Self-awareness can help you build a strong team building program and give your employees a voice. In our fast-paced workplaces, we tend to forget that everyone has valuable ideas and talents that they can share with the team. When your employees don’t have a voice you may be missing out on vital ideas that could help you run your organization more smoothly and profitably. Self-aware leaders understand that everyone has their own areas of expertise that can help the organization function better.
Here are some practical ideas so you can give everyone voice.
- Listen to your employees so you can learn from their wisdom and varied perspectives.
- Stop talking. If you’re the only person talking then no one else is able to his or her voice.
- Show people you value their voice. Invite participation and the exchange of ideas. Be open to comments and suggestions. Use people’s ideas and give them the opportunity to come up with more.
- Create a culture of respect. All ideas are valid and nobody gets belittled because their idea seems unorthodox.
- Encourage autonomy and personal leadership. Allow your employees to use their voices to do their jobs better and become leaders in their own niche.
- Let people do things they enjoy. People are more likely to express their views and use their voices when they are doing work that is meaningful to them.
- Encourage collaboration. Build teams where everyone’s voice is equally valid and each person’s input is highly valued.
How many of these ideas do you currently use in your workplace? If you use them all you will create a workplace where your employees feel like valuable members of your team. What will you do to practice self-awareness and give your employees a voice?
Cheers,
Guy