Emotional Connection Creates Better Leaders

Leaders will benefit from an emotional connection with team members

Most leaders would claim they’re in the business of creating relationships with their customers.  Indeed a great deal of effort goes into creating an emotional connection with their customers.  Yet there are not many businesses which put in the same effort to connect with their own people.  What follows are 6 factors which can help you as a leader to create that connection your employees so sorely need.

1. Value your team

Your team are your biggest and most important asset. They can make or break your businesses. They can certainly help you to build a more profitable business.  Create a state of mind where you feel and express real gratitude to them for the part they play in your success.  Only when you feel that state will the fact you truly value them, be who you are and help create an emotional connection with them.

2. The reward needs to be more than monetary

As a leader, you have a responsibility to get the best out of your team. Your role is to serve your people so you can help them achieve their potential. This isn’t accomplished by simply paying big salaries and bonuses.  While there is an optimum level of monetary reward, which takes people out of survival mode, once that level is reached you need to develop alternative ways of rewarding them.  Thanking them for their service in a number of ways is key to creating an emotional connection with them.

3. Care for them

People need to feel they’re valued and loved. This means caring for them and making them feel wanted in the workplace. This certainly doesn’t mean pampering and drip-feeding them on a daily basis though! Set high standards and then do all you can to help your team achieve those standards. A personal connection with them will help you get the best out of them.

4. Treat people right

All too often it is said ‘treat people how you want to be treated’ – wrong! You have to treat people how they want to be treated. There’s a big a significant difference. We’re all individuals and we need to be treated individually.  Some people need an arm around their shoulder from time to time. Others need regular praise and encouragement. Some just need a push and nudge!

Your people will serve you better if you take the time to understand how they’re wired. This means getting to know them personally and understanding their behaviours and traits. If you treat your people with care and affection then they’ll treat your customers in exactly the same way, it’s a win-win!

5. How do you make them feel?

Relationships and trust take time to develop. You want to ensure you’re investing that time in creating the right type of relationships. Connection helps create a strong bond. The way to connect with people is to emotionally tap into their sub-conscious. This can only be done if you empathise with them. Make an effort to understand their sense of purpose, their values and their feelings.

People never forget how you made them feel. In simple terms, you can make them feel good or bad. A bad feeling results in bad behaviour, bad results and bad relationships. Good feelings lead to trust, comradery and respect.  Genuinely making people feel good creates a strong emotional connection.  This leads to better results, bigger profits and strong team culture.

6. Reflect on your impact

Take a step back and think about how much time you’re investing in building relationships with your team. Do they feel like you’re a leader who they want to serve? Or do they just turn up to work because they need their paycheque at the end of each? Learn, listen and then lead. Creating that emotional connection may just change your business for the better.

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