This article is part of Effició’s “Leveraging Skills to Adapt and Grow” series, where we explore how company owners can build and apply critical skills to adapt to changing business landscapes and thrive in dynamic environments. In this installment, we address a common leadership challenge: feeling disconnected from your team.
As a small business leader, it’s crucial to recognize that leadership is not just about what you do for your team—it’s about what you provide for them. Your connection to your team is foundational to creating a cohesive, engaged, and high-performing environment. If you’re feeling disconnected from your team, here are some strategies to help you reconnect and strengthen your leadership.
Understanding Connected Leadership
The Link Between Leadership and Results: Leadership is about more than just achieving results—it’s about how you achieve those results through your team’s efforts. Connected leadership involves teaching, learning, and leading with intention. It starts with analyzing your motives, which are directly connected to your intentions. By understanding and refining these motives, you can cultivate stronger connections and regain control over your team’s dynamics.
Emphasizing Inclusive and Collective Leadership: Leadership is not a solo endeavor; it’s a collective activity shared by many, if not all, team members. A connected leader:
- Teaches organizational members how to be effective leaders in their own right.
- Is committed to lifelong learning for both them and their team.
- Leads with clear intent and focused action.
By fostering an inclusive leadership culture, you upgrade your business’s leadership practices, promoting greater collaboration, engagement, and dialogue across boundaries.
Strategies for Rebuilding Connection
Evaluate Your Leadership Culture: Take a step back and assess whether your current leadership culture supports connection and engagement. Are team members encouraged to voice their opinions? Are they empowered to take ownership of their roles? Sometimes, a disconnect arises from a culture that stifles collaboration and open communication.
Provide the Right Resources and Support: Your connection to your team is not about micromanaging or solving every problem for them—it’s about providing them with the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed. Ensure that your business infrastructure allows team members to perform at their best. This includes access to training, clear communication channels, and the autonomy to make decisions.
Encourage Open Dialogue: Re-establish trust and connection by creating opportunities for open dialogue. Regular check-ins, team meetings, and one-on-one conversations can help you understand your team’s concerns and perspectives. This also allows you to address any underlying issues that may be contributing to the disconnect.
The Big Question: Are You Providing What Your Team Needs?
Ultimately, the key to rebuilding your connection with your team lies in answering this question: Have you set up your business so that all team members have what they need to perform at their best and get support when they need it? Reflecting on this can help you identify areas where your leadership and business culture may need adjustments.
Remember, leadership is not just about what you do—it’s about what you provide. By focusing on connected leadership, you can rebuild trust, enhance team engagement, and drive your business toward greater success.
For more insights and actionable advice on connected leadership, attend our free executive briefing session. This session will provide you with the tools and strategies to optimize your leadership approach and enhance your team’s performance.
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Stay engaged with Effició’s “Leveraging Skills to Adapt and Grow” series—your go-to resource for strengthening practical skills and fostering sustainable business leadership.
