Being a leader is like walking a tightrope. You have so many objectives to meet and goals to attain, all while trying to manage a wide range of personalities.

How can you tackle it all? The best way is by empowering your people. When they feel empowered by you, they’ll remain loyal, motivated, collaborative, and thrive. To get there, here are a few tips to keep in mind:

Get to know your team members.

You can’t empower your people if you don’t know them personally and what drives them. Take steps to get to know each person, as well as the team as a whole.

Schedule casual one-on-one conversations with each of your employees, or even take them for coffee. Discuss their careers, concerns, and goals. This will help you find out more about them, like any special skills or hidden talents. It will also help you better understand what drives them, so you can help them succeed.

Be a good listener.

There’s a stereotype that leaders do more talking than listening. But actually, the best leaders listen more. They give people a seat at the table and a voice on the team. They ask questions and dig deeper. And they’re open to feedback, new ideas, and insights.

When you create a culture where everyone knows they can come to you – and you will listen – you’ll identify problems before they escalate and build a more cohesive team.

Conduct field observations.

Don’t stay in your office all day behind closed doors. Get out on the floor among your employees. Stop by their desk and rooms to chat with them. Watch your team in action and note how different employees behave. Look for those who seem bored or disengaged, and work with them to get them back on track. Pay attention to the tasks and jobs that excite others, then assign them more of those roles. This will help you to get and keep the best-fit people in the right positions.

Set the tone.

Make sure everyone feels included and involved. There will naturally be those you connect with better than others. However, it’s important that all feel welcome and like part of the team. When you have a staff that is on the same page, they’ll collaborate and perform better. But it all starts with you and the tone you set.

Get help hiring.

Turn to Alignstaffing if you’re looking for education, behavioral health, or social services staffing services. Contact us today to learn more!