How many times have we all heard companies trumpet the phrase “our employees are our most valuable asset” only to see them treat their employees as a disposable commodity to be used up, burned out, and thrown away to be replaced by a newer, younger, worker who costs less? This is the mark of mediocre (or worse) leadership.
Great Leaders know that there is a better way. They believe that one person CAN make a difference and they show this by demonstrating these leadership traits.
- They treat team members like they are the most important people in the world … because they are. It is through the labors of the team that expectations are met and the team’s goals are reached. Great Leaders rely on team members to put forth a 100% effort and exude confidence in the team’s ability to do so. Consequently, the team strives to show that the confidence is warranted.
- They treat team members like they make a difference. Great Leaders know that any one individual can make a difference whether it be by increasing the team’s productivity or ensuring that the customer, internal or external, is provided with the goods or services that they truly need and that provide the greatest benefit to the customer.
- They listen, truly listen, to ideas from every member of the team. Great Leaders know that great ideas, game changing ideas, can come from anywhere and anyone. They know that any member of the team can be the person to put forth an idea that will make the difference between success and failure; between meeting a quota and exceeding a quota; between living up to an expectation and surpassing that expectation.
- They treat each team member with respect. Great Leaders know that respect is a “two-way street”. While respect is, and should be, an earned quality, Great Leaders show respect until such time as the team member shows that he/she is unworthy of respect … and it takes a lot to convince the Great Leader that respect is undeserved.
Great Leaders know that by treating each person as someone who can make a difference, each person that they lead will strive to live up to that expectation and become “the difference maker”.
Have you had an experience where you did everything in your power to make a difference in someone else’s life because a Great Leader expressed confidence in your ability to do so? Click “Comment” and share your experience.
Tom Hoisington is a speaker, trainer, and author whose goal is to provide leaders and potential leaders with tools that empower them to build teams that are creative and cost effective along with a clearer understanding of how personality types interact within those teams. He can be contacted at tom.hoisington@eagleoneresources.com