Making time for people

Habits for the task focused leader.

July 31, 2023
Two people in conversation
“If you think you're leading, but no one is following, then you are only taking a walk.” - John Maxwell.

Leadership inherently includes people. If you want to cultivate leaders, you need to make time for people.

A guide to growing servant leaders

Know yourself

Some people might need a post titled "make time for strategy" As an INTJ, that's not me. For me, there's a draw to pull away and design, strategize, solve problems. Early in my leadership journey, I would go away, craft a plan, and bring it back to the team. This usually had mixed results.

Over time I learned to facilitate co-creation times with my team where we would solve together. This was a breakthrough for me and became my core leadership style. Later I discovered IDEOs design thinking concepts and Google's Design Sprint format, which gave me even more tools in this toolbox.  But it's not about the tools. These tools help me engage the people to draw out their unique perspectives and insight and platform their voices as we solve together.

It's critical to find ways to engage and regularly connect with people in a way that recognizes and maintains their humanity.

It's important to know what your tendencies and preference are. If you're like me, some of these habits may help bring some balance.

Put it in the schedule

A pitfall I fell into early in leadership was seeing people as interrupting the work I was trying to get done. This mainly was a result of unmet expectations. I had an expectation about how I would spend a specific time, like Tuesday afternoon, and then someone would call or come by at that time with a question or wanting to work on something else.

I have other spaces of time that I've pre-allocated for meeting with people

Smartphones didn't help this. Now I was always accessible to my team and others. I needed to add some structure. I began by theming my days and block scheduling my time. I still do this by having chunks of time for focused work where I turn off all notifications and my calendar is not free. And then I have other spaces of time that I've pre-allocated for meeting with people. This way, when someone wants to meet, I offer my preset times, and it doesn't feel like I'm giving anything up because the decision was already made in the past.

Start doing 1on1s

Another essential habit that I began was having weekly 1on1s with people on my team. If you haven't heard of 1on1s before, check out how I do it or look through the many resources on manager tools. Here's a quick overview

  1. Always weekly. Schedule your 1on1s each week, and don't cancel it.
  2. 30 min. The meeting doesn't need to be long. 30 minutes will help it stay focused.
  3. They set the agenda. This one surprises people. The direct report, not the leader, determines what is discussed.
  4. Running notes. I keep a shared google doc for my reports to collect questions or topics, and I can preview it before our meeting.

Some questions need to be asked right now, but many fall in the category, "I'll ask when I see them..." Having a weekly 1on1 ensures that they'll see you this week. This regular rhythm allows people to write down questions or ideas they have rather than shooting them to you in an email or slack message.

It’s easy to feel stuck or uncertain about how to move ahead. Maybe you feel overloaded or like you’re just spinning your wheels. What if you had someone alongside you on the journey?

People outside your team

There are people beyond your team with whom you connect and collaborate. It's important to recognize this network and prioritize connecting with people. This could be scheduling a 30 min check-in each month or quarter. It could mean having lunch or sending a quick "how's it going?" text.

It can be easy to see this network as transactional. When this happens, I don't see Mike; I see the budget person. This is not how you want to cultivate your leadership. It's critical to find ways to engage and regularly connect with people in a way that recognizes and maintains their humanity.

Often projects are more straightforward than people.

Again, depending on your personality, this may not be as much of an issue. But if it is, habits like this can help you protect against blind spots developing in your leadership and life.

Not just the work people

Often projects are more straightforward than people. When relationships are complicated, there is the temptation to stay longer at work or find another way to keep busy. I've struggled with this but what's helped me is refocusing on my long-term priorities.

When I think about what will matter at the end of my life, it's people. This may seem strange, but imagining what you want to be said about you at your funeral quickly distills what's important to you.

A few years ago, I set a couple of habits to help me live by my priorities.

  1. Say yes when my kids ask me to do something with them. If I don't make a habit of saying yes when they're young, they'll stop asking.
  2. Create regular rhythms with friends. I have a couple of groups of friends with whom I have weekly or monthly connections. It's not the only time we connect, but it ensures that we're still prioritizing our friendships even in the busy seasons.

Action Plan

Remember, creating time for people requires intentionality and commitment. By incorporating these action steps into your leadership approach, you can foster stronger connections, improve team morale, and create a positive work environment.

  1. Assess Current Time Allocation: Begin by evaluating how you currently spend your time. Identify areas where you may be neglecting or not prioritizing interactions with people.
  2. Define Priorities: Determine the importance of making time for people in your leadership role. Recognize the value and impact of building relationships, fostering teamwork, and supporting the well-being of your team members.
  3. Set Specific Goals: Establish clear and measurable goals related to making time for people. For example, you might aim to have regular one-on-one meetings with your team members, allocate a certain amount of time each week for open-door policy, or schedule team-building activities.
  4. Plan and Schedule: Create a structured schedule that includes dedicated time for connecting with your team. Block out specific time slots for meetings, informal conversations, or team-building activities. Ensure that these commitments are treated as non-negotiable.
  5. Delegate and Empower: Delegate responsibilities and empower your team members to handle certain tasks independently. By entrusting them with more autonomy, you can free up time to focus on meaningful interactions with individuals.
  6. Practice Active Listening: When engaging with your team, practice active listening. Give your full attention, maintain eye contact, and show genuine interest in what others have to say. This cultivates a sense of trust, encourages open communication, and strengthens relationships.
  7. Lead by Example: Be a role model for making time for people. Show that you prioritize relationships by consistently demonstrating your availability, approachability, and willingness to engage with others. Encourage your team members to do the same.
  8. Continuously Evaluate and Adjust: Regularly assess how well you are allocating time for people and the effectiveness of your actions. Seek feedback from your team members and make adjustments as needed to ensure your efforts are aligned with their needs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Team Leadership

What is team leadership?

Team leadership is a management approach focused on leading and guiding a group of individuals working together towards a common goal. A team leader is responsible for providing direction, support, and guidance to the team members, while fostering a positive and productive work environment.

Team leadership involves setting clear goals and expectations for the team, communicating effectively, and building trust and relationships with team members. It also involves empowering team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their unique skills and perspectives to the team's success.

Some key characteristics of effective team leadership include:

  1. Communication: Team leaders communicate clearly and effectively with their team members, keeping them informed about goals, expectations, and progress.
  2. Vision and strategy: Effective team leaders have a clear vision for what they want to achieve and a strategy for how to get there, while also being flexible and adaptable when necessary.
  3. Empowerment: Good team leaders empower their team members to make decisions and take ownership of their work, while also providing support and guidance as needed.
  4. Trust-building: Team leaders build trust and strong relationships with their team members, creating a positive and productive work environment.
  5. Results-oriented: Finally, effective team leaders are results-oriented, focusing on achieving goals and driving performance while also valuing the well-being and development of their team members.

Overall, team leadership is a collaborative and empowering approach to management that values communication, trust-building, and results-driven performance.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different styles of team leadership?

There are several different styles of team leadership, including:

  1. Democratic leadership: In this style, the leader encourages open communication and participation from all team members in decision-making processes.
  2. Autocratic leadership: This style involves the leader making decisions and taking control over the team's direction, often with little input from team members.
  3. Transformational leadership: This style focuses on inspiring and motivating team members to achieve their full potential, often by setting a clear vision and communicating goals effectively.
  4. Servant leadership: A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their team members, focusing on serving and empowering them to achieve their goals.
  5. Laissez-faire leadership: In this style, the leader provides minimal guidance or direction, allowing team members to take ownership of their work and make decisions independently.
  6. Transactional leadership: This style involves setting clear goals and expectations for team members and providing rewards or discipline based on performance.
  7. Situational leadership: This approach involves adapting one's leadership style to fit the specific situation or needs of the team at any given time.

Overall, each style of team leadership has its own strengths and weaknesses, and effective leaders may use a combination of different styles depending on the situation and the needs of their team.

Learn more about leadership.

What are the different skills required for team leadership?

There are several key skills required for effective team leadership, including:

  1. Clear: Team leaders must be to communicate effectively with their team members, setting clear expectations and goals, providing feedback, and keeping everyone informed about progress and changes.
  2. Active listening: Leaders need to be able to listen actively to their team members, hear their concerns, ideas, and suggestions, and work collaboratively to find solutions.
  3. Empathy: Good team leaders value empathy, recognizing and understanding the perspectives of their team members, and working to build trust and strong relationships
  4. Decision-making: Leaders must be able to make informed decisions based on available information and input from team members, while also being decisive when necessary.
  5. Problem-solving: Effective team leaders must be able to identify and solve problems that arise within the team, working collaboratively to find creative and effective solutions.
  6. Motivation and empowerment: Leaders must be able to motivate and empower their team members to take ownership of their work, overcome challenges, and achieve their full potential.
  7. Delegation and management: Team leaders must be able to delegate tasks effectively, manage resources and timelines, and oversee the work of the team to ensure quality and efficiency.

Overall, effective team leadership requires a combination of interpersonal, decision-making, and management skills, as well as the ability to inspire and empower team members to work collaboratively towards shared goals.

Learn more about leadership.

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

Servant Leadership

What is servant leadership?

Servant leadership is a leadership philosophy and management style that emphasizes the importance of serving others first before considering one's own needs and desires. It's an approach to leadership that focuses on the well-being and growth of others, rather than solely on achieving organizational goals.

A servant leader prioritizes the needs of their followers or team members, providing them with support, guidance, and mentorship. They are committed to empowering their team members to reach their full potential and achieve their goals.

Some common characteristics of servant leaders include:

  1. Empathy: Servant leaders value empathy, placing themselves in the shoes of their followers to better understand their needs and motivations.
  2. Listening: They are active listeners, taking the time to listen to their followers' concerns, feedback, and ideas.
  3. Commitment to development: Servant leaders prioritize the growth and development of their followers, providing opportunities for learning and development.
  4. Humility: They recognize their own limitations and seek input from others to make informed decisions.
  5. Stewardship: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, working to create a positive impact for all stakeholders.

Overall, servant leadership is about creating a supportive and empowering environment for others to thrive. By prioritizing the needs of their followers, a servant leader can inspire trust, loyalty, and commitment, ultimately leading to better outcomes for the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How can servant leadership be beneficial in the workplace?

Servant leadership can be beneficial in the workplace in a number of ways, including:

  1. Improved employee engagement and job satisfaction: When employees feel supported, valued, and empowered by their leaders, they tend to be more engaged and satisfied with their work.
  2. Increased collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize communication, collaboration, and trust-building, which can lead to stronger relationships and more effective teamwork.
  3. Higher levels of productivity and innovation: When leaders empower their team members to take ownership of their work and contribute their ideas, it can lead to higher levels of productivity and innovation.
  4. Reduced turnover and absenteeism: Employees who feel supported and valued are less likely to leave their jobs or call in sick, leading to reduced turnover and absenteeism rates.
  5. Improved organizational culture: Servant leadership can create a positive organizational culture that values growth, development, and well-being for all stakeholders, which can lead to improved morale and outcomes.

Overall, servant leadership can lead to a more positive, productive, and fulfilling workplace environment, benefiting both employees and the organization as a whole.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

How does servant leadership differ from other leadership styles?

Servant leadership differs from many other leadership styles in several key ways:

  1. Focus on serving others: Servant leaders prioritize the needs and well-being of their followers over their own interests, while many other leadership styles focus more on achieving organizational goals.
  2. Empathy and listening skills: Servant leaders value empathy and active listening skills to better understand the needs and perspectives of their followers, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on asserting authority or making decisions without input from others.
  3. Collaboration and teamwork: Servant leaders prioritize collaboration and teamwork, seeking to empower and develop their followers to achieve their full potential, while other leadership styles may be more focused on competition or individual achievement.
  4. Humility and accountability: Servant leaders view themselves as stewards of their organization, prioritizing the well-being of all stakeholders and taking responsibility for their decisions, while some other leadership styles may be more focused on personal ambition or avoiding blame.

Overall, servant leadership is characterized by a focus on serving others, prioritizing empathy and collaboration, and taking a humble and accountable approach to leadership. While other leadership styles may be effective in different contexts, servant leadership can be a powerful tool for creating positive change and empowering others to reach their full potential.

Learn more about how to cultivate servant leadership.

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