As a leader, the ability to have meaningful conversations is critical. As our hybrid way of working continues to evolve, having these conversations within your teams becomes increasingly essential. I’m writing after reading a recent Gallup post highlighting how such interactions can significantly enhance your teams’ performance.
Thinking about your busy lives, here are three strategies you can develop to ensure your conversations are more than just a routine check-in; they are a powerful tool for building high-performing relationships.
Use Recognition Cornerstone
Use Personalised Appreciation: Recognise the individual contribution of your team members. As with any praise, if it’s generic, it means nothing and may not come across as sincere.
Tailor your appreciation, make it specific and relevant to their achievements, and be genuine.
Incremental Success: Make a point of acknowledging even the small victories; this boosts morale and encourages a culture of continuous improvement and effort recognition. Make the celebration commensurate.
Encouraging Collaborative Dialogue
Open Discussions on Collaboration: Take the opportunity for a conversation to explore how team members can collaborate better. Discuss ongoing or potential projects, brainstorm solutions, and encourage sharing ideas, which will go a long way toward reinforcing a team-centric approach and highlighting collaboration.
Develop Cross-Team Interactions: Suggest ways teams can meaningfully engage with other departments or teams, broadening their perspectives and fostering a more integrated approach to problem-solving.
Goal-Oriented Conversations
Aligning Goals: Make sure you have the time to discuss how each team member’s contribution impacts the larger organisational goals. It’s essential in your role to help them see the bigger picture and understand their role within it.
Strength Focussed: Identify and discuss each team member’s strengths. Encourage them to leverage these strengths in their work and be deliberate about using them.
- Some other things to consider might be:
Be Prepared: Take a few minutes before each conversation to review notes and prepare points for discussion, showing your investment and the value you place on the conversation.
Active Listening: Practice active listening. Be present, pay attention, show empathy, and respond thoughtfully, ensuring your team feels appreciated and valued.
Be Consistent: Keeping these conversations regular is crucial, be that weekly or bi-weekly, and ensure they become a consistent part of your schedule.
Feedback and Adaptation: Be prepared to receive feedback from your team about these conversations, and adapt your approach based on what works best for the team dynamics.
Encourage Openness: Create an environment where your team feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and concerns. Make them feel and know (by your actions) that their opinions are valued and respected. You don’t have to agree with or implement all of them; however, you owe them the courtesy of being present.
To End…
Although time is scarce, make each interaction with your team meaningful and impactful, fostering stronger connections. Institute one, two or all of these strategies; whatever you decide to do, use meaningful conversations as a powerful tool to build a motivated, connected, and high-functioning team.
I’m already celebrating your success!