How senior leaders can nurture their teams growth and wellbeing
Senior leaders become guiding lights towards collective achievement by:
Sharing personal experiences;
Setting clear expectations;
Facilitating networking opportunities; and
Promoting continuous learning.
Humanising leadership
In the corridors of the workplace, the power of personal narratives is often underestimated. Senior leaders, drawing from their wealth of experience, can illuminate the path for their teams by sharing stories of triumphs, setbacks and lessons learned. For instance, recounting a project that faced unexpected challenges and highlighting the strategies that were used to help achieve success can provide a practical roadmap for the team.
Such stories serve as proof that obstacles are universal and surmountable, fostering a culture of resilience and strategic thinking without any hierarchical barriers.
Ultimately, a humanised leader is exactly that – a human. Someone who is willing to accept and appreciate the humanity in others and understand their strengths and weaknesses.
Setting the course
Setting clear expectations provides direction for a team’s journey. Senior leaders play a pivotal role in aligning their teams with the organisation’s goals. By articulating clear performance metrics, explaining team dynamics and connecting individual efforts to a broader mission, leaders can empower team members to navigate their roles with purpose.
One way to do this is by setting achievable targets and regularly communicating progress benchmarks to create a sense of direction. This motivates employees to contribute meaningfully to the collective success of the team and take ownership of their own career trajectories.
Building bridges
Facilitating networking opportunities is a powerful tool in a senior leader’s arsenal. Beyond the confines of daily tasks, creating avenues for team members to connect with industry professionals, attend events, and engage in collaborative projects can affect career progression.
Networking not only builds a robust support system but also opens doors to invaluable insights and resources. As a leader, endorsing and participating in networking events instils a culture of connection and mutual growth within the team.
Leaders have the ability to provide opportunities that best reflect the needs of the team at the time, whether it's organising internal team-building events or encouraging attendance at industry conferences to grow a network that extends beyond the confines of the team.
The learning journey
Senior leaders should champion ongoing education through tailored training programmes, participation in industry conferences, and staying abreast of emerging trends. By fostering a culture of curiosity and adaptability, leaders enable their teams to contribute meaningfully to the organisation's evolution.
Mentorship programmes can be an excellent way for team members to share insights with peers, creating a culture of curiosity and knowledge-sharing. Identifying training programmes to attend for your industry and presenting the findings to your team via a ‘lunch and learn’ are also great ways to share knowledge.
Managers and leaders can be instrumental in helping younger employees in the workforce navigate different character types, communication and conflict resolution within a team. Without the guidance of experienced heads, these challenges can become significant issues, leading to escalations that could have been mitigated with coaching, active listening and guidance.
By incorporating mentorship programmes and fostering a supportive environment, leaders empower their teams to handle interpersonal challenges as they arise.
Promote employee wellness
Over half (55%) of workers are facing more intense and demanding working days than ever before. Therefore, investing in robust well-being strategies is crucial. For healthcare benefits to be effective, they must be part of a holistic approach that ensures employees are educated on available well-being support. From our own experience at OSiT, we know that intelligent workplace design can play a role in this. With three out of five working people (61%) feeling exhausted at the end of the working day in the UK, ensuring your team has access to facilities and services to look after their mental and physical health is imperative.
Over time, we have witnessed the long-term impacts of traditional, sterile office spaces on workers, couple this with the consequences of the pandemic on working habits and you’re presented with a demotivated and what is often described as a ‘burnt-out’ professional sector.
Our spaces include amenities such as bike racks, standing desks, on-site gyms, rooftop spaces and even a games room, to encourage employees to get away from their desks and adopt healthier habits. By making use of such facilities and encouraging group activities, you can provide a healthier, happier environment for your team to feel productive and engaged.