Manufacturing Basics and
Best Practices Bulletin (MBBP)
Now serving 15,000 Plus Subscribers

Team Leadership  

Here are 5-basics on how to develop strong relationships that are so crucial to your success as a leader:  

1. Ask each employee what he/she most values, and begin to set company goals to support these important aspects of the lives of your employees.  

2. Help people reach their full potential by catching them doing something great! Compliment them on their successes, even if they are minute.  

3. Distribute a monthly company newsletter, whose sole purpose is to recognize and congratulate the "wins and wows" of your employees. People love to be recognized for their accomplishments, and this will instill a sense of pride in your employees.  

4. Host one fun day each month. Take employees to lunch, to a matinee, or host a party outside of the office. This one day off will rejuvenate your employees and build loyalty to the organization.  

5. Build consensus by allowing employees to vote on changes within the company.  

Motivating Team Members 

When it comes to motivating people, nothing is more powerful than dealing with others honestly and recognizing individual efforts and achievement. These 5 tips are crucial for mastering the important elements of exemplary leadership: 

1. Deal with conflict by being upfront and honest. Own up to your role in the conflict and move toward resolution as quickly as possible. If you have been wrong, state it, followed by an extension of an apology.  

2. Eliminate company gossip from your life, and keep all employee concerns confidential. If you need support for company gossip, hire a coach who has a reputation of being trustworthy to act as a sounding board. 

3. Trust your employees to make smart decisions without your interference. Self-esteem is built by allowing others the opportunity to try new things and to be successful by adding their personal touch to a project or assignment.  

4. Provide work that is meaningful and that allows your employees and/or volunteers the opportunity to stretch and grow, and above all, provide the training necessary for implementing a change.  

The training of people will be crucial to your ability to move into the future. Add a coach to your team or visit the American Society of Training and Development (www.astd.org) to find an expert near you.  

5. Cheer the company on by announcing on a daily basis the successes of the previous day. Make this announcement public and filled with enthusiasm!

Courage, encouragement, honesty and open communications are four ingredients, when used daily, can maximize your leadership potential and support you in growing employee loyalty.