Leadership isn’t based solely on your title or position within the company. It also refers to your ability to motivate and inspire the people you work with and bring into the company. That inspiration can come in many forms, from the way in which you interact with individual employees to the things you do to empower others within the company.
In this post, we’ll share some of our favorite tips for inspiring the people you work with. Remember, it’s not all about delivering inspirational speeches or sermons from a pulpit. It’s about the big and the little things you do that stack up over time in the hearts and minds of your employees.
Listen
Listening to employees, rather than dictating to them, reminds them that they have a voice within the company. If someone in you company can count on you for a sympathetic ear, they’re much more likely to make themselves heard and contribute useful ideas and suggestions.
Don’t micromanage
This next point ties into being a good listener. If you’re always dictating and nitpicking, you don’t give your employees the sense of trust they need to truly flourish. Trust in your employees that they can do their job effectively.
Challenge your employees
On the other hand, make sure your employees have a clear sense of their expectations within the company. While you should refrain from micromanagement, make sure that employees know that there are high yet reasonable expectations placed upon them. In other words, challenge your employees and hold them accountable so that they can truly grow and develop professionally.
Be a role model
No, this doesn’t mean you have to take any oaths or give anything up. It does mean, however, that your employees look to you as an example of how they should behave and work. If you work diligently and consistently and embrace your own vision for the company, chances are your employees will too. Set a high bar by modeling the behavior in the workplace you’d like to see from your employees.
Acknowledge your employees strengths and accomplishments
We’ve already said you should listen to your employees and also challenge them. On top of those two things, make sure that you acknowledge your employees strengths and accomplishments. You don’t have to go overboard but if someone or something truly benefits the company, say so…and say so often.
Develop leadership in others
Leadership and inspiration don’t have to be a full time job. Ideally, you’ll spend part of your time as the focal point of the company cultivating leadership qualities in others. You can’t inspire everyone everyday but you can help everyone in your company to inspire those they work with on a regular basis.
Along with these actions you can take to inspire others, a little bit of respect and integrity go a long way. Although you may be the person whose vision guides the company, treat others as you would want to be treated. The way in which you interact with and engage others can set the tone for how your employees treat each other and do their jobs.