Dr. Slava Shut

We all know what makes a good leader – competence, hard work, skill. And we frequently hear how to hone your skills to become a better leader. But being a leader is nothing without your team, what do you offer them? A team will look to you to make decisions, absorb your vision, and will always remember the way they were treated. Here are three things that your team needs from a leader:

1. Autonomy

Let’s be honest, nobody likes to be treated like a child. Giving your teammates the ability to make choices will improve the mood and make them feel trusted. Productivity will increase and people will feel inspired about the work they’re doing. People know they are trusted to make good decisions, and they feel valued for the outcomes they deliver—not just the hours they work. An example of some choices that leaders can offer their team is empowering people to make decisions, give input and have a voice in how things are running. People also appreciate having options in the projects they contribute to and the types of growth opportunities they have.

2. Competence
People also love to feel like they have mastery of a skill and that they’re contributing to a community. Leaders can emphasize competence by providing strong direction and letting their team see the big picture and where all their hard work is headed. Providing feedback and positive reinforcement is another way to make your teammates feel valued. Most importantly, you can also stand by those team members when they make mistakes or fail. Improvement takes risks, and sometimes it doesn’t always pan out in an employee’s favor. But when leaders provide support through the project that sputters, they demonstrate an important commitment to a person’s overall value and worth.

3. Care

Employees want to feel taken care of and as though their leader cares about them. Giving them attention, being present, and demonstrating empathy will create one of the most important aspects in leadership – trust. Establish a caring environment by listening, asking questions, and notice when it seems like people are struggling. Successful leaders can also create the conditions for team members to develop great relationships with each other, like making time for team members to share personal stories at the beginning of a meeting.

What are some things you expect from a leader?

Employees want to feel taken care of and as though their leader cares about them. Giving them attention, being present, and demonstrating empathy will create one of the most important aspects in leadership – trust. Establish a caring environment by listening, asking questions, and notice when it seems like people are struggling. Successful leaders can also create the conditions for team members to develop great relationships with each other, like making time for team members to share personal stories at the beginning of a meeting.

What are some things you expect from a leader?