Establishing a Culture of Healthy Leadership: The Top 5 Essential Practices

In today's dynamic organizational landscape, effective leadership goes beyond task management. It encompasses critical elements that contribute to the success of an organization, including understanding your people, processes, organization, colleagues and partners. At the heart of it all is a deep understanding and engagement with these factors, ranging from individual employee aspirations to organizational processes and external relationships. By adopting this holistic approach, leaders can foster a culture of collaboration, innovation and adaptability. 

In a new newsletter series, we will explore each of the five practices, starting with "Know Your People." This practice emphasizes understanding and supporting employees' needs and motivations to unleash their full potential.

Let’s delve into what this practice entails.

FICS Leadership Principle: Know your People

Understanding your direct reports:

1. Hold scheduled, meaningful one-on-one meetings:

• Dedicate specific time for one-on-one sessions with each direct report. These meetings should facilitate in-depth conversations beyond routine updates. 

• Include progress updates:  Utilize these meetings to gain insights into your direct reports' progress on assigned tasks and projects. Understanding their achievements and challenges enables you to offer tailored support. 

2. Provide support to overcoming barriers: Actively listen to your team members' concerns and challenges. When possible, offer support to help overcome obstacles that may hinder their progress. 

• Recognize personal challenges: Understand that personal challenges can impact professional performance. Take the time to comprehend any personal issues your team members may be facing, and offer empathy and support as needed. 

3. Identify strengths and interests: Explore the strengths and passions of each team member. Understanding their motivations and talents allows you to provide opportunities that align with their interests and abilities.

Understanding your team: 

1. Hold regular, structured team meetings:

• Organize regular team meetings to foster collaboration and maintain alignment with organizational goals.

• Conduct these meetings in an organized and timely manner to maximize productivity. 

2. Communicate organizational updates and decisions:

• Leverage team meetings as a platform to convey important organizational updates and decisions.

• Keeping your team informed promotes transparency and helps them understand their role in the broader context of the organization.

3. Highlight priorities and challenges:

• Provide each team member with the opportunity to share their priorities and challenges during team meetings. This encourages open dialogue and ensures everyone's concerns are heard and addressed. 

4. Collaborate on brainstorming: 

• Encourage brainstorming and idea-sharing during team meetings. Leveraging your team's collective knowledge and expertise can generate innovative solutions and drive continuous improvement. 

5. Address progress hurdles:

• Use team meetings to discuss any issues or obstacles that may impede progress.

• By keeping everyone informed, you can proactively address challenges and ensure that projects stay on track. 

By incorporating these “Know Your People” practices, you can cultivate a supportive and productive work environment where team members feel valued and empowered. 

Stay tuned for the next newsletter, where we’ll delve into the second leadership practice – “Know Your Processes.”