So you’ve just graduated from an MBA institute and you think you’ll make a great boss. Which you just might. But beware. If you fail to make genuine connections with your employees, you could sink. According to Harvard Business Review, 91 per cent workers feel that bad or weak communication can bring down executives. The result was found after surveying 1,000 US workers.
Lack of EI
The responses given by employees point to the fact that some leaders lack emotional intelligence. Taking into consideration the amount spent by organisations to make their firms a better place to be in, it is surprising that managers do not indulge in the little things that could make them seem trustworthy, to their employees.
To be an effective leader, know that healthy communication is the key. Here’s what you can do to improve relations with employees.
Tell them why you appreciate them : When you praise someone, a mere, ‘good job’ doesn’t always suffice. Notice the team members’ unique contributions and let them know, you know.
Say thank you : Show employees’ appreciation, publicly or privately. A compliment at a staff meeting or a personalised thank-you mail can make the employee feel appreciated. Duke Energy CEO Lynn Good leaves “thank you” notes on yellow sticky notes in employees’ offices.
Ask for their opinions : If you come across as a know-it-all, employees will withhold their best ideas from you. As a good leader, you need to actively ask for their opinions — ‘Why do you think this is happening’, or ‘How can we improve’.
Give constant feedback : Frequent feedbacks, instead of bi-annually or annually, leads to a healthy working environment where the employee knows where he/she stands in performance.
Laugh at yourself : You don’t always have to be the uptight boss. Occasionally, laugh at your own mistakes.
Address people by their names : Know people by their names and address them with it. ‘I’m no good with names’ isn’t an excuse.
To read more about how to be an effective leader, click here .