The era of the “boss” who is harsh, inaccessible and difficult to deal with is long gone, you know? Nowadays, companies increasingly want humane managers who are capable of implementing a collaborative culture that gets the most out of their employees. Therefore, becoming an accessible leader is an excellent goal for your professional development.
But how do you do this? Given that this new leadership profile is relatively new, you may have difficulty identifying models, getting inspired, and understanding exactly what you need to do to get closer to your team. However, you don’t need to despair or believe that implementing these changes will be a huge challenge.
In reality, being a more approachable leader is much easier than you might think. You won’t need any fancy skills to achieve this feat. With a little dedication and focus on the professionals on your team, as well as constant professional development, you’ll be able to achieve it in record time.
To help you on this journey, we have created a list of essential tips for this process. Below, you will find suggestions for actions and improvements that will transform the way you lead and manage your team. Are you ready to learn everything and put it into practice as quickly as possible?
Approachable leader: 6 tips to get closer to your team
1 – Adopt active listening and have an empathetic stance
Being approachable means that professionals will feel comfortable coming to you, and that you will have time and attention for them, right? So the first step is to change the way you deal with the people on your team.
To do this, adopt a more active listening style , focusing entirely on what the employee is telling you and presenting, and cultivate an empathetic approach to deal with everything that involves your team. This way, you will show, in practice, that you are more present and ready to listen and help whenever possible.
2 – Make an effort to really get to know the professionals on your team
By actively listening to your employees and paying more attention to each person and their deliverables, you will get to know them even more deeply. This is a fundamental step in your process.
This way, you will be able to easily identify patterns, understand each person’s strengths and weaknesses, assign specific tasks with individual professional development in mind, and be able to help in challenging times.
None of this will go unnoticed, and soon your subordinates will realize that they can count on you and that you are available to them, as leaders of people should be.
3 – Make the most of collaborative projects and work across the entire team
Furthermore, getting closer to the team also means putting yourself on an “equal footing”.
Even though this doesn’t take away hierarchy and your authority, collaborative projects are an excellent way to make people see you in a different light. In addition, it is a golden opportunity to discover hidden talents, increase professionals’ self-confidence and achieve above-average results. After all, teamwork always pays off.
4 – Don’t be afraid to ask for help and learn from your employees
Following the same line of reasoning, being approachable also means not being untouchable and perfect. Although it is your role to set an example, deliver excellent work and be a source of inspiration, you are not the “know it all” and you can learn a lot from your employees.
So, after learning more about each of them and their strengths, don’t be afraid to ask for help and learn from them. Younger professionals can have very innovative ideas, in addition to being great with new technologies, while more experienced employees can teach you a lot with their years of experience, which certainly have shown you a lot about the challenges of the corporate world.
5 – Maintain transparency and open communication
Being accessible also means being transparent about the business’s processes, decisions, and strategic paths. Even though many leadership conversations and decisions are confidential, you can still share a lot with your subordinates, bringing them peace of mind and clarity.
Therefore, understand that you don’t need to hide everything or only tell the minimum necessary. A relationship of trust is also built with this communication, always respecting the company’s limits and rules and without compromising any operation or planning.
6 – Own up to your mistakes and accept negative feedback
Finally, don’t be afraid to admit your mistakes and receive negative feedback. The more approachable you are, the more comfortable your team members will be in giving you these tips and, ultimately, helping you.
Making mistakes is part of everyday professional life, and when you admit that you made a mistake, you send very positive messages to your team.