Are you finding that you’re not seeing the results you want from your team?

Maybe it’s not them, maybe it’s you. Your leadership style could be damaging morale, leading to poor work, increased absences and bad results from your team overall.

 

Here are five ways you could be messing up.

1. Not winning your employees’ respect

You may think your employees respect you simply because you’re the big boss, but do they really? Or are you just the individual with the big corner office with the nice views, that signs the paycheques, that some of them even resent, simply because you have two things they want — money and power? Employee respect isn’t a given, just because you’re the boss. It has to be earned.

Create a good relationship with your employees, gain their trust and win their admiration and respect. It’s not an easy task, but it can be very worthwhile and rewarding. Start with empathy, read here.

2. Little to no communication

Do you fail to communicate effectively with your employees on a regular basis? Don’t just come to the Christmas party or walk through the office once a month, with a few nods and a pat on the back to the several employees whose names you know.

Start communicating. Recognise someone who does a stellar job (even if you have to find out about that stellar job from someone in HR or L&D) with a personal email. Pop in to an office lunch and sit with your employees. Find out about their lives outside the office.

3. You’re not listening

When you do have employees who go out of their way to communicate with you, actually listen to them. It shouldn’t be just you talking at them all the time. Implement an open-door policy in your office and welcome employees when they share concerns and input. They may have better ideas than what you might think.

Check out this success story on how this leader applied empathy and how much a difference makes when your team feels they are heard.

4. You’re not giving your team a goal

Do your employees understand and, more importantly, support the company’s goals? You may have employees who are ready and willing to participate, but if they have no idea where they’re going or why, it’s going to be difficult to maintain engagement. Stop just giving them a laundry list of tasks to complete and actually discuss the why behind what you do. Read here one of our success stories on how to listen and understand your team and their struggle.

5. There’s no pay-off

You can’t expect your employees to give it their all, their full dedication, without providing something in return. Provide valuable benefits to employees, whether it be added-value perks in the office or outside, pay increases where suitable or better health and retirement benefits. Showing your employees that you value them and appreciate their efforts can increase the likelihood that they will then show more dedication toward the company, upper level management and the organisation’s goals.

 

Do any of the above hit home for you?

If so, you may need to work on your leadership skills, in order to get the most out of your team. For more insights, check out the 6 Steps to Become an Engaging Executive, a totally free video series that shows you how to become a professional who commands respect and authority, while receiving the admiration of your colleagues.