Taking on a leadership role within an organization is no easy task. Not only do you have to be able to lead by example and make tough decisions independently, but there are also times when you need to factor in the thoughts and concerns of your staff members. In fact, workplace leaders who pay attention and listen to their subordinate peers typically find that their own jobs become easier, less stressful and more productive. With that in mind, a number of techniques exist that you can use to become a better listener and, as a result, a more effective team leader.

How to Obtain Valuable and Pertinent Information

Prior to seeking out the qualifications and potential of your staff members, you need to first learn how to solicit valuable and pertinent information on a regular basis. For some leaders this is a rather straightforward process. Others, especially those who are relatively new to their managerial or supervisory role, may find it difficult to obtain that information from their subordinates.

Maintaining availability toward your staff stands as one of the most effective strategies you can use when trying to acquire pertinent and useful information. To accomplish this, you should remain approachable whenever possible. If you find that employees are not initiating their own conversations with you, don’t be afraid to talk to them. Approaching your employees is a great way to show respect and appreciation of their efforts.

Some leaders utilize anonymous surveys to acquire such information. Not only does this allow you to ask targeted and specific questions, but it gives your employees an avenue for providing their true thoughts in an anonymous fashion. These types of surveys have proven to be hugely successful.

What to Listen For

In order to make the most out of your interactions, it’s important that you know what to listen for when talking to your employees. Not only can this avoid unnecessary distractions or concerns in the workplace, but it can help to ensure productivity on a long-term basis.

For starters, try to assess whether your employees tout their personal achievements over those which were accomplished as part of a team. Those who maintain too much focus on themselves may be better-suited for roles that welcome independence and self-motivation.

However, if your workplace is highly structured and team-oriented, you will have more success finding recruits who boast about their achievements that were beneficial to their past teams or organizations. This gives you a much clearer picture in determining a new employee’s potential, as well as how they may affect your own success in the future.

Work With Long Island Temps Today

If you are having difficulty providing leadership in the workplace, or if you just need a little push in the right direction, don’t hesitate to contact our experienced recruiters at Long Island Temps. With a comprehensive client roster spanning a broad range of industries, Long Island Temps can help to foster  your company’s success in the 21st century.