At Employment Solutions, we often talk about the difference between leaders who inspire their teams, and those who just manage departments. Businesses sorely need the kind of leaders who can bring a company forward, rather than just working a desk.
Get Involved
One of the biggest ways to lead by action is to be constantly getting information from all types of sources. This means getting out in the field to look at what’s happening with all levels of staffing. It means keeping up on corporate info, but also knowing the realities about market demand, production and more. The more knowledge you have, the more you will stand out as someone who’s really putting in the work to lead their company.
Fill In
Many of us remember a boss who, instead of calling in a sub from a backup roster when staffing was tight, came out to the job site and worked alongside a crew, serving food, hauling carts, picking up the phone or doing whatever it was that people did at the company.
Some leaders already have this method in their playbook, but those who don’t should definitely include it. Filling in shows that you can do the tough jobs that others do, often for less pay. It also builds empathy, which you need to lead by example.
Develop a Service Mentality
To be a true leader, those who work under you need to see that you understand things like customer service. Too often, top management feels immune from the responsibility of serving a community, and actually doing things that many corporations talk about. The idea that career advancement insulates you from a service mindset is one of the worst mistakes that any leader can make. It’s the exact opposite direction true leaders go when they have a chance to make a difference.
Build Relationships
True leaders build relationships with everyone at every level of the business. They don’t see a hierarchy as shutting them away from other people. This is not to say that a true leader needs to be everybody’s friend — not at all. It means that you know who you’re working with, what matters to them, and what everyone’s doing. Because when the chips are down, everyone’s in the same boat, and they need to be rowing in the same direction.
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