Leadership and the Human Connection: Where to Start?
You will read a thousand feel-good memes about leadership, and all of them have the same basic characteristics; they appeal to the humanity of both the employee and the leader. On the surface, it seems like simple business-sense and feels a lot easier when you are reading it than it can be in practice.
If you understand that you are the only person who you can change, and the only time you can make those changes is now, then you are already doing better than many others. Leadership is a tough balancing act between business and relationship, and the people who struggle to lead often focus too hard on one or the other.
The first step is to truly understand your role in the team. You are not above them; you are merely a decision-maker that is ultimately accountable for the deliverables they produce. You need your team to produce and, often, you need them more than they need you. With this mindset intact, it is easier to be grateful for their effort and offer genuine praise instead of hollow pleasantries.
Simple pleasantries are a good start, but these begin to ring hollow without depth. It is possible to remain at a professional distance while maintaining a desirable team culture that produces superior results. It is up to you to set the expectations with your team for how you will manage, what you expect of them and what they can expect from you.