Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

In a previous post, we talked about how important your A-players are to your team and how you can identify them. We discussed how A-players aren’t people who just come to you with ideas – they come with an idea and a plan to make it work. Even if it’s ultimately not a winning idea, they have the vision to see their ideas through, and these are some of your most valuable employees.

Unfortunately, busy managers aren’t always able to spot these characteristics, which can mean some of the employees with the greatest potential feel under-appreciated and head to your competition – where they might just help put you out of business.

To catch these small details, managers should be attuned to these qualities and recognize them for what they are. Lots of people will present you with ideas, perhaps to the point where it becomes tiring and you start telling everyone you don’t have time to hear them out. But truly listening to everyone is a small investment of your time that can reap huge rewards.

Listen to Everyone

Sometimes your best ideas are going to come from somewhere unexpected. That’s precisely why it is so important to listen to what everyone has to say. This is actually how you find your A-players, and it’s absolutely worth your time to hear everyone out. CharTec’s Director of Human Resources cites the example of a receptionist who wowed everyone with her plan to reduce waste in the organization.

After noticing they kept buying pallet after pallet of water, she suggested they buy branded water bottles. Naturally, the company had thought of this before, but she didn’t stop there. The receptionist prepared a slide deck with real-world data. She consulted with the accounting department to find out how much water they were actually buying. Once she got the figures, did the math, and showed them how they could save money and reduce their carbon footprint with branded water bottles, the change was made. A receptionist disrupted the status quo.

If her manager had been unwilling to listen to her, the company would still be spending way more than it needed to on water while contributing to the serious problem of environmental waste.
In short, don’t discredit people who are asking for opportunities at the lowest levels.

Exceptional people see a goal and then move toward it instead of just keeping their head down and waiting, and when someone at your company has this quality, nurturing it benefits everyone.

Work on your listening skills

Listening does not come naturally to a lot of people, but it’s a skill worth mastering if you want to be an engaging leader who gets the most out of your team. Here are some ways leaders can be better listeners.

Focus on the content

Let your employee tell you their idea first. Avoid the temptation to interrupt or share your perspective until they’ve said what they want to say. If it’s a planned meeting, schedule it for a time and place you’re unlikely to be interrupted. Don’t listen with replying in mind; listen with the goal of understanding.

Give your workers a chance to express their view

A-players are typically confident enough to present their plans without reservations. Ensuring the entire team feels comfortable coming to you with their ideas can bring out the best in everyone. During conversations, make a point of inviting the other person to participate. Say things like “I’d love to hear what you think about this. What ideas do you have?”

Don’t forget body language

Staying quiet while the other person speaks is not enough. Show them you are interested in what they are saying. Listen carefully, make eye contact, and lean toward them slightly when they are presenting key ideas. If necessary, take some notes, but try to spend most of your time listening rather than writing.

Ask questions

After someone has presented something to you, paraphrase their key points to ensure you have understood them. Then, ask a few questions to get more details and demonstrate that you were being attentive. Even if you don’t agree with what they were saying, you need to acknowledge their effort.

Mastering the art of listening doesn’t just make you a better leader – it can help you identify who on your team will be driving the business to future success.

Learn More About Why Teamwork Is a Vital Part of a Successful Work Environment!

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