Know your people better. How often do we hear this? Do leaders really know their people at all? How does a leader go about knowing their people better?
If you spend time with someone, you have lots of shared experiences â the highs, the lows and the in-betweens. You donât have to tell them what to do, you are there just to share their company and vice versa.
And when they have something to say, theyâve got your attention. Within the workplace, the best leaders ensure they are fully attentive towards their people (and team members). Such attention is arguably the most important way for a leader to know their people better. This means you, as the leader, provide suitable avenues and opportunities for your people to tell you whatâs on their mind, what they are hoping for, and what they would like the organisation to do for (and with) them and for others in the wider community.
People often like talking about their personal experiences (work-related or otherwise). Such personal stories are unique and priceless, and are to be encouraged, so the leader gets to know their people better. The leader is building a bond with their people, and showing their human side. In the final analysis, people are more inclined to dedicate their efforts (working time) to someone (or an organisation) that they know well, and that they believe, in turn, knows them well.
“Rethink without over-thinking”
GAICD, M.Comp (Monash)
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