LEADERS LEAD…PEOPLE

Success is achieved on the muscle, innovation, dreams and determination of people.  Workers, leaders, consumers, builders, organizers, teachers, mothers, fathers; without the sacrificial effort and involvement of people, we could not thrive.

We may lead in entirely divergent industries, using entirely different methods, but every one of us shares this common link...

LEADERS LEAD PEOPLE.

One of the greatest keys to the success of all of our organizations is never losing sight of the importance of People.

"In the press of schedules, deadlines and quotas,

we have to work extra hard to make sure

we are valuing people. "

Consider this:  Research supports the fact that most people would take lower-paying positions for a higher sense of community and appreciation. Is it possible that our teams value being valued?  Is it possible that the breakthrough we desire may not be to push harder but to value higher?

What can we do to create an atmosphere of true appreciation where the people we lead feel valued and that gives them the best chance to experience peak performance?  Here are just a few suggestions:

1 | Say It | A genuinely empowering word does wonders for lifting a person's spirits. Bonuses are great, perks are appreciated, and little else supersedes sincere encouragement.  People want to know that what they are hearing is coming from the heart.  Be creative, find a way to genuinely express your appreciation while you're handing out the bonus and the impact will be significant.

2 | Make it Significant | Speaking of significance...  Many reports have shown that "personal significance" is a huge part of why people work.  When we feel like our contribution to our team is significant we tend to feel more positive and invested in our work.  Help your team recognize their personal significance by adding a strong reminder of "why" the job is important and how they are making a difference.  Your team will sense a higher value of who they are AND what they do.

3 | Share it |  Imagine I told you I was going to fund all of your bucket-list dreams this year.  Mega-vacations, concerts, meeting celebrities, playing exotic golf courses, shopping in Paris, you name it.  Pretty awesome, right?  Then imagine I said, "Just one catch, you have to do it all alone."  What if I then gave you the option of choosing just one of those trips to which you could take as many people as you wanted?  Which would you choose?  Would it surprise you to know that the majority of people would choose the shared experience?  The bottom line is that most people value relationships over stuff.  Find a way to strengthen your team's sense of the shared experience and everyone will benefit.

The strength of your team or organization is directly dependent on the strength of the people you lead.  When you Say it, Make it Significantand Share it you are expressing value and empowering your team for greater success!

Lead Strong!