With the holiday season upon us, now is a great time for leaders to focus on how well they care for their team members. When employees know they are cared for at work, they are 71% less likely to report burnout, according to Gallup, and 3 times more likely to be engaged at work. These employees are also 36% more likely to say they are thriving in their overall lives.
Caring for your direct reports not only makes you a better boss, but also helps you positively impact your entire organization. There are many ways that bosses can demonstrate they care about people as individuals. Michael Lee Stallard, president and co-founder of Connection Culture Group, recommends that leaders take some important actions to help show employees they are cared for. We highlight these actions in this issue of Promotional Consultant Today.
They personally check in on people. If you’re in the office, walk the halls and say hello to your team members. If you work remotely or your employees work offsite, check in virtually. Stallard says that stress, loneliness, anxiety and exhaustion are high today. Simply asking how someone is doing can show respect and cultivate a sense of belonging. Ask open-ended questions and then listen to what employees say.
They promote a healthy work culture. This shows that you care about your employees and want to do more than just talk about having a good culture, Stallard says. Model the behavior you’d like to see in your team. This might mean only responding to emails during work hours or being sure to use all your allotted vacation days. Stallard adds that to attract, engage and retain the people your organization needs, leaders at all levels need to give attention to culture.
They create (or refresh) a mentoring program. Doing this addresses the human need for personal growth, Stallard says. It also provides another opportunity to develop connections within your organization as mentors and mentees spend time together. He says to be sure to train people on how to mentor in a way that is encouraging and connecting.
They show small acts of kindness. Little gestures like bringing in coffee and donuts or treating the team to pizza can go a long way at showing you appreciate everyone’s hard work. You don’t need to have a lot of resources or make a big splash to show employees you care.
In the busyness of getting things done, you may overlook opportunities to show your team members how much you care about them as individuals. Consider the points above to help express your gratitude and create a culture of caring.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Michael Lee Stallard is president and co-founder of Connection Culture Group. He is a thought leader and speaker on how effective leaders boost human connection in team and organizational cultures to improve the health and performance of individuals and organizations.
