The Great Resignation has a lot of contributing factors, one of which is having poor leadership in companies. According to a survey by Zippia, “only 48% of employees view their company’s leadership as ‘high quality.’” Therefore, leadership across all verticals needs to evaluate how they are operating and if there are areas that can improve.
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Throughout my career, I have found the following five tips have helped me grow, and my team grow:
Be Authentic
You have been put in a leadership role for who you are, so it’s important to maintain that sense of self. People can easily see through you when you are being inauthentic, and it creates an element of distrust if your team members see you act outside of yourself. Find ways to be both professional and personal in your daily interactions.
Build genuine connections
No matter what business you are in, you are in the business of people. People want to work in an environment where they are recognized as a person and not just a number. Get to know your team members by stopping in their office and chatting with them for at least a few minutes in the day. In our digital world, you can even send a text to team members on a busy day to let them know you are tied up but are still there if they need you. Recognizing their hard work – big or small can also support building a good rapport. These genuine connections are what will set you apart from other bosses, and people will respect you for it.
Work with integrity and intention
All leaders need to have high integrity, to be role models to their team. Integrity is an integral foundation for a company/organization. Embody integrity and work with intention in every facet of your day, so your team can emulate those characteristics in their own work.
Foster a collaborative environment
When you put multiple minds together for a project, it fosters an environment for creativity, perspective and collaboration. We all see the world in unique ways, so teamwork allows you to see a project from unique angles. A good leader encourages their team to bounce ideas off one another and work together—even if the job is typically done independently. Encourage your teams to meet and brainstorm regularly. Also, coordinate team building exercises to encourage them to work with one another.
Have an open-door policy
As a leader, you want your team to feel comfortable coming and talking with you about any questions or concerns they have. An important element of being a leader is understanding each of your team members and how they best operate in their role. Not only will this help your team members, but it will also strengthen your knowledge on how your team is operating on a day-to-day basis. Welcome their input on how things can be done differently and better.
If you lead with integrity, foster relationships with everyone on your team and are authentic in what you do, you will be on the road to being a high-quality leader at your company.
Ashley Bowers joined HomeSmart as Chief Operating Officer in late 2013 and was promoted to president in early 2016. Her passion for diagnostics and leadership interaction to build engagement and alignment throughout organizations is what drives her to succeed. With more than 20 years of experience in the talent management and organizational growth industries, she thrives on empowering teams to achieve success and drive profits and brings a unique approach to organizational leadership at HomeSmart.
