Why connecting with direct reports on a personal level helps you lead better and strengthen your team
In my career, I’ve come across quite a number of managers. What I have observed is the managers that make an effort to engage their team on a personal level often have a better working relationship with their team.
The truth is the more interaction you have with someone the higher the likelihood of getting insights into what truly motivates him or her. As a leader, you will quickly find out that motivating your direct reports and team will always be challenging.
Another important reason why you should foster closer relationships with your team is that it builds trust. Another key element of leadership. As a manager that they trust – your team is also more inclined to sharing with you how they truly feel. All are additional insights you would otherwise not have been able to tap into. Trust is the foundation of a productive team.
All this seems obvious enough to many. Yet, in my experience I have not seen every manager actively building personal connections with their team mates. Why? It could be the anticipation of more time spent, perhaps. However, I believe they are overlooking how such efforts lead to crucial benefits such as better insights to anticipate changes within the team and how to manage attrition. All things we know are terribly time consuming.
