I suppose you have you heard that money is not always the driver in someone’s productivity but the environment in which you work that makes the difference?  Why is that? Research continues to show that when employees feel appreciated, they have trust in the leader and there is a team approach, production increases and people simply work smarter.

So what does a Company need to do to create an environment in which people thrive?

In many businesses there is one leader but in an effective organization each employee is considered a leader.  When an individual employee feels that they bring value and their opinion counts, their ability to perform and be more productive increases.  They have skin in the game.  The sense of belonging makes them feel responsible for the job they do and to do it well.  One way to build leadership skills is to make it comfortable for employees to share their voice and show that their opinions count.

The leader must exhibit compassion with all the employees. Studies have shown that when compassion is in the work place, the employees feel a sense of connectivity.  Compassion is the ability to feel empathy and an overall friendliness towards each other.  When there is genuine compassion within the organization, cooperation and loyalty increase and employees experience less stress.  One way to build a compassionate organization is to take the time to get to know your employees. Understand what makes them tick and a bit about their personal lives.  Being able to tie their personal life into their work life builds a connection and shows true caring on the part of the leader.

The team is allowed to show failure and it is ok to not have the right answer.  Giving employees a chance to explore and create requires freedom to try new things.  When you are worried about not being right,  you don’t allow yourself the ability to think outside the box.  Being open to failure and not feeling afraid of the consequence leads to success.  As Eileen Fisher advocates, it is about “not knowing” which makes it easier to learn from others.  Make it a point to have an open format to freely share ideas. It is an opportunity to explore new possibilities.

When you view your organization as people working together for a common goal, trust builds. Showing compassion and being able to freely express ideas whether they are good or bad does not make an organization soft but it builds a unit that believes in one another.

If you would like to explore new ways to build leadership skills amongst employees and have your teams work more effectively together, contact Upstream Solutions.

You have been asked to go to a #team building event at your company. You are dreading it.  It looks good for you to go and it is the 'Big Bosses" idea.  Everyone goes but after all the money and time the company puts into creating an event, does it really accomplish what it is set out to do?  Build morale,  increase productivity and improve performance.  
So what is the problem? Your company is doing everything the books tell you to do. But the team events are just not accomplishing what you set out to do - build morale. 

The reason your team event is not working is because you need to get to the root of the team.  Build and understand the needs of the team.  

1. Start with asking the team questions, do a 360 assessment.  What are the issues?  What do they want? Figure out what the needs and pain points of the team are. When you know what the issues are, you are better able to address them.  Let the team know that you hear them.  There is truth in honesty.   
   
2. What is the #purpose and vision for the team?  Get their feedback. Perhaps the team members are not on the same page or they don't even know what the leader's vision is.  When a vision is built you can work towards a common goal. You understand the "Why" and you begin to build excitement for what you are doing. 
3. Be open to others thoughts and opinions. When there is open #communication from the leader, the team is inspired.  They trust and want the company to succeed.  A leader needs to support, empower, listen and appreciate the team for their talents. 
4. Create a positive environment, encourage laughter. According to research from the Harvard Business School, Creativity is vital to business success and can not thrive in a negative environment.

When your boss tells you he wants to have a team building event, ask him what the purpose is, what are you trying to accomplish?  If it is about morale, first find out why morale is low.  It could save you money and time to first understand your employees needs and wants. It might just be about being valued and having their opinion heard.

If you enjoyed reading this, and you would like to know how to build a collaborative, happier, more productive team, email or call Upstream Solutions, colleencassel@gmail.com.  Let me help you build a company with increased performance and productivity. Leave a comment and thanks for reading.

There are certain skills that you need to pay attention to in order for you to be considered a leader at your organization.  Remember, being a leader will get you noticed when it is time for a promotion and help you to move up the career ladder. We all possess the technical skills to do our jobs but you must never forget the “people skills” that make you who you are.  It is these skills that will remain with you throughout your career and life

1. Communication. So what does it mean to communicate successfully? We each have our own personality styles.What sets you apart in the workplace is the ability to be flexible in your approach to different people and situations that you encounter. You need to learn to adjust your behaviors based on who you are working and speaking with.  Pay attention to your audience.

1. Decision-Making. It is important that you remember to make decisions that align with your values, help the organization that you work for but also help to promote and benefit you. People don’t often think about the long-term effects when deciding something. You must learn to look at both the present situation and beyond when making decisions.

1. Building Relationships. This is critical, as your network is everything in life. You need to consider taking the time to build a relationship with co-workers, senior management and people outside your organization. Knowing people is the most important thing you can do for yourself. When it comes time for a promotion, new job, or something that you personally want, calling on your network is easier and will most often pay off.

1. Negotiating is something you do throughout your life. Whether it is in your office or in your personal life, you are always asking and hoping to get what makes sense for you. Remember, no one will ever truly negotiate for you like you can. You are the master of your domain and you must learn to advocate for yourself.

1. Balance at work and in life. It is important that you maintain balance. Too much in either direction is not healthy. You need to look at your life from a bird’s eye view.  Prioritize and understand what is important for you.  Even in a hectic work schedule, finding your perfect balance will make you more productive.  It seems difficult to think that you can take 20 minutes for yourself, but that time alone will make all the difference. With a sense of calm, you will approach your next task with clarity and ease.

1. Organization brings a sense of flow to your day. When you are organized, you are in control and can get more accomplished.  Being organized allows you to approach the situation head on. It takes time initially but the time saved will pay off.

1. Creativity is allowing yourself the time to think “outside the box.” Giving yourself the space to be creative invites a feeling of empowerment and freedom. It offers a surprise element that you may not have expected.

Do you want to master these essential skills that can benefit your career and life?   Let's talk! Speaking and coaching that inspires and motivates you for positive change.