“Success depends on employees. For me knowing and connecting with my employees is very important.”
Divine Ndhlukula
Knowing and connecting with team members sounds simple but requires a leader to consider the whole person. This includes demonstrating respect and striving to understand the unique experience of each individual. As leaders we must value the richness of each individual’s heritage, generational experience, gender, life experience and much more. These differences create a strong culture for our teams to thrive within.
Your team members give you a gift when they choose to work with you. They bring unique insights, experiences, and understanding to your organization. In fact, studies have shown valued team members contribute to a more creative, collaborative, and productive team.
Talented team members can work anywhere, so why would they work for you? They are looking for organizations whose verbal communication as well as their web sites and publications indicate a commitment to inclusion — where each and every person is valued and respected. Leaders must embrace each team member’s individuality to be able to meet the demands of the future.
I will be discussing this topic further on my “Leaders in Action” radio segment this Wednesday at 10:45 a.m. on WGVU, 88.5 FM.