How Can Leaders Show that they care?!!

How Leaders Can Show That They Care ?!

The old saying, “People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care,” should be a leadership mantra for everyone. If you are going to inspire the hearts and minds of your people, then you must demonstrate care.

Inspiring the hearts and minds of your people is a crucial aspect of demonstrating care and leadership, a leader who can motivate and engage their team can improve not only productivity but also create a positive and fulfilling work environment.

Demonstrating care for your team members can help build trust, increase engagement, and drive success.

I will write in more detail about each stated point. Here are five leadership habits to show your people that you genuinely care:

First, be available. Being available means that you as a leader, have set aside time. Schedule a time when you can communicate without distractions with those people who are most important to you. This starts with your direct reports and managers, or the people you work closest with. A common mistake is to assume that just because you are around someone a lot, you always have the chance to talk. In reality, while you might engage in a lot of small talk, you often don’t actually have the time for meaningful conversations.

Next, make sure you’re listening empathetically. Leaders truly listen by putting themselves in their person’s shoes. When a manager tries to complete another task or engage simultaneously with their technology while they’re listening, they’re not truly listening. If you’re going to be available, then be 100% available to listen empathetically by putting yourself in the other person’s shoes and try to understand exactly where their message and feelings are coming from, as well as suspending your own judgments and believe that whatever the person is feeling is exactly what it is, no matter how irrational those feelings might be.

Third, show a lot of respect. Most people want to be seen and known, and they want to be considered. Therefore, in the workplace, one of the best ways you can show your people that you care is to see all the good things that an employee does and then point them out to them, we often hear that the only time people get feedback is when something goes wrong. We often overlook all the instances of the things they do really really well.

I also recommend that leaders give feedback that recognizes when things are done well and respects their team members, which ultimately will help you strengthen those relationships as well as acknowledge and reward the hard work and achievements of your team.

Recognition and appreciation can go a long way in boosting morale and motivation, celebrating successes, both big and small, and making sure that your team members feel valued and appreciated.

Fourth, know your people. While the setting might be at work, that does not mean that the only conversations you should engage in are about work. Coach leaders to focus on those people with whom they work closest and to know the three things that person is most grateful for in the world—or, another way, the things they love the most. This information will allow you to create meaningful conversations every day that you’re at work.

Taking the time to know your people as a leader can have a positive impact on both their performance and your relationship with them. By actively listening, asking questions, observing behavior, encouraging feedback, leading by example, and promoting growth and development, you can build a strong and productive team.

And finally, have honest conversations. Honesty is an important way to show that you care. It helps build trust with your team and affords you the opportunity to inspire your people.

Research indicates that when employees perceive their leaders to have integrity, they feel considerably better about who they work for, when it comes to giving honest feedback, considered to be empathetic and considering the other person’s emotional state. The best leaders seem to be great at observing the emotional cues in others, thereby ensuring that they deliver honest feedback and information at just the right time.

In conclusion, inspiring the hearts and minds of your people requires effort, commitment, and a willingness to invest in your team. By demonstrating care and support, you can create a positive and productive work environment that drives success and helps your team members reach their full potential.

Demonstrating that you care is one of the most important ways for leaders to connect with the hearts and minds of their people.

You must be willing to do this, making it a priority each and every day.

Thank you and Regards,

Ahmad Al Cheikh Hassan