Care About Your Team

“Have you ever had a boss you believed really cared about you? How did it make you feel? Didn’t you work harder for that person?

• Demonstrating authentic caring does not mean a leader isn’t tough or demanding – just that they really care. And from your own experiences, you can see how that authenticity tends to inspire loyalty and investment. So now how can you as a leader show you care?
• Listen. Leverage an empathetic strategy by listening more and talking less.
• Recognize. Give employees a thank-you in front of their coworkers or give them a small token or gift card to provide recognition of their hard work.
• Remember. Ask about individuals’ personal lives and remember what they say in order to follow up again later.
• Be real. Provide kind but honest feedback to employees.
• Be transparent. People can tell when they are not receiving the whole picture. Trust the team and help them understand the bigger picture (p. 122-123).”

From: Kuhn, T. & Frick, N. (2023). The e suite: empathetic leadership for the next generation of executives. (e-book). Austin: Greenleaf Book Group Press.

Questions for reflection:

• What additional ways can you show your team that you care?