If you lead a team of promo pros, you may sometimes wonder how to support them in meaningful ways. Should you step in and help or let them figure things out on their own? Is it better to problem-solve together or give them space to work independently? Striking the right balance can be tricky, but with intention, you can provide the kind of support that helps your employees grow.
Leadership expert Ben Brearley says that supporting your people means helping them succeed, but it also means helping them support themselves. Otherwise, he says you become the crutch that everyone leans on.
What does it take to properly support your staff members? We share Brearley’s guidance in this issue of PromoPro Daily.
1. Get to know employees as individuals. One-size-fits-all leadership won’t work. People are complex beings with many different factors influencing them at any given time, Brearley says. That’s why you need to tailor your approach to how you lead them. Learn what makes them tick, including what they value and what motivates them. It can be as simple as listening to what they want, what they like and what they dislike.
2. Be available to support your team members. If you’re in back-to-back meetings all day or rarely available to respond to messages, think about what you can change so you can be there when people need you. Brearley says it’s important to look inward and work on yourself. He recommends asking questions like “Am I as available as I’d like to be?” and “Do my team members know they can talk to me about important things?”
3. Encourage open communication. Being available is part of the equation, Brearley says, but it’s not enough to just tout an open-door policy. Instead, actively encourage people to come to you with their challenges rather than keeping it to themselves. He also recommends opening up about your mistakes. When you show vulnerability, you help create open communication.
4. Keep your team accountable. Supporting your employees is all about balance. If you help them without keeping them accountable, you can end up stifling their professional growth. Instead, Brearley recommends holding them accountable. Collaborate on goals and oversee their progress. He says that when you adopt a balanced approach of help and accountability, you allow them to become more effective.
Being a supportive leader doesn’t mean swooping in to fix every mistake or being endlessly available. Instead, it’s about showing up in ways that matter. That means actively listening, keeping your employees accountable and making space for growth. When you customize your approach to each promo pro and the situations they face, you’ll help them do their best work.
Compiled by Audrey Sellers
Source: Ben Brearley, MBA is a leadership coach, trainer and consultant. He’s the founder of Thoughtful Leader.
