When was the last time you got of your office and talked with your team? And when I say talk to your team, I don’t mean about work. As a leader part of your responsibility is to connect with your team and build relationships.
What do you know about your team members? When was the last time you just casually chatted with them about their hobbies, their family, their pets? Employees long for a leader that shows interest in them outside of their work responsibilities. People are wired to connect and have a sense of belonging.
It doesn’t take much to make those connections and make a difference. An effective leader knows they have got to balance productivity with relationships in order to help their team reach their potential. It can’t always be about productivity and it can’t always be about the relationship.
My challenge for you today is to talk to your team.
- Find out something you didn’t know about a team member.
- Pull up a chair and ask how their year is going so far.
- Discover one thing about an employee that they are passionate about (outside of work.)
- Follow-up on a conversation you have had previously with a team member about non-work related stuff.
- Compliment a team member on something besides their work.
- Visit another department and chat with the team members there.
- Share something about yourself that your team members may not know.
- Find out about your team members family, kids, pets.
- Notice something about your team member. A picture on their desk, a new haircut, a new outfit, a big smile.
The key is to talk with your employees, not at your employees. Find a way to strike that balance between who they are and what they do. Your employees are more than just a number or another warm body in a cubicle. Show them you care and that they are important. Talk to them!
What did you find out today? How did your employees respond? What keeps you from doing this each day? We would love to hear about your experiences!
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{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
I really think that Jen and Kelly have something going here! Their postings are down to earth, very applicable and thought provoking. Interesting stuff on engaging employees. I have worked in a setting where there are heads of units, no real big bosses. Decisions are made by consensus whenever possible. Things go well, but I must say that there is a lack of connection among employees. Everyone seems to do their own thing….While I do agree that connection is good, I think it is important to watch boundaries at work. Just like some people like to narrate their lives on-line, I think too much personal information shared at work has its dangers. I hope others respond to this too….The older I get, the less I think I share at work….Maybe if there had been better communication in the early years, I would feel more of a sense of connection at work…..Thoughts?
Hi Jennifer!
You bring up some really interesting and thought provoking points. The challenge for most leaders is to strike that balance between too much personal information and not knowing enough about your team members personally.
And as you pointed out sharing too much personal information does have its dangers. I have seen some leaders get way too involved in the personal lives of their employees. As a result, they have a hard time giving performance related feedback, the line becomes blurred and resentment starts to grow.
On the flip side I have seen leaders that were all business, all the time. They didn’t view their team members as people but rather an means to an end result. This too has its dangers. Employees aren’t engaged, there is usually high turn over and people do just enough not to get caught so they aren’t living up to their full potential.
I’m not suggesting that leaders become counselors or go out and have beers after work with their employees. That could be dangerous! Instead, I encourage people to find that balance between life at work and life away from work with their employees. It will feed our need for that connection.
For example, if you know one of your team members is into gardening and you see something in the news, mention it to them. If you are reading the local paper and notice a team members kid is being recognized for an award, cut out the article and bring it in. If you know your team member is a huge college basketball fan ask them how their team is doing in March Madness.
I think some people may not share personal information because of past experiences. Or maybe because no one has asked. It’s never to late to engage someone though.
Thank you so much for your contribution. I am looking forward to seeing what other leaders have to say. I know you gave me some food for thought!
Best wishes,
Kelly