How well do you know your colleagues?

Research is very clear that the better you know your team on both a professional and personal level the more effectively you’ll work together.

During my leadership sessions I like to ask the following questions:

• What are you passionate about at work?
• What frustrates you about the team?
• What are the best ways to recognize you and respect you?

We always get different answers from the individuals leading to the conclusion everyone is different and we all have various passions, frustrations along with how we like to receive praise.

After the debrief, my final question to the group is, “Consider your direct reports, can you answer these questions about them in this very moment?”

Most of them say no and they realize by sitting down and talking through these questions with their direct reports they will gain valuable information about them, ideally leading to stronger relationships and ultimately increased productivity.

As always, there is more to unpack around this topic, message me if you’d like to learn more about this topic.