The 4 Traits of a Great Leader That Make Employees Feel Secure

What makes a great leader? Someone makes their employees feel secure and protected and can draw them into a circle of trust. Even when the economy was unsteady, successful CEOs had a way of nurturing loyalty among their team members, according to a study from the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School. These are four ways they make their employees feel more secure at work.

A Great Leader Looks Out For Their People.

A great leader is someone who looks out for their people. They care about their team and ensure they're taken care of and safe from harm. A strong sense of security comes from feeling like you can trust the person in charge of your well-being. When you know your boss has your back, staying focused on the work is much easier. Great leaders create an environment where employees feel safe to take risks without fear of negative repercussions. #2: It creates structure and routines: Great leaders also create them, so staffers know what needs to be done each day, when projects are due, etc. Lack of structure makes anxiety worse because there's no way to predict what will happen next. #3: Be Clear About Your Expectations: A critical trait of a good leader is the ability to be clear about expectations upfront. It's important to clarify what behaviours and actions will not be tolerated to maintain a circle of trust. To gain someone's confidence, you need to earn their respect first.

A Great Leader Empowers Their Team.

A great leader empowers their team to be creative and take risks while also providing training and guidance. A good example is the CEO of Zappos, Tony Hsieh, who stresses the importance of hiring people who are more intelligent than you. In his book, Delivering Happiness, he writes: "It's much easier to lead from behind." It may sound counter-intuitive, but by empowering your team, you build trust within the circle of trust. Trust isn't something that can be given—it has to be earned over time. Employees will not feel safe in an environment where they don't have the opportunity to learn new skills or take on new challenges.

When employees feel challenged, they're more engaged and focused at work because they're constantly looking for ways to improve themselves. Not only does this make them feel valued as individuals, but it also motivates them to produce better quality work. Employees like feeling like they're developing personally and professionally, so if you want to create a culture of engagement, empower your staff members! The best leaders know that communication breeds understanding, respect, and admiration. Great communicators are upfront about what needs to happen without sugarcoating anything. You never want to lose your team because you couldn't convey what was expected of them. Clear communication makes every member feel empowered and confident in their actions because no one is left wondering why specific tasks were assigned or whether the expectations were met.

A Great Leader Is Easy To Communicate With.

A leader who is easy to talk to and communicate with has an open-door policy for their staff. This way, if there are any problems or concerns, staffers can voice them without feeling like they're bothering the boss. The more you know about your employees, the better you'll be able to lead them. To do this, you need open lines of communication. You don't have to do all the talking; find out what your employees want and need from work by listening. Employees should also feel comfortable approaching their boss when they have something on their mind. It may not seem like much, but it can go a long way toward building trust within the company. When someone approaches their boss with a concern or problem, rather than blowing up or being defensive, they should take time to listen to what the employee has to say before coming up with a solution. If your first instinct is anger, take a moment to breathe. Listen calmly and attentively to the employee's concern before speaking again. Reassure the person that they did nothing wrong and determine how best to solve the issue.

Most importantly, show some empathy. Be understanding and appreciative of the person's input because their opinion matters just as much as yours. Another key trait is integrity—even at the cost of short-term gains. Trust between employer and employee is only possible when both parties act honestly and fairly. Employees will always respond positively to a leader who treats them respectfully and shows appreciation for hard work, regardless of title or tenure within the company. Lastly, know how important feedback is! Feedback will help you become more decisive and guide other leaders on what works well in your business.

A Great Leader Understands The Importance Of Rest.

A good leader knows how important it is for their team to take breaks. A rested and energised staff is more productive, which will increase the company's productivity. If the company's productivity increases, then so do the company's profitability and chances of success. The bottom line: if you want your team to succeed, you need to give them time off. That means scheduling regular rest periods, especially when the work is most intense. It also encourages people to use vacation days and other types of leave whenever available. (It's not just a matter of fairness; it helps keep workers refreshed and committed.) So if you wonder why no one wants to work on Fridays or in the evenings, try this little experiment: Schedule all your peak hours for Tuesday morning for a week. You'll be surprised at what happens!

People start leaving early on Mondays because they know they have a chance to decompress over the weekend. They stopped coming into the office late because they know there's no point--nothing new happens after 6 p.m., anyway. And people started taking more lunch breaks and personal phone calls during the day because there were fewer distractions outside those peak hours. Bottom line: There's nothing worse than having your best guy call out with a migraine on a Monday night. But he might not even come to work if you've clarified that these are his off times. Creating trust and safety—especially in a rough economy—means taking on big responsibility.

Key Takeaways?

Leaders who create safe and trusting environments are likely to get the best out of their teams. - In uncertain economic times, this is more important than ever. - A good leader will understand what makes each team member unique and include them in decision-making so they,y feel valued and encouraged to share feedback. - Leaders should provide clarity in times of uncertainty and clear goals and expectations for employees. They also need to be proactive with problem-solving, and leaders must find the best solution when faced with tough decisions. Finally, strong leaders know it's up to them to lead by example. They don't just tell others how to behave; they show through their actions that it's essential for everyone involved to live up to specific standards. - It's not enough to come across as confident; strong leadership is about understanding what drives each individual on your team and nurturing these talents over time. To cultivate trust, you have to give your team the autonomy to do their jobs without micromanaging or delegating tasks that should remain in-house.?Great leaders take an active interest in training and development within their company, which can help increase motivation and engagement among all staff members. - Strong leaders also maintain high standards and demonstrate integrity at every turn. Employees will follow you if they see that you believe in what you're doing and are willing to work hard alongside them.