Perhaps the most important thing you can do as a manager is to make your team feel supported. If they don’t feel like you have their backs, your team won’t feel as confident, won’t trust you, and they won’t work as hard for you. They should feel like they have access to the right resources, tools, and training to get the job done. Here are six things you can do to show your team that you support them.
Optimize your strengths
You probably already know what your strengths are, so save those projects that optimize those talents for yourself. When your employees are confident in your abilities, you’ll earn their respect, and they’ll trust your expertise. Make them feel like they have a real leader at the helm.
Use the strengths of others
Your employees have a variety of strengths, too, and the best leaders can figure out what they are and how to use them. The better you know your employees, the better you can assign tasks so that they can be successful. Empower them with resources and the power to make decisions. Remember that the success of your company depends on the success of your employees.
Keep everyone motivated
People are motivated to work hard when everyone’s given an equal opportunity for success. Be fair when you dole out assignments, award praise when appropriate, and advance employees when they’re ready. When your employees know their efforts will be rewarded, they’ll work productively and strive for success.
Be an optimist
When you believe your team can achieve their goals, they’ll believe it too. Your confidence in them will inspire them to work hard and keep taking risks. Keep a positive attitude to maintain high energy levels around the office and have a little fun from time to time. Try team building activities, potluck lunches, and happy hours—whatever it takes to keep the mood light.
Facilitate open communication
Share information with your team and encourage them to share information with you. Keep them up-to-date with the things they need to know to get the job done and be mindful of whether certain conversations are better to be had in person or over text or email. Make it acceptable for all of your employees to come to you with concerns and problems and do your best to address those concerns, so they feel validated and respected.
Challenge your team
Certain people thrive when they’re faced with tasks and responsibilities that are a bit of a stretch for them. Meet regularly with your employees to set goals that push their limits. If they rise to the challenge, great! That means you helped them develop into stronger, more capable employees. And if they struggle or fail, that’s good, too—something to learn from!
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