In business today, change will be rapid and oftentimes unexpected. An exceptional company one day can be not-so-exceptional the next. Your B.E.S.T team members may come and go, and Your business strategy may need to change radically overnight to keep P.A.C.E with ever-shifting markets. Challenges like these can make leading a successful business difficult, but the most successful leaders have figured out how to build organizations that can thrive in even the most difficult market conditions.
Exceptional leaders get the most out of their team members by helping them become highly Engaged, Energized, Empowered and happy in their Job Opportunity Functions. Look at these five routines of exceptional leaders. What would happen if you decided to embrace these Habits/routines? If these habits/routines are embraced, I’m confident the trajectory of Your company’s performance will RISE UP!
- Set the performance bar high -The best way to encourage Your team members to consistently give their very best on the job is to set the bar high and then challenge them to meet or exceed Your expectations. Delegate some of Your most vexing problems to Your team members. Set realistic S.M.A.R.T goals for them, treat each team member with respect, and give them the autonomy to make decisions within the boundaries of core values. Allow them to do their work as they see fit, so long as they meet the performance standards and expectations.
- Be visible, honest and do “W.I.T” to fulfill Your commitments – Be visible to Your team members. Make the time to manage and inspire Your team by walking around, making observations and engage. Find the pulse of Your organization by observing the attitude of teamwork. Ask Your teammates for their views on how they think things are going—within their workspace and throughout the organization. Keep it real with them, and never make a promise You can’t keep. Listen to their concerns and regularly schedule meetings to strategize and problem-solve with Your performance coalition.
- Make Your team a part of the plan – While it’s the job of a leader to set the course for the organization, your teammates knowledge and skill are critical for success. Direct Your teammates toward Your smart goals but be as transparent with Your team as You can be. Involve them in developing company plans, and then show them what their role is in achieving them. When Your teammates understand the plan, they will view themselves as an important piece of the puzzle and will better understand Your plans for success.
- Build a productive work culture – A workplace that is trusting, open-minded, and F.U.N will be the most productive and successful, even during challenging times. Be the encourager for idea generation. Inspire and encourage Your teammates to come up with new ways to improve a certain task(s) and/or processes that leads to process efficiency.
- Celebrate your team’s successes – Take some time each week to celebrate Your team’s successes and to thank Your teammates for their continuous improvement efforts. A sincere thank You for performance well done can be a powerful motivator. Thank your teammate personally and promptly when you find them doing something right. A fist bump and/or a high five is powerful and sustaining.
Highly engaged teammates elevate to become empowered through vision and S.M.A.R.T goals. Meeting performance expectations fuels enthusiastic, empowered and happy teammates. Exceptional leaders ensure these five behaviors are a part of your habit routines to produce an Engaged, Energized, Empowered and Happy culture.