Business owners have personal, financial, and professional investments in their company. In order to grow and maintain a successful business, the owners, managers, and leaders must take a personal responsibility for their employees and customers.
Some of the most successful leaders have found that becoming a team player is important to overall morale. It may be necessary to distinguish yourself as a leader, but it is equally important to reinforce that you are a team player with similar responsibilities.
In order to prove that you respect and appreciate each member of your team, you must lead by example. If you are constantly complaining or disrespectful to coworkers, chances are your employees will imitate your actions.
In order to lead by example, you may consider these general rules.
* If a difficult job or task arises, be the first to volunteer. Leaders often get into a routine of passing unwanted tasks on to lower grade employees. However, by showing that you opt to willingly volunteer for a difficult task, you are holding up your end of the work.
* Be punctual. Arriving to work with a few moments to spare will allow you time to adjust and prepare yourself for the day ahead. Employees notice when managers take advantage of longer lunches or breaks. Attempt to follow the same rules that the employees must.
* Show respect to your employees. Although you may have a higher paying job and more benefits, you should not present yourself as “better” than that employee. Rather, treat each employee as equals.
* Appreciate the hard work that your employees have done. Be sure to acknowledge and take notice when an employee performs exceptionally well.
* Remain positive even during moments of crises or when encountering a particularly difficult task. It may be difficult but try to smile and work through the situation. If you become frustrated and give up, your employees will also lower their efforts.
* Avoid negative conversations. You may have just had a bad encounter with a customer and want someone to vent to. However, your employees are not the appropriate audience. Without customers, your business would quickly fail. You want to encourage respectful interaction with customers.
* Remain calm when dealing with upset customers. Try to focus on the issue at hand, rather than the angry customer. This will allow you to evaluate the problem and handle it accordingly. By doing so, you will encourage your employees to handle customers confidently in a wide range of situations.
* Perform as you want your employees to do so. It is understandable that everyone has off days. However, try your best to remain on top of things, stay organized, and efficiently handle orders, customer complaints, and everyday business responsibilities. It will encourage your employees to give their best effort on each and every task.
Remember that your actions speak louder than your words. It would be easy to display a sign highlighting all of your company’s rules and then disregard them simply because you are a leader. Taking the easy way out is not always the best option for your company.
Employees are aware of the actions and performances of their leaders, managers, and supervisors. Do not allow an opportunity for an employee to become resentful or feel taken for granted. If you lead by example, you will show your employees that you are a team player that is equally invested in this company’s success.
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