A leader is judged according to the number of people he or she has influenced. Your success is decided by the lives you’ve improved. If you want to be a good business leader, here are a few ways you can help your employees thrive.
Mentor
Employees want to work for someone that helps them to be better. Being in a position of power means people will look up to you. They hope you can inspire them to reach greater heights.
Although your employees admire you, they don’t want to be micromanaged. Give them the freedom to think for themselves and develop innovative solutions. Furthermore, since nobody is micromanaging you, why should you do that to others?
Employees want somebody that can walk the talk. Show them what it takes to be successful. For example, if you’re negotiating with a client, ask the employee to accompany you so that they can see how it’s done. Then, allow them to speak in subsequent negotiations using tips they learned from you. After a while, when you believe they can handle themselves, you can send them to negotiate on your behalf.
That’s how you help an employee thrive – by mentoring and giving your employees room to practice what you taught them.
Deal with the Failure
Most leaders avoid talking about failure because they’re uncomfortable with the topic. But that’s not the best way to lead. Your employees won’t see you as a strong leader if you do that. Such actions lower worker morale and prevent them from thriving.
Therefore, when things get difficult, speak up, and reassure your employees that it will get better. Take full responsibility for your team’s failure to achieve its goals. Be bold and speak about areas people need to work on, including yourself.
This action will motivate your employees and remind them why you’re fit to be their leader. It will also prove to them you’re ready to do what is right to see them and the organization prosper.
Recognize the Good in People
Unfortunately, human beings are more interested in the bad than the good. You’ll be persecuted for one wrong deed for the rest of your life, even if you do a thousand good deeds. Sadly, most managers take this habit to the office. These leaders are constantly berating employees and telling them about their mistakes. An employee will never thrive in an environment where the boss always sees the bad in them.
Therefore, if you want your employees to prosper, acknowledge their good deeds. Thank them for completing a task and performing better than you had expected. Show them you see their hard work and value their efforts. When you do that, your workers will be motivated to succeed at work and in life.
Listen and Act
Employees face challenges at work and home. Although workers shouldn’t be discussing their personal lives with you, sometimes it’s inevitable. An employee could be distressed because of what is happening at home. You’ll notice certain changes in behaviors. Approach this worker as a friend to comprehend the situation. Your job is to listen, not talk. Since most people can’t wait to get their chance to speak, your employee will appreciate you listening. People want to be heard sometimes.
If the issue is related to the work environment, act on it. For example, maybe an employee thinks the office is too noisy. In that case, you can buy them an office headset. When you act on employee grievances, it shows you care and they’ll repay you by working hard. As a result, you’ll all prosper.
Eliminate Negativity
When someone differs with you on a point, either they have a valid reason or are just trying to limit progress. Don’t allow an individual to talk badly about your plans in front of the other employees. Avoid shaming that person by calling them out. After the meeting, tell them to see you. Then, ask them why they made the negative comment? If the reason is valid, act on it. Moreover, tell them to avoid such behaviors in the future. If they have an issue, they should come to you instead of trying to influence others.
If there’s no good reason for the bad behavior, send the employee away with a warning.
When you act, you earn the respect and admiration of your employees. It helps to boost morale.
To conclude, your actions will determine the success rate of your employees. If you show them you have things under control, it will boost their morale and increase their chances of success.
