Want to know one simple but effective secret to gaining the respect of your employees, reducing the chances they’ll look for another job, thus reducing turnover and improving productivity?
Connect with your employees to let them know they are valued.
Leaders at all levels may avoid making a personal connection with their employees. If you disregard the importance of connecting with your employees, you lose the benefit of a dedicated, long-term team, and may even lose the employees over time.
Employees who feel valued and appreciated by their leaders are more likely to hold themselves accountable for their performance and contribution. Most importantly, they will be happier in their roles.
Here are five ways in which leaders can demonstrate how much they value team members.
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Make Time for Them
It’s hard for employees to feel appreciated when their leader is too busy for a simple chat. Often supervisors and managers tell employees they have an open-door policy and yet they are not available, accessible or even approachable.
If you are willing to put the needs of others ahead of your own and make time for your team members, employees will feel valued and respected.
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Check Your Ego
As a leader, employees sometimes place you on a pedestal simply because of title or position. This doesn’t mean you should put yourself on a pedestal because you think you deserve it or earned it.
Put yourself on the level of your employees by showing your own vulnerability and imperfections. People will start to see you as a human being and have greater respect for you.
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Develop Relationships
Many employees state they know very little about their leader. It’s hard to build good working relationships when you don't take the time to connect with your employees personally.
Transparency and curiosity can prove you care about the person and the events and interests in their lives. Good relationships are built one conversation at a time.
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Show Gratitude
It’s hard for leaders to show gratitude if they only acknowledge when employees do something wrong. Build a habit of looking for and catching people doing good things.
- Find ways to say “Thank you” and “I appreciate your contribution today”.
- Walk around.
- Be visible.
- Say, “Good Morning” and “Have a good evening.”
Not only is this polite, but it also acknowledges the employee.
Remember: For employees to feel valuable, they need to be told they are valued.
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Be An Advocate For Your Team
Team members need to know you have their back. It’s important that you support your team by going to bat for them as much as you can.
- Provide praise for your team in front of others.
- Support their decisions.
- Make sure they have what they need to be successful.
- Remove barriers for them as needed.
If you throw your team under the bus in front of others, it reflects poorly on you as their leader and you will likely lose the respect and trust of your team.
Employees need to feel that their leader is invested in them and that they are valued. Show your team how much you value them!
When your employees are successful, you succeed.