Leaders Willingness to 'Go Deep'

Conversations with direct reports – team members – are an essential part of leadership.

Leaders need to have conversations which are part of their relationship with team members. The conversations reinforce, or highlight the leader’s commitment to supporting the staff.

And of course, to encourage the heart, to simply say, “thank you for all that you did today”

Managers, on the other hand, are not likely to have conversations of this nature.

Conversations with a manager tend to be strictly ‘operational’. 

Leaders will have conversations which are personal, with the team members. 

Members need to share things, to discuss issues which may impact their performance, and therefore the overall success of the team.

Leaders will likely identify situations with individuals which need addressing.
I’m sure most, if not all of us, during our careers have had at least one instance where a genuine discussion with a manager, the person we report to, is needed.

Managers may think they're approachable.

They may use the standard." My door is always open.”

Often, the problem is it whilst the door is open the manager’s not there, not open to hear what the employee may need to say.

On the other hand, the leader may well sense there is an issue that needs to be discussed and may well pre-empt and ask the individual “is there something you want to talk about?”

Years ago, before we discovered and embraced the power of emotional intelligence, managers would say “don’t bring your problems to work”.

Or, sensing the issue may be ‘personal’, and not wanting to get involved, they may use the ultimate brush off - “Look, if this is personal, you should go and talk to HR.”

Leaders will have built an open culture, where any individual knows that they can come and talk to him or her.

In order to find a resolution to an issue, the leaders may need to ‘go deep’, to open up dialogue, to have the team member feel that they can be ‘vulnerable’ sharing their concerns about issues.

Of course, trust - the glue in the relationship - plays a vital role.

Going deep can be challenging but is often the sign of a robust and healthy relationship.

That’s what exemplary leaders do.