Building Brilliant Teams | Simple Steps to Make Your Team Feel Incredible

23/06/2024

How Appreciation, Empathy, and Recognition Can Transform Your Team Dynamics

There’s loads of stuff out there on what makes a brilliant team (big yawn…). When we get rid of all that noise – it’s simple. A team that feels good, does good. How your team feels all around has a lot to do with how you make them feel.

Brilliant teams are made up of human beings who feel appreciated, trusted, and connected. Here are three things you can start today to make your team feel incredible every day.

Send a Signal for Listening

The short story on listening is that, in large parts, we don’t do it, and when we do, it’s half-baked. A lot of the time we’re in pretend listening or selective mode. This means a lot of listening to reply – i.e., instead of really paying attention to what the other person is saying, we are already thinking about what we want to say in response. Ring any bells?

As leaders, we have to master attentive and empathetic listening. We’re listening to understand – that’s it. A simple start on this: ahead of any planned conversations, get listening-ready. Remove distractions and clear the space. When someone arrives to talk to you (face to face or on Zoom) and you actually look ready and waiting for them, it makes them feel important, open, and relaxed. Ready to share.

Ask for Help

As a leader, you might think you’re supposed to have every answer, but even if you did (and you don’t, by the way), people hate it when anyone appears to know everything (or think they do). If you’re sitting there thinking you can’t ever be wrong either, forget it. People love it when you’re wrong, and if you admit it, I mean, wow. This is when great stuff happens.

As leaders, when we ask for help, here’s what we’re saying: I do not have all the answers. I have stuff to learn too. You can teach me! You are of real value and importance to me. I trust and empower you. There is no downside here. As a leader, we need to find (not avoid) reasons to ask for help left, right, and centre.

Say ‘Thank You’

It might sound so simple, and you might think, ‘I already do that.’ And maybe you do, but it’s not enough – in regularity, meaning, or variety. When we let people know directly, personally, and creatively the value they bring to us and the impact of that, we’re feeding one of the biggest human needs we each have – the need for self-worth.

Quickfire on appreciation

Don’t follow it with a but or any other ‘constructive’ feedback (if you can cut the use of the word BUT out of your vocabulary altogether, even better). Say thank you because. Flippant ‘good jobs’ and ‘cheers guys’ really don’t mean that much. Make it personal – handwritten notes, thoughtful gifts, flowers in a favourite colour. Appreciate the impact of work on people’s wider lives. Call three people EVERY week just to appreciate what they’ve done.

We help brave and ambitious leaders discover and understand their natural leadership style to lead growth, lead confidently – but above all, Lead Happy™.