be this: People need to know that you truly care about them. If you care, then you develop trust. When you develop trust, they will be much more willing to listen and/or do almost anything you want them to do. Bosses/direct reports often have a much larger skill set, experience, and greater business acumen than their employees. While this knowledge is a great asset to have, it doesn’t do anyone good if it is not shared. And it can only be shared if the employee work force knows that the boss truly supports them, cares for them, and has their best interests at heart.
So next time you are in a position to “lead” people or a project, put your teammate(s) first. Spend some time with them, get to know them. You might just be amazed how simply spending genuine time with someone can payoff down the road, both in a professional and personal sense!
That’s the bottomline…
“Change…Part Nature…Part Opportunity”
