Encouraged colleagues to express themselves. From "My point of view"article series.

Some of you may already know that I have been in this market for over 30 years.

As a team leader, I have always encouraged colleagues to express themselves. I try to understand the troubles they face each day and offer my support in any situation. I openly make proposals and suggestions for solutions while also seeking their opinions. This behavior helps me understand their perspectives, and in turn, I give them opportunities to share in the successes we may encounter.

I maintain an open-door policy, which allows me to recognize the internal feelings of my team members. I am genuinely interested in hearing their deepest emotions and fears, and I am always there to provide support. In case of success, I am satisfied and congratulate the team. In case of failure, I stand by them and offer suggestions and alternative options to handle the situation.

Through these actions, we build trust among each other and provide motivation, encouragement, and congratulations, which ultimately reflect positively on the company.

But what does it mean to reflect positively on the company? We are all familiar with how companies suffer from the "lack of respect virus." That's what I call the ecosystem where jealousy, false competition, backdoor communication, and a culture of mediocrity encroach on the productive efforts of modern employees who have a genuine interest and passion for their work. If this virus infiltrates a company, brilliant minds tend to head for the exit.

Many virtues must hover over any corporate ecosystem: dedication, trust, skills, intelligence, flexibility, adaptability, insight, and effectiveness, all of which contribute to progress and making dreams come true.

If the conspiracy of mediocrity erodes the ecosystem from within, then easy tasks become very difficult, and the difficult ones become impossible. This is how Rome and Byzantium fell, and the Greek revolution barely survived.

A good manager is not afraid to delve deep into the team, offering congratulations, advice, and promoting common corporate interests while discouraging practices that undermine the climate of cooperation. Of course, I believe in healthy competition that promotes the entire team and encourages noble opponents to improve their performance. However, I certainly discourage acts of jealousy, backbiting, and collusion that take place "with good intentions" behind closed doors.

From "My perspective" article series. Issue No2 / June 2023

JT