Having a Positive Impact on Your Team

Perhaps, the biggest ambiguity you can have as a leader is knowing if your efforts are having a positive impact. You realize that to be successful you need to be your authentic self; transparent, consistent and trust worthy. Your staff responds to your example, how do you know you have made a positive impact? Let's first look at some of the techniques you can put into place to create a culture with your team that provides the feedback you are looking for:

1. Open and Inspiring Communication: A transformational leader encourages open and transparent communication. This can be achieved by holding regular team meetings, where leaders share the vision, goals, and expectations of the organization. An example of this may r may be through inspiring and motivating the team by discussing the importance of their work, the positive impact they can make, and how their efforts contribute to the larger organizational objectives. Providing a forum of open dialogue and aligning the vision with personal vision and goals promotes engagement and ownership of the shared expectations.

2. Clear Direction and Support: The leader provides clear direction and guidance to employees. Having a clear picture of what is expected of us lessens the chance of confusion or disinvolvement. Each member needs reassurance of what their roles and responsibilities and how these roles support the big picture. Offer support, resources, and training to help your team develop the skills to excel in their roles. The dialogue may involve discussing individual and team goals, progress updates, and any challenges or obstacles that need to be addressed; this insight will help you as a leader identify ways you can support them in their roles.

3. Empowerment and Autonomy: A transformational leader empowers employees by delegating authority and granting them autonomy in decision-making. The dialogue may involve discussions about empowering employees to take ownership of their work, encouraging them to think creatively, and involving them in problem-solving processes. When confronted with tasks or concerns seek out input and ideas from your team; this fosters a collaborative and inclusive work environment.

4. Continuous Feedback and Development: Provide regular feedback to employees, both positive reinforcement for their achievements and constructive criticism to help them grow. The dialogue may involve performance discussions, where you as a leader or a mentor offers guidance for improvement, identifies areas of strength, and discusses opportunities for development. You may also encourage employees to set personal and professional goals, supporting their growth and progression.

5. Building Trust and Relationships: Transformational leaders prioritize building trust and fostering positive relationships with their employees. The daily dialogue may involve casual conversations, checking in on your team's well-being, and creating a supportive and inclusive work culture. Set up time to meet individually and as a team to actively listen to concerns, provide guidance, and create a safe space for open and honest discussions.

Signs you are having a positive impact on your team:

Positive communication patterns

Staff will emulate what they have learned or experienced from your example. The first sign is their daily dialogue. An inspired employee will motivate their coworkers and all others around them. Patterns of positive communication begin to develop naturally as team members begin to build a trusting relationship with each other. An inspired team will provide constructive feedback both to you and to each other as it applies to their collective goal.

Improving communication skills becomes part of the culture. Where leadership has focused on mentoring and coaching and providing feed back for growth so too will team members will seek opportunities to empower one another.

Goals will be set , achieved and outcomes improved

A transitional leader fosters culture of achievement and quality. Encourage an environment that sets ambitious goals and provide supports for continuous growth. Your dedication to a learning culture will be reflected by a staff who seeks out new opportunities for growth and improvement. Feedback provided supports personal and team growth, a stronger work ethic and a positive, high performing work environment.

Remember to provide opportunities and time for skill-building, and mentorship and encourage creative alternatives and solutions to obstacles that present themselves. Problems will always arise. An inspired team will begin to identify these shortcomings before they become a problem. They will offer solutions or act as an autonomous unit to achieve the desired outcomes.

Leaders will Emerge

When leading by example you are creating the mold for future leadership to grow. New leaders will emerge who embody the values and behaviors you expect from your team. Be sure to model the values of leadership you want to replicate such as integrity, empathy, and authenticity ( to name just a few). New leaders will require feedback and support. Recalling a video presentation by John Maxwell who pointed out that when you replace yourself as a leader you must go several levels deep to ensure that the loop is closed on the process. Its more like providing another link in the chain. Assisting new leaders develop their skills, in coaching, mentoring other new leaders ensures that the chain continues.

Overall, the daily dialogue a leader has should be characterized by inspiration, motivation, support, empowerment, feedback, and a focus on individual and team growth. The measure of a leader's positive impacts is how encouraged team members are in reaching their full potential and through an interactive, positive work culture where team members feel valued and engaged.