Supporting Employees for Success
Cathie Leimbach • October 27, 2023
Communicating your expectations to employees and ensuring they understand what you want them to achieve are not enough for them to succeed in your organization. Managers and supervisors in highly effective organizations often spend half of their work week supporting their employees.
- Be Consistent: Consistency in your messaging and expectations is crucial. Ensure that your team always receives the same message from you and understands what is expected of them.
- Encourage Feedback: Create an open and transparent communication environment where team members can ask questions, seek clarification, and provide input. This fosters a sense of ownership and engagement.
- Monitor Progress: Regularly review and assess progress toward the desired results. Adjust your approach as needed and celebrate milestones to maintain motivation.
- Provide Support: Offer the necessary resources, training, and support to help your team achieve the results. Address any obstacles or challenges that may arise.
- Lead by Example: Demonstrate the behavior and work ethic you expect from your team. Your actions should align with your words and goals.
- Acknowledge and Reward: Recognize and reward team members for their efforts and achievements. Positive reinforcement can boost morale and motivation.
- Be Patient and Persistent: Understand that achieving significant results may take time. Stay committed to the vision, and don't be discouraged by setbacks.
- Adapt and Learn: Be open to feedback and be willing to adapt your goals and strategies if necessary. Learning from mistakes and evolving is a sign of effective leadership.
Supporting one’s direct reports for success means serving their needs as they endeavor to meet workplace expectations. This includes reinforcing expectations, being available for two-way conversations, giving employees feedback about what they are doing well and support to be more effective in weak areas, and genuinely caring about your team members as valuable human beings.
What is one aspect of supporting your employees that you are doing well? What is one aspect that is a growth area for you to enhance employee and organizational success?
Ever wonder why some companies consistently outperform their competitors? According to Ram Charan's "Leaders at All Levels," the secret often lies in their approach to leadership development. Think about it: when organizations invest in developing leaders at every level, they're not just checking a box for HR—they're directly fueling their economic engine. Charan says that leadership talent is actually the biggest constraint on business growth worldwide. Too many companies treat leadership development as a nice-to-have program rather than a strategic necessity. But those who get it right create a continuous chain reaction of leadership excellence throughout their organization, resulting in measurable business advantages. The most successful companies don't just develop executives at the top. They identify potential leaders early, move them through increasingly challenging assignments, and ensure they gain the necessary skills to drive performance at every level. In today's competitive landscape, your leadership pipeline isn't just about succession planning—it's about creating the sustainable competitive advantage that drives superior business results and economic performance right now.
Have you ever felt like someone wasn't really hearing you? Reflective listening can fix that problem in the workplace. Reflective listening means truly understanding what someone is saying before you respond. When a coworker is speaking, focus completely on their words instead of planning what you'll say next. Many of us start forming responses while others are still talking, which means we miss important parts of their message. True listening requires patience and practice. To become a reflective listener, start by giving your full attention. Put away your phone, turn away from your computer, and make eye contact. Then, after the person finishes speaking, briefly summarize what you heard. You might say, "So what I'm hearing is..." This shows you were truly listening and gives them a chance to clarify if needed. The benefits of reflective listening are huge. It reduces misunderstandings, builds trust between coworkers, and helps solve problems more effectively. People feel valued when they're truly heard, which creates a more positive workplace. With practice, reflective listening becomes a habit that improves all your work relationships. Remember: listen first, respond second. Your workplace will be better for it.