Becoming a great leader in today’s fast paced markets can be difficult, and for many leaders the biggest challenges are related to their own growth and capabilities in their position. It takes a lot to be a leader of people and to guide a business to success, and it can be overwhelming at times.
One thing that is often overlooked is how approachable you are. Approachable leaders are those who are respected by their team and who it is easy to talk to about problems, questions, concerns, or anything else in the workplace that impacts it. Here at Technalink, we’ve found that a surprising number of people think they’re a great leader, but who just aren’t considered approachable by their team. This goes beyond just being a compassionate leader and into other areas as well.
Here are a few tips that can help make it easier for your employees and associates to approach you within the workplace.
- Use Humor – While there is certainly a reason to remain serious and focused at work, occasional jokes and levity can help brighten a workplace and take away some of the rough edges of your persona, making it easier for employees to talk to you.
- Never Degrade – Treat your employees the way you’d want to be treated. If you’re joking, try not to make jokes at their expense. If something goes wrong, don’t berate them constantly in front of the team. Degrading your employees will only lead to your entire business being afraid to approach you at all.
- Get Involved – The least approachable leaders are those that stay behind their office doors and never leave it unless they’re slinging orders around. If you want to be more approachable, head out onto the company floor and get involved in what your team is doing and thinking.
- Hold Meetings – Hold regular meetings to get feedback from your team. Whether you do them daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly, these can be important for making connections and showing your team that you’re there to help.
- Be Compassionate – This one’s key. Just being a compassionate leader is all it really takes to show your employees that you’re a leader they can trust in. When problems arise at work or at home, be sure to approach it with a compassionate mindset. Your team will respect you even more.
These simple steps are all it takes to start promoting a stronger, more approachable image for yourself and ensure that your team will feel as though they can come to you when something needs to be discussed. An approachable and compassionate leader is a great leader, so be sure you strive towards this.
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