3 essential ways to be a positive leader
As best-selling author and speaker Jon Gordon said in a recent blog about the value of developing positive relationships with the people you lead: any hard-charging leader can create success in the short term, but it would take a positive leader with a people and process-driven approach to build a successful organisation for the long term.
As John Maxwell said, “If you are all alone at the top, you are not a leader. You are a hiker.”
No one creates success alone. To win in business, you must win with people. Running over people will only get you so far. To create true and lasting success you must nurture and invest in your people. Here are 3 essential ways to do this.
- Connect with them
- Care about them and what’s important to them, their family, their sport, their hobby – actively listen and beef up on these things
- Get them to talk about their background, their parents and family, who influenced them most and why, their dreams and ambitions
- Share some of you with them - Listen to their take on things
- Why did they join the business and what do they like about it
- What’s their vision and goals
- What’s not quite right in the business just now - Share expectations
- How do they think they are doing on a scale of 1-10 and what would it take to get them to the next level
- Discuss with them what you would like to hear, see and feel more of from them in the next twelve months.
- What can you do to help them to enjoy more success
It’s a simple truth: When you care about your employees and the people you work with, they are more likely to stay on the bus and work harder, with more loyalty and greater positive energy. In turn, they are more likely to share their positive energy with your customers, thus enhancing service and the bottom line. The greatest customer-service strategy has nothing to do with customer service, but it has everything to do with how you treat your employees. If you model great service, they will provide great service.
Remember, leadership is not just about what you do, but what you can inspire, encourage and empower others to do. Instead of running over the people in your team/organisation, invite them on the bus with you and engage them to help you create an amazing and successful ride.
