Valuing Others

One leader, Rob, had this feedback from one of his peers: “The one thing Rob could do better as a leader is to pay attention to his staff. From personal observation and experience, at times Rob’s staff feels left out, not important, and left on the ‘back burner.’”

When it comes to helping your followers succeed, recognizing them, and seeking to understand them, if you have any of the following thoughts, you might need to consider whether your heart’s in the job:

1. I can’t afford the time.

2. I don’t think that’s part of my role.

3. I can’t promote them, so what’s the point?

4. I don’t know how to teach people to achieve higher performance.

5. This feels too soft to me.

6. Coaching people is just the latest new management fad.

7. I’m not sure they are capable of learning new things.

8. Each person is responsible for his or her own growth and development.

9. If I let them learn, they might become great and get my job.

10. Money is still the best motivator.

Remember, if you want to be perceived as a credible leader, you must abide by the contract that says, “Follow me, and I promise that I will help you succeed.” If you do not seek to understand and help your followers, your agenda may be questioned. Ultimately, people do not want to work for someone who just plays the role of a manager, merely living up to the obligations of the job. They want someone who is committed to and cares passionately about the work and the people.