1. We're All Adults: Treat your team members as mature, responsible adults and assume the best about him/her.
2. Reward: Never miss an opportunity to recognize and reward those who positively impact your team. This doesn’t have to be about higher pay and/or more benefits. If your praise is genuine your team member will feel it. A “Thank You” at the end of the day is simple, and yet priceless.
3. Teaching Independence: Encourage team members to make their own decisions and show that you trust them. While this may, at times, mean something falls through the cracks, coach the team member and support his/her growth.
4. Communication: Make sure you are communicating to the team member in the appropriate communication style. Be specific, in writing when appropriate, and verify the team member understands the goal or expectation.
5. Invest in your team members: Remember the more they develop in their abilities the easier your job will be as well.
6. Learning From Mistakes: When a member of your team makes a mistake use it as an opportunity for learning. Try not to jump to conclusions and learn more about what really occurred and how to turn the experience into a growth opportunity.
7. Be Accountable: Be honest, transparent and accountable for your actions the same as you expect from your team members.
8. Be Consistent: Be consistent and be pleasant to be around. You don’t want your team members spending their time and energy wondering if it’s a “good-boss day” or “bad-boss day.”
9. Improve Your Performance: Ask your team members how you can improve your performance. This can be scary and cause you to feel a bit vulnerable, but can also greatly improve trust between you and the team members.
10. Communicate the why. This seems to be what we hear most often that team members are missing from their leader. In addition, think about the delivery of the communication and how it is best received (phone, in person, text, email).
11. Avoid Micro-Managing: Be mindful of the difference between training/teaching and micro-managing. Provide team members with your expectation and allow him/her to deliver the results. Resist micro-managing.
12. Who Are Your Staff? Take time to know your team members as individuals. It’s helpful to know what your team members enjoy doing when they are not at work. This can be as simple as knowing their favorite candy bar.
