GET OUT FROM BEHIND YOUR DESK AND WITH YOUR TEAMMATES
This past week, my wife and I returned from a two week trip to the countryside of France that concluded in the amazing city of Paris. We traveled with 21 other people from across the United States.
When you embark on an international trip like this, you never know in advance about the people with whom you will be traveling. Typically, the great majority are easy-going, interesting and experienced.
Every once in a while, you connect with someone on a deeper level and decide you want to be in touch with him or her after the trip concludes.
That happened for me and a woman from Montana named Susan. One day during the trip, we found ourselves talking about one of my favorite subjects: leadership.
Susan told me that for many years she had served as the city commissioner for her town. We talked about issues like building culture, serving as a role model, and creating a vision that other people could enroll in.
Susan explained to me that she believes very strongly in getting out into the field and doing the following:
-Learning the jobs of the people we lead
-Showing our teammates appreciation on a daily basis
-Expressing optimism and hope every day
-Inquiring into the family lives, the hopes and dreams of our team members
-Exploring the goals teammates have for their careers and helping them move in the right direction
-Showing understanding for how challenging other people’s jobs can be
-Striving proactively never to take anyone or their roles for granted
-Getting out in the field with our teammates and standing side-by-side with them
Susan admitted to me that she is a hugger. She shows appreciation for her colleagues by giving them caring hugs, only after receiving their permission, of course.
The men and women in her local fire department were so impressed with her approach that they once presented her with a plaque that said “Watch out for her. She’s a hugger. “
I encourage all of us to take valuable lessons from Susan.
As leaders, it is critical that we are mindful of the valuable roles that our teammates play on a daily basis, to express appreciation for those roles and to care about the professional and personal success of each of our team members.
Make it a good week, folks!
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-Larry