Take a moment and reflect on the great leaders you have encountered in your life. A great leader can transform your sense of self, skill sets, perspective, or a combination of all three and more. Chances are not everyone on your list of great leaders served in the role of a manager when you encountered them. However, we know that managers have a unique opportunity to be leaders that positively impact their team members by creating meaningful outcomes for the individual and the organization. 

Leaders are able to connect with their team members and motivate them by creating trust and demonstrating that they care about their team members as people. Some managers may fear that focusing on the “touchy feely” elements of leadership may prevent them from getting their work done. This could not be further from the truth. Learning about your team members personal goals and experiences overtime will help you meet their needs to perform at a higher level and build their commitment to your organization. 

Developing trust and understanding of one another takes time. Start small by asking open ended questions and actively listening to your team member’s answers. In your regular meetings, create space for your team members to share their aspirations and what they are experiencing in their life so you can create opportunities to help them reach their goals.

Becoming an impactful leader doesn’t happen overnight nor is it strictly limited to those individuals who hold management or leadership positions. Everyone can build trust and connection with their team members while honing their leadership skills. 

If you or your team is interested in developing applicable, impactful, and repeatable skills to transform your leadership skills, complete the intake form on our website to meet with our forums@work team. You may also claim our limited time offer of having a Certified Forum Moderator host your first forum meeting for free through the month of April!