1. Build Trust – 58% percent of people say they trust a stranger more than they trust their own boss. Ugh.
Strategy – Learn about your employees or boss.
- Who is in their family, kids, dog, birthday? Write it down to review monthly.
- Ask how their family and significant people are in their life at the start of weekly meetings.
2. Show appreciation
Strategy – Say Thank You, often!
- Put reminders in your calendar to thank your employees throughout the year for choosing your company and you. They have choices.
- Be specific in the feedback on what they did and how it helped you and the business.
3. Communicate well
Strategy – Be available to help coach them through situations, know their personal style on how they like to communicate best.
- Chat, email, phone. It took me a year to realize one of my employees much prefers a quick phone call!
- What are the best times to reach them and not reach them when they are offline with family
4. Be vulnerable
Strategy – Be open up to mistakes and be comfortable asking for help
- As my boss likes to say, no pride of authorship here. All ideas are welcome.
- Psychological safety is in 1:1’s and in team meetings is proven to reduce stress and get more out of your team
5. Help your employees set up their inspiration/mentor system
Strategy – Help your employees find mentors and connect them with like-minded peers who will inspire them
- I personally have two mentor conversations per week of people who are either more senior than me, at a similar level or junior to me. You can either learn, team together or master your craft.
- Teach them how to find and set up these conversations and it’s like an annuity of mentorship and inspiration over time. Like a subscription.
- Look for mentor opportunities everywhere you go. Podcasts, books, flights, vacations, they are out there if you are open to them.
Defeating Average.
Colin
The kick in the pants you need. Sign-up for a better start to your work day.