Too often, we work closely with individuals yet have no sense of who they are or what is important to them. We are quick to judge and assume. We inevitably form unfounded and invalidated opinions regarding individual behaviors and character without knowledge of the person or what has formed them.
Our uniqueness is ours. No one is like us, thankfully in some respects.
As leaders, take time to get to know your team members and peers as people, not employees. Understand what makes them tick and why they behave like they do, not to highlight the differences but to appreciate and understand.
Personal assessments for the team help, coaches provide objectivity, and small questions of inquisitiveness break the ice. If you want a high-performing team, learn how to support each individual’s best self.
