As a team leader, what are you thankful for this year? Maybe you’re thankful that, for once, nobody called in sick on your busiest day. You might be thankful for the supplier who was actually on time with the right order. If you’re really lucky, you might even be thankful that your new promotion is working, that sales are up, and you haven’t heard any customers complain about the service, the product, or even the weather.
Those are all definitely good reasons to feel grateful any day of the year. But this holiday season, why don’t you look a little bit deeper? Consider what top leaders are most grateful for and compare it to your own list:
- Their employees. Successful leaders are backed by a great team of employees. Why? Because true leaders are more than just competent on the job. They’re passionate about the operation, the work, the team, the customers, the suppliers… the whole process that makes this business worthwhile and rewarding. This passion is contagious. It motivates the entire team, attracts fresh talent, and encourages everyone to perform even better.
- Their boss. It is impossible to have a truly great leader without the full support of a corporation’s CEOs, owners and other bigwigs. Only when a person is entrusted with responsibility and given the tools and the space needed to perform can a manager become a leader.
- Their customers. Leaders get the big picture. While it’s tempting to get bogged down on the details of an operation, leaders know that at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how they feel: it only matters how their customers feel. Every decision, every bit of training, every shift meeting keeps this focus and encourages everyone else to do the same.
- Their personal time. The leaders who are most successful (personally and professionally) are those who practice self-care. They re-energize away from work and seek opportunities that help them grow mentally, spiritually and physically. In short, they have a life… and they’re thankful for it.
Author Melody Beattie once said, “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.” This holiday season, when life gets so busy that you forget where you parked your car, take a moment to remember what you’re thankful for. Then, make a list of what you hope to be thankful for next year… and lay out a plan that leads you to creating that type of year and becoming that type of leader. After all, the New Year and all its resolutions will be here before you know it.
Leadership and the Culture of Convenience
Leaders who create a culture of convenience are able to streamline tasks and establish processes that make improve employee performance and increase everyone’s productivity. Get weekly ideas on how to make your job easier through the Culture of Convenience podcast. Listen now!
