Offering value through connection is a critical aspect of managing a team successfully. Through understanding how to connect with your team, motivate them, and engaging with them in an authentic manner, you can create a high top-notch environment that encourages high performance.
People Business
To engage with team members in an authentic manner, you must consider the notion of people business. This involves soft skills, emotional skills, communication skills, relationship building with colleagues, co-workers, clients, and developing a sense of self-awareness. Developing self-awareness is key to successful team management, as it helps to prompt active reflection on how your words land on other people and their varying interpretations. And, through active listening and understanding, team members have the opportunity to understand what other perspectives might exist at the same time. In addition to these skills, role playing can be employed in order to explore different possibilities for alleviating difficult situations. Finally, it is also important to remember that personality can be changed by small, incremental steps.
Demonstration Of Care
When working with individuals, it is integral to remember the human element of things. We have to understand that they are not robots, but humans who have complex emotional needs, physical needs, and mental health needs. It is also important to demonstrate that you care, which can be a great way to build loyalty and trust. In this sense, it is important to understand a team’s personal needs and create an environment that reflects a sound work-life balance. If time is not taken out to care for colleagues, it will lead to a high turnover in the firm. Leaders must remember to focus on ‘I will’ and ‘I want to’ conversations, based on identity, and take stock of how their decisions and behavior is received.
Empathy and Flexibility
When managing people, focusing on their mistakes does not work well and back fires. Further providing flexibility of a 5-day break during a busy season and delegating tasks accordingly will be productive. It is also important to think about allowing for times of quiet reflection and focus for deep work. Introducing sports activities that complement work, increases effectiveness.
A Two-Way Process
When offering value through connection in the workplace, it is important to consider how we can engage with each individual to foster a sense of understanding. Developing an environment of connection and understanding can be a two-way process that starts with listening and communication. We must strive to understand each individual’s needs and interests, and also learn when it can be important to step back and give space. Allowing space can be essential in creating an environment of connection and respect.
Understanding Individual Strengths
When we create an atmosphere of connection, we can begin to recognize the potential of each individual. Connecting with each person and understanding their strengths can be a key element in creating a successful and engaged workplace. Valuing each individual by connecting with their interests and goals will create an environment of trust and productivity.
Build Genuine Connections
In modern society, it is easy to get caught up in seeking attention, validation, and approval from others. We often find ourselves trying to build relationships out of our own personal agenda, seeking superficial connections with people we don’t truly know. It is important to learn to build genuine connections with others that are based on mutual trust, respect, and understanding.
By understanding the power of connection and using it to offer value to the people we interact with, we can build strong, authentic relationships that provide support and guidance for each other. We can also learn to recognize when it is appropriate to step in and provide support and when it is better to step back and let them find their own solutions. This will help us all to achieve our goals and grow together.
PS: This blog is based on a podcast by Healthy Wealthy & Wise Accountants - Offering value through connection between Sara Huddleston and Heidi Henderson
