Managers: Why Valuing Your Team Members Could Be The Most Valuable Thing You Do

I have said in previous articles that a manager’s team members are his or her most valuable asset because a manager is there to get results, but those results are primarily achieved through their team.

But how many managers truly value their team members? Perhaps if they understood the benefits of doing so, and some practical ways to achieve it, they would place greater value on their team members.

Benefits Of Valuing Your Team Members

One of the clearest benefits is that it creates higher levels of motivation within the team. This means people are more likely to work harder, go the extra mile, take on more responsibility, strive to achieve better results, and produce higher-quality work. Overall, it leads to improved performance.

Secondly, valuing your team increases loyalty and trust. This means team members are more likely to support the decisions you make and stand behind you when challenges arise. In other words, they are more likely to have your back than work against you.

Valuing your team members also builds their confidence. As a result, they tend to produce better-quality work. They also feel secure enough to share their knowledge, ideas and solutions, which benefits both the team and the organisation.

They will also be more open to development, which helps them improve their skills and competencies. In turn, they become capable of taking on more delegated responsibilities and delivering even better results.

Overall, workplace morale improves when you consistently show that you value your team. You will see stronger relationships, higher levels of engagement and accountability, improved productivity and results, and better employee retention.

Five Ways to Value Them

So, here are five ways to show your team that you value them.

1. Appreciate them

Consistently encourage your team members by recognising excellent work and acknowledging tasks they complete well. Give credit where credit is due and thank them, either privately or publicly, depending on the situation.

2. Listen to them

Whether it is their contributions in meetings or during one-to-one conversations, give them your full attention. Concentrate on what they are saying so that your responses and body language demonstrate genuine interest. Not feeling listened to by a manager can leave employees feeling insignificant and undervalued and leads to demotivation.

3. Involve them in decision-making

Consult team members for information when solving problems and seek their ideas and suggestions when important decisions need to be made. Where appropriate, gain consensus on less significant decisions, particularly when the outcome affects the whole team.

4. Celebrate achievements

The next time your team has a small win, why not bring in coffee and doughnuts to celebrate? For larger achievements, provide lunch or take the team out for dinner. Include a short speech expressing appreciation for their efforts. Not only does this make people feel valued, but it also reinforces the message that the team is succeeding. After all, we all want to be part of a winning team.

5. Empower them

One of the best ways to do this is through delegation. When you delegate meaningful tasks, you demonstrate trust in your team’s abilities and show that you value their contribution. In return, they are more likely to trust you.

Starting to do these things will help you reap the benefits I have mentioned at the beginning. However, it all begins with recognising the importance of your team and the role they play in helping you achieve the results expected of you as a manager.

In 2010, during an open forum Q&A session, Richard Branson was asked:

“The key to success in three words, please?”

His response was simple:

“People. People. People.”

He knows a thing or two about leadership and business success, so perhaps we need to take a closer look at our own attitudes towards our team members and truly recognise their value. Then we need to make sure they feel valued too.

Could doing this be the start of improving your team’s performance and results? I sincerely hope so.

#MotivatingTeamMembers #LeadershipDevelopment  #ManagementSkills #PeopleLeadership  #LeadershipGrowth  #ManagerTips #WorkplaceCulture #EmployeeEngagement