Theodore Roosevelt once said
People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care
The more I’ve led, the more I’ve discovered this truth. When we were leading young students, this especially came into play.
With troubles at home, issues at school, and a general disdain for authority, they struggled with listening to those in a position of power. That is, until you showed them you cared about their life.
So, what can you do to show people you care? I think the following 7 actions demonstrate an attitude of caring towards others.
1. Ask pertinent questions: People love to talk about themselves. So ask questions that relate to their lives and their interests.
By asking questions around their likes and desires, you open up a channel of communication and this shows that you care about them not only as an employee but also as a person.
2. Invite them out to lunch: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are sacred activities to most people. Eating is a time of renewal and re-energizing.
It’s also a time that business professionals spend with those they see as peers.
Bring in someone that’s typically not in the lunch crowd. Invite them for a bite to eat and practice action number 1.
3. Pass along a great book: You know personal development is important to leadership. You’ve read plenty of good books.
Yet when is the last time you’ve passed on a recommendation to someone you’re leading?
If it’s been awhile, look around your library and see what book speaks to you. Then go buy a copy and pass it along to someone you feel needs it.
4. Share organizational happenings: There’s always something cool happening within organizations. Your organization may have landed a big client or you may be bringing in a cool speaker to share a motivational word.
Let people on your team know about these type of activities. They’ll be thrilled to know you think highly enough of them to bring them into the know.
5. Compliment a job well done: A thank you or good job goes a long way in feeling cared for.
Who doesn’t like to be told they’ve done something well? Go out and tell someone on your team how much you appreciate them.
It’ll bring a smile to their face.
6. Allow them to pick your brain: People look up to you. They know you’re pretty smart and you know how to get things done.
Create time for those you lead to be able to ask you questions.
They’ll see this as an opportunity to be mentored by someone they admire. You can’t go wrong here!
7. Give a raise: There’s been a lot of research that says money isn’t the main motivating factor at work. Because of this, many organizations have overlooked this and gone towards rewarding with intrinsic rewards rather than extrinsic rewards.
You may not have given a raise to someone in a long time but feel you’ve done a great job because you’ve given them intrinsic rewards.
You probably have. But you’ve left your people feeling undervalued as cost of living expenses have risen.
Step up to the plate today and show your people you care by giving them a raise. It’s going to do wonders for your workforce.
Question: What are you doing to show people you care? I want to hear about it in the comment section below. Let’s talk about it and see what others can come up with!
Please note: I reserve the right to delete comments that are offensive or off-topic.