“A little Consideration, a little Thought for Others, makes all the difference.” —A.A. Milne

Of all the contributors to team member satisfaction, the ability of a manager to communicate effectively with an employee is at the top of the list. Another truth we have found is highly developed leaders are often effective, highly skilled communicators.

Business trends and topics come and go. Right now, employee engagement seems to be top of mind for many managers. Or is it? Dig a little deeper, and engagement is more or less a timeless theme. Because, after all, at its core, true engagement is about building trust and commitment.

So, while there isn’t a simple, one-size-fits-all solution to ensure you’ve created a meaningful, authentic connection with team members, it stands to reason if you work for someone that supports you, there are likely to be positive outcomes for you professionally and personally.

Previously, we’ve shared the traits of highly empathetic people. Take a few moments to look back at that list of traits. Then, reflect and answer these questions this week:

  • How would you rate your ability to have empathy for others?
  • How often are you able to engage in “radical listening”?
  • Who in your company needs to be touched by “empathy” today? This week?
  • How can you encourage the development of empathy with your team? In yourself?

Building trust doesn’t happen in a single moment. Commit to using little pockets of time—15-minutes here, and 30-minutes there—to challenge yourself. Consider the equation of one person, one consideration and one conversation at a time. We challenge you to see how little shifts lead to making a big difference in experiences and outcomes. As always, thanks for reading and committing to your growth.