Critical to a return to profit and growth in the post-pandemic world, will be the capacity for leaders to truly unlock potential and empower their people. If we look around our team’s potential, there may be many more ‘leaders’ than we might imagine. Ideally, we want employees who can influence their future. By encouraging people to step-up to the challenge, will only deliver positives to our businesses.
We should be looking for leaders that stand-out. Not only by ‘what they do’, but by the ‘way they do it’. We have to remember that ‘followers’ are emotional. In the middle of this crisis they are looking to their leaders for reassurance, support and security. And the most effective leaders are those that can lift, inspire, excite, and grow their people.
So how do we do it?
Build Trust
The number one factor that creates engagement is trust. Trust in your manager and trust in the team. Trust is the glue that bonds great teams together.
Listen
Great leaders understand people need to express themselves emotionally and feel their opinions and ideas are valued – listening can be hard work and requires effort, but it’s well worth that effort.
Play to their strengths
It is so important for individuals to enjoy their job, so make sure their role plays to their strengths and offers a regular sense of achievement.
Empower
The best leaders know exactly when they need to keep control and when it’s time to get out of the way and let people get on with it. Generally, people are more engaged and creative when they are trusted to make decisions and have the freedom and flexibility to choose how they do their work.
Clarity
There is no greater cause of anxiety than fear of the unknown, so it is critical that in times of uncertainty or change to provide clarity and perspective.
Boost Confidence
Successful leaders understand the need for boosting self-esteem and confidence. Confidence leads to empowerment. Praise and appreciation pay directly into the emotional bank account and bond the team and its purpose.
Invest in Development
Smart leaders understand the benefits of investing in people not least in raising self-esteem and instilling a sense of pride.
Therefore, a true leader will empower their teams using emotional intelligence – not only to get the best out of each and every member, but to identify and grow the leaders of the future. This will also help to support the team’s potential.
