Basic human nature includes a desire to be seen, heard, valued, respected, and appreciated.
As leaders, we have a powerful opportunity to do just that!
Leaders aren’t perfect…but the ones who make it a priority to make the person in front of them feel important—these are the people who have the most INFLUENCE on their team and, ultimately, on the OUTCOMES and RESULTS in the business.
So, how do you do this?
(1) Look and listen—when someone is talking to you, make eye contact and smile, be receptive, communicate both verbally and nonverbally to affirm that you are interested and listening.
(2) Care about what they care about—remember details about their lives and check in. Ask them about their family member who was sick, if their son’s team won their baseball game last week, or if they are looking forward to upcoming holiday, etc. Show genuine interest in them as a person, not just an employee (as long as it’s appropriate from an HR standpoint, of course).
(3) Positive gossip and recognition—give honor where honor is due. If you have an opportunity to share positive things about people, even when they’re not around to hear it, do it. Not just because it’s the right thing to do, but also because it will let people know they can trust you as someone who helps people respect each other. And when you have an opportunity to recognize others either privately or publicly, do it!
You CAN create a company culture that thrives, consistently produces results AND that is able to quickly adjust and navigate the complexities in the marketplace. But it will require you as a leader to focus on developing your PEOPLE SKILLS.
I would even suggest that people related skills, often referred to as the “soft skills”, are often the hardest to master and have become the #1 priority for leaders today.
We don’t build relationships, higher levels of trust and influence BY ACCIDENT.
It requires intention and attention. It requires genuine care. You can’t pretend to like the people you work with. They’ll see through that immediately.
What are some of the ways you are focusing on your people skills as a leader?
How do you intentionally and actively invest in the relationships with your team? Your peers?