Understanding the People You Lead
Leadership is not just about guiding a team toward a goal, it’s also about understanding the people who make up the team. Leaders who take the time to understand their team members are better equipped to guide them toward success!
Today I am going to be sharing with you how you can achieve the second pillar of successful leadership: understanding your team members. When you understand the people you work with, you can tailor your communication style and management techniques to their personalities, strengths, and weaknesses.
Where do I start?
The first step to understanding your team members is to get to know them on a personal level. Take the time to learn about their hobbies, interests, and families. Ask them about their goals and aspirations, and how you can help them achieve those goals. Showing genuine interest in your team members will help you build trust and establish strong relationships.
As Brené Brow, PhD has found through her years and years of research, “Care and connection are irreducible requirements for wholehearted, productive relationships between leaders and team members.”Another way to understand your team members is to recognize and acknowledge their strengths and weaknesses. Every person has unique skills and talents, and it’s the leader’s job to identify and harness those skills for the benefit of the team. By understanding your team members’ strengths and weaknesses, you can delegate tasks more effectively and create a stronger, more efficient team.
One great way to do this is to have them take a personality assessment like MBTI, Enneagram, Predictive Index, StrengthsFinder, etc. and learn what makes them unique!Communication is also key to understanding your team members. Effective communication means not only talking, but also listening. Encourage your team members to share their ideas and concerns with you, and listen to their feedback. This will help you identify any issues and work towards resolving them. It’s important to understand that each team member has their own communication style. Some may prefer face-to-face conversations, while others may prefer email or messaging. Understanding your team members’ communication preferences will help you communicate with them more effectively.
Remember, you need to be communicating in the ways your employees like to communicate, not just the way you prefer.
Understanding your team members is an essential pillar of successful leadership. By taking the time to get to know your team members, acknowledging their strengths and weaknesses, and tailoring your communication style, you can create a strong, efficient team that is capable of achieving great things.
How do you currently like to communicate with your team? What are some things you’ve learned about them? Share below!