As a restaurant owner, I’m often asked; “So what do you really do?” I could list 100 things I take care of ranging from hiring to multiple trips to the office supply store, but it really isn’t about the “things” I take care of, it’s about the people.
Here are a few leadership strategies that I believe can be applied within any organization at all levels of leadership:
Employees don’t work for you; they work with you.
It’s a team effort and you’re the captain. Last time I checked, the captain is always one of the starting players. If you spend more time working alongside your people the payoff will be exponential. It’s good to be present but it’s best to be engaged.
Empowerment really is powerful.
By allowing your peers to “make the call” they establish ownership and take pride in their work.
The culture of a company is reflected by how employees interact with customers.
It’s beneficial to take time to get to know your employees beyond the surface and show appreciation throughout the week… Starbucks & pizza go a long way!
Know your audience.
Companies invest thousands of dollars to learn the most effective way to “talk” to their customers but knowing the audience within your company is just as important as knowing your customer audience. Next time you go to send a memo or hang a sign up in the break room, consider these things:
- Will employees actually notice this?
- Did I convey my message effectively?
- Most importantly, is it memorable?
