In organizations, they may be referred to as staff, employees, or the team. Regardless of the name we associate with them, it is all about people. These are individuals with lives well beyond the workplace. They have families, friends, interests, hobbies, and passions. They like some things and dislike others equally. And yes, they, too, have emotions, personal issues, and challenges they need to address. They are the same person.
Yet, all too often, in organizations, we are so fixated on getting the job done that we forget it is people who typically perform the functions. Even in automated systems, people are at the base of the function.
If we get to know our team, we are likely to be able to uncover what makes them unique and how we can help them love what they do each day and even enjoy it. In turn, we get results. The leader who fails to know their team is merely satisfied with suboptimal. We will never get the most from people until we connect with them.
It does not take much time, but instead scattering some simple questions, such as, “What did you get up to this weekend,’ ‘what do you do to relax outside work? What do you love?’ Nothing to it but a mere demonstration of ‘I see you as an individual, and who you are matters.’
If you want results, know the person, not the title or role.
