Andy Stanley says, “Unexpressed gratitude feels like ingratitude to the ones for whom you are grateful.” I don’t think most of us are ungrateful for our teams. However, it’s common for leaders to struggle with remembering to show appreciation for their team when they see them every day.
In this episode, we’re going to help you better communicate your appreciation for your team even if you’re working remotely. What gets rewarded gets repeated in any organization, and remote teams are no different. Now more than ever, team members need to know their hard work is seen and valued.
Showing gratitude might not look the same from one team member to the next. One might appreciate a gift. Another might enjoy a free lunch. And for some, a simple “thank you” note will be enough. Also, don’t assume the way you see gratitude is the same way your team will. Take the time to interact and get to know each team member so you’ll be better prepared to show them gratitude when the time comes.
In other words, be intentional about your gratitude. As busy as we are as leaders, it’s easy to go through a day, a week and even a month without stopping and reflecting on how your team is performing and who is really getting things done. Use calendar reminders to set aside specific times regularly to show appreciation. Don’t let your day-to-day busyness cause you to forget some of the daily awesomeness your team is doing.
If you’re fully remote, you can still get together on occasion to celebrate what the company, and each other, is doing. Depending on your budget, get together quarterly, or at least annually, and throw a party! This isn’t about work. It’s about appreciation. Invite a guest speaker, give out gifts, provide amazing food, and just celebrate your team. Go over the top as much as your budget will allow. Christmas parties are a great opportunity to do this, but also try to get together during the year “just because.”
Today on the podcast, we have a special episode courtesy of our friends at the Maxwell Leadership Podcast. BELAY CFO Lisa Zeeveld sat down with Mark Cole recently to co-host an episode of the Maxwell Leadership Podcast about how to get time back as a leader.
In this Bonus Next Step, Tricia and LZ share how to identify and prioritize your most important emails so they don’t get lost in the mix.
Communication is a critical part of leadership. But managing email can be tedious and frustrating for busy leaders. In this episode, Tricia and LZ will discuss their strategies for email management and reaching “inbox zero.” Leaders will get new ideas about how to manage email, how Tricia and LZ delegate to their virtual assistants, how they prioritize their emails, and a lot more!
