Build lasting relationships

- A key trait of an effective manager is building quality relationships within your team, but finding the time to do this can be tough. You might be thinking, "I can't afford to spend time" "on the personal stuff, because there's so much work to do." The reality is, you can't afford not to build relationships. Depending on where in this world you're working, this may even be viewed as culturally essential. When you build lasting relationships within your team, you and your teammates will have higher levels of job satisfaction, performance, and morale. In this video, I'll share some quick tips for establishing and maintaining these long-term relationships. First, schedule time for informal and personal conversations. This doesn't mean you have to divulge secrets or overshare. Focus the conversation on sharing about yourself and learning about them. Your team needs to know you in order to trust and follow your leadership. As with anything else, you'll have to block off the time on your calendar. If you don't budget time for this, it will likely slip through the cracks. You can create time on standing meeting agendas for teammates to informally connect with icebreakers, and schedule informal gatherings to foster connection. Ideally, this would be time scheduled during the regular workday rather than after hours, which is harder for those with family or personal obligations. Second, share some of your own story with your team. As a leader, you can quickly connect with and influence people with stories. Great leadership stories show people who you are as a manager and person. Think about a time you overcame adversity. Help someone, or learn from a mistake as potential themes. When you open up, you not only provide a window into who you are and your values, but you also encourage others to be their authentic selves as well. This brings me to the third tip, be curious as your colleagues share about themselves. Curiosity will demonstrate a genuine interest in the people on your team. Try to get a better understanding of their personal journey. Learn as much as you can about them and their lives outside of work. Knowing who and what, outside of work, matters to them in their personal lives will help you understand them better. While you're connecting, my fourth tip is to listen actively to whatever is being shared. The worst thing you can do is signal disinterest. Make sure you're making good eye contact, nodding, and even paraphrasing things you hear as they're shared. Immediately following the conversation, jot down some notes, so that you remember some of the details. Remembering and following up on the seemingly small personal details lets people know you care, whether it's about a sports team or a sick pet. Fifth, and finally, make a point to regularly express gratitude to the people on your team. It seems obvious, but saying thank you goes a long way in making people feel appreciated. Even better, take a moment to send a quick note of appreciation, or tell your teammates why you appreciate them. This doesn't have to be over the top. You can literally say you've noticed their efforts and just wanted to say thanks. You most likely spend more time at work than you do with your friends and family, so it's important to always make an effort to build relationships with the people you lead.