#382: Are Front-Line Leaders Better Leaders Than Leaders in the Boardroom? Part 02

Introduction

Today, on the "People Skills" newsletter, we're taking another look at a group of people in the workplace who are rarely trained to have soft skills expertise but, to be successful in their jobs, need them every day.

We're talking about leaders at the front line, those who lead teams of skilled and unskilled workers day in, day out.

These are the men and women who lead people at the coal-face and have to deal with the nitty-gritty problems of "ordinary" people.

As, traditionally, this group of employees have not received the training of more professional employees, they have to use a greater amount of common sense as leaders than others.

So, if you are in this group, or lead people in this group, here are 10 more videos from Greg Schinkel's "Front Line Leadership" courses that are especially for you...

01. The BEER Method for Corrective Feedback

How can you use the BEER method to deliver corrective feedback?

I want to talk about the enticement of using beer to correct unacceptable behaviour and performance.

Before you get too excited, I am not talking about the frosty beverage that you might use on a warm summer's day. I am actually talking about a very simple way that you can give corrective feedback, especially in the moment on the shop floor with team members.

What does the BEER model stand for? Watch to find out.

02. Ask, Don't Tell

Do you tell your team what to do, or do you ask them questions so they take greater ownership?

The power of asking questions is quite profound. In fact, if I asked you, “Who is the best leader you have ever worked for and what made them great?” What is already happening in your mind is you are thinking about one of the best leaders you have had. The person who asks the questions really causes the other person who is being asked those questions to think about something.

In the same way, when you are dispensing answers to your team and telling them what to do, their brain is not engaging as it would if you ask them a question and get them involved in delivering a solution.

Use these tips to ask more questions.

03. Keep Optimism Realistic

You need to have realistic expectations and be optimistic— but with realism intact. Here are three tips to allow you to be both optimistic and realistic.

04. Words Leaders Should Never Say

Leaders might say things that cause permanent relationship damage in their team or in their relationship with their colleagues or even with their boss.

05. Stop Telling, Start Asking

If you were to take the time to ask good questions, your team would become more self-independent, freeing you up to make decisions on bigger issues.

06. How Should Leaders Apologise?

Whether you watch a politician, an actor or a business executive apologize, there are clear differences between good and bad apologies. When you apologize, it can be tempting to make excuses as to why circumstances contributed to you doing or saying something inappropriate. However, science shows that people are less likely to forgive you when you blame circumstances, and in fact, they don't want to hear your excuses. The most effective apologies focus on the victims. People want to hear that you understand how your words or actions affected others.

07. Praise - How to See and Say It

Many people have trouble accepting praise. They'll say things like, "No problem. I was just doing my job.” or "No big deal. No worries."

When that happens, in order to drive your praise home to a deeper level, add one little tag phrase to the mix. Just say, "It was important to me, and I appreciate it." That way, the person will find that your praise lands, it resonates with them, and they might even get better at accepting praise going forward...

08. Leaders, Watch Your Tone

It's not what you say, it's how you say it.

Most leaders underestimate how truly powerful this piece of advice can be.

As a front line leader, supervisor or manager, how you say things to your team will impact their motivation, engagement and performance.

One of the classic ways leaders mess up the tone and underlying message is by using sarcasm.

09. Tips to Be Less Sarcastic as a Leader

The leaders in some industries thrive on sarcastic communication. Usually, the reason for sarcasm is to lighten things up and inject some humour into a stressful situation but it can quickly become a destructive method of communication in your workplace. Learn from my experiences on why sarcasm should be avoided in the workplace in this video...

10. Communicating with Your Manager

Learning how to be more effective when communicating with your manager can bring less stress to you as a frontline leader and position you for future promotion.

What Next?

Being a new supervisor in a hands-on job is not always as easy as some would think.

Often, those who are best at the day-to-day job are promoted on the basis that, if you are good at the job, you'll be good as the supervisor.

However, this doesn't always work out well when newly-appointed supervisors realise that the responsibilities are different and that they now have to deal with often awkward people problems that they don't know how to handle.

Luckily, Greg Schinkel's series of Frontline Leadership videos are some of the best courses to smooth your transition.

We, at MTL, love Greg's style and enthusiasm and are in awe of what he does in the cause of frontline leaders.

Thanks for reading this edition of the "People Skills" newsletter and good luck with your ongoing learning.

Oh, and one last thing.

In the spirit of making the world a freer, happier and more enlightened place...

...please pass this newsletter on.

Thankyou!

Manage Train Learn Is Now Selling it's Business - Find Out More Below

Are You Interested in Acquiring a Highly Profitable and Successful E-Learning Business?

Due to Eric's forthcoming retirement, we have now decided to put KSA Training Ltd, (parent company of Manage Train Learn), up for sale.

This sale comprises all 6 websites, over 22,000 soft skills learning items, and optional sale of all 37 e-books which have earned over ￡1 million in global sales through our publishing partners.

We have been leaders in Soft Skills e-learning since the late 1990's and, today, there is unprecedented demand globally for "People Skills" learning and training.

Uniquely, we currently offer our materials for free use and download but a new owner can easily commercialise our offering through a wide range of options.

There is a time limit on this offer when we will sell to the highest bidder.

So, if you're interested in owning a successful e-learning business with huge potential in a huge market, email us in the first instance at [email protected] for further information.

You can also view us on LinkedIn where we have over 1500 followers and over 200 editions of the "People Skills" newsletter. Click here for our channel: https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/eric-garner-100a1b128/

For more about Manage Train Learn, view "About MTL" here: https://www.managetrainlearn.com/#/category-listing/147 .

Eric Garner

Managing Director

KSA Training Ltd