Take a moment to think about how YOU impact the atmosphere and morale of your organization, department, or team.
Even if you have a home office with a single virtual assistant, YOU have an impact on how well things flow, and your attitude directly impacts your VA’s excitement to get your work done and to make suggestions to improve workflow.
It all goes back to the Golden Rule – treat others as you want to be treated.
No matter how big (or small) your team is, you can always do nice things to show them that you appreciate the work they do for you.
From simple words of appreciation to surprise bonuses, small gestures go a long way to show you care.
These same small gestures often lead to team loyalty, too.
Showing interest doesn’t just have to be monetary to be generous.
Show your team members that you care about them as a person outside of the work they do.
This can be done by asking about their spouse, children, hobbies, etc. You can also choose to celebrate birthdays or other significant life events.
In addition to showing appreciation for their performance, and taking interest in them as a person, you can also model positive leadership in the following ways:
1. Practice gratitude and thankfulness
Express these feelings to your employees or virtual team members. Encourage them to find the silver lining in difficult situations.
2. Lead by example
Just as toddlers look to their parents to learn how to behave, your team members or employees look to you to be their guide. Your choice of words and your actions will greatly impact your team and their understanding of how you expect them to act.
3. Smile often
Even if you’re not having the best day, smiling can help diminish your negative thoughts.
Smiling is also contagious so greet your team members on video calls with a smile that says, “I’m happy to see you!”
4. Encourage & support growth
You can also provide whatever updated training is necessary for your team members, so they feel prepared to deal with any challenges that come up.
Knowing you want them prepared instills confidence in your team and shows you care about their performance.
Positive Leadership takes practice to implement, especially if you have struggled with a negative mindset or pessimistic outlook on life.
But when your positive attitude shines through, your team will notice, and it will have a positive impact on them as well.
