Three ways to put your people first

Photo: Hung Nguyen

Setting goals and issuing instructions is not enough. Neither is a relentless focus on your customers. Yes, they matter a lot but to have happy customers you need to happy employees. To be at your best, both as a leader and as a person, you need to connect and sincerely communicate with your employees. Apply these three steps for putting your people first.

- Build them up instead of cutting them down

While it’s true that management involves a certain amount of direction and problem-solving, great bosses realise a significant part their role also involves coaching their employees and facilitating better performance. It seems simple enough but it’s not easy to pull off, because it requires a sincere commitment to on-going interaction with your people, and that takes time. Interact with your people in positive ways. Become familiar with your employees’ talents and limitations, and give them the tools and encouragement they need to succeed.

- Foster a positive atmosphere

Most of us spend roughly one-third of our lives at work. Ask yourself and answer truthfully: Do you enjoy going to work? Do you think your employees look forward to coming to work? If you’re not loving it – and if your people aren’t loving it in return – something is seriously wrong and your employees aren’t going to give their very best. When you can go to bed and look forward to getting up early and going to work, you’ll know you’ve made your workplace a fun place to be. A positive atmosphere is full of constructive energy, and your customers and clients will notice.

- Model the behaviour you want

No one likes a hypocrite, especially when that hypocrite is the boss. Your people watch you very closely, and if you aren’t walking the talk you can bet your employees won’t either. If you want more-engaged employees, improved customer service, or a bigger bottom line, then make a point of modelling the behaviour you want. Odds are good you’ll start to see positive changes right away.

Source: navigossearch.com ; Inc.com ; Linkedin.com ; forbes.com; Tlnt.com