When we think about generosity, we tend to think about it in terms of money or philanthropy. When it comes to leadership, there are different ways to show generosity that don’t have anything to do with a paycheck. A leader who recognizes employees for their hard work and commitment, however, goes farther to inspire motivation within the group, so everybody gives their best.
Employees need their manager to be generous with teaching, communicating, listening and instilling confidence; it’s extremely difficult to trust someone who doesn’t have your best interest at heart. Being generous in ways that allow your employees to excel will give you a feeling of significance and fulfillment in your work, as well.
Some of the best leaders implement an open-door policy within the office to keep the lines of communication open between the staff and upper management. It may also benefit the team to hold weekly meetings to discuss business goals and upcoming projects so that everyone is on the same page and can share ideas with one another. This also builds a sense of camaraderie within the office and allows employees to trust each other.
Successful leaders must also know how to engage their team, making them feel like they are a fundamental part of the organization. Everyone, from the receptionist to the mail carrier to middle management, should feel like they are woven within the company fabric and that each role is crucial to give the fabric its strength.
Engagement is just one part of the equation. Leaders must be able to delegate work, trusting their team to handle big projects and run with it, rather than micromanaging. They should be jovial, positive and make their employees want to get out of bed to come to work each morning instead of dreading the thought of it.
Case in point, founder of Mizrahi Developments, Sam Mizrahi and other successful leaders say there are a handful of must-haves for effective, empowering leaders. For example, taking the downtime to arrange individual meetings with your team members in order to really understand their passions and how to best manage them is one way to show that you care.
Giving people the gift of admiration for good work and exceptional talent is just as generous as increasing their paycheck. Telling someone “great job” or “I couldn’t have done it without you” goes a long way to making an employee feel valued.
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