You’ve Built a Good Team, Let It Do Its Job

Trust is a big part of successful leadership. A leader knows their team, works with them, ensures they know their goals and expectations. Why would a leader need to hover over them?

Have you ever liked having someone watching over your shoulder?

If someone doesn’t function without a boss constantly hovering, they’re either in the wrong job or there’s a good chance the problem rests with someone in a higher pay grade.

Build the confidence in new team members by ensuring they understand how your systems work and why, what their role in the system is, and how the pieces fit together—and while doing this, there’s a huge opportunity for active listening.

If you have bright people who aren’t “getting” the system, or trainers who can’t explain why things need to be done a certain way, maybe it’s time to re-examine the system. Is there an opportunity to adapt a more efficient way of doing business?

Hearing  new team members—actually listening to their thoughts—will reinforce their feeling of being a valued part of the team. It will enhance their connection to the organization, begin building team spirit and allow leaders to show their humility and appreciation for team members.

This is the time to establish organizational values related to integrity, accountability and loyalty—up and down the organizational chart.

It’s estimated that U.S. companies spend about $3 million per day—more than $1 billion a year—to fill staff vacancies. A good way to reduce that spending is to reduce turnover. A good way to reduce turnover is to foster a sense of buy-in toward your organization’s success, your team members’ success and to foster trust in that success.

Once you’ve built that successful team, step back (far enough to give them space, and close enough to lend a hand when needed) and let it do its work.

Amanda Schleede is founder and CEO of Attend Safe, which helps people attend to life with secure, safe and sensible protocols. Her crisis leadership enables critical events to proceed through safety-conscious protections. By sharing her knowledge in Tuesday Tutor, she hopes others will benefit from her experience. Visit Attend Safe online at AttendSafe.com.