Are you able to connect with different people in your team – inspiring and motivating them through words and actions?
Being a leader is challenging. The rise of hybrid and remote working means that many teams are physically less connected. As well as working from different locations, they are often in different time zones too. This makes building personal relationships with team members, team building, and empowering employees’ voices more difficult.
However, connected leadership could be the answer. Linking the physical world of leadership with emotional intelligence (EQ), connected leaders are self-aware, empathic, and transparent: aware of their own emotions and those of others. This enables them to genuinely connect with, understand, inspire, and motivate themselves and their team members to perform at their best.
Why is connected leadership important?
Connected leadership improves the wellbeing, relationships, and performance of your team and organization. Connected leaders help to foster a culture of open communication and collaboration. They cultivate honesty, integrity, and trust within their organizations – by consistently demonstrating those qualities themselves. This helps to create an environment where employees feel free to be authentic with each other; one where mistakes are viewed as opportunities for growth.
When authenticity and trust are valued as core principles within a team, people are more likely to enjoy greater autonomy and feel more secure in voicing concerns or objections – without fear of reprisal. This produces a sense of psychological safety that allows people to think more creatively about problems and come up with innovative ideas.
Becoming a connected leader
While leadership styles can differ, becoming a connected leader means:
Being Authentic: Be genuine and true to yourself – with a positive mindset driven by possibilities, not fear. Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. By being vulnerable and allowing vulnerability in others, you’ll foster more trust.
Showing Empathy: Understand and share your own feelings. Put yourself in someone else’s shoes. Recognize that people are more than just employees; that they are individuals with unique talents, strengths, and stories.
Being Curious: Ask your employees about themselves (their interests, their challenges, etc.) during your regular one-to-ones and group gatherings. Be present and actively listen while they answer. This cultivates deeper work relationships, creates better understanding and builds trust. When people feel seen and heard, they are more likely to contribute better ideas and speak up when they have concerns.
Connecting Regularly: Establishing and maintaining multiple work connections takes some time and energy, but it’s worth it. Make connecting with your team a habit by scheduling regular one-to-one check-ins and group gatherings to share and cultivate deeper work relationships.
Ultimately, a connected leader is an authentic leader with a positive mindset; one who fosters a sense of connection between employees, and gives them the confidence that their voices are heard and valued. These teams are motivated and inspired to perform at their best, resulting in higher employee morale and less staff turnover.
Curious about how to become a more connected leader? Schedule a free coaching session here.