Leadership: Be Approachable

"You can't be an effective leader if people are hesitant to approach you."- John Hall

By its very nature, leadership status puts a wall between you and your direct reports. Effective leaders draw people to them rather than ruling with an iron fist. How approachable you appear to others is very much down to you. Being approachable is a professional skill that fosters numerous career benefits, from networking and career advancement to information access and other advantages. As a leader at any level, approachability matters even more.

Being approachable is key to building relationships with your colleagues, and to creating a strong team in which trust, confidence and ideas can flow. When you're approachable, team members do not sit on or cover up problems – they're able to bring issues to you before they become full-blown crises because they know that you won't react badly.

Approachability is about being accessible, consciously breaking down perceived barriers, having appropriate body language, and using the right verbal communication and listening skills. You could reduce the power distance, breakdown any barriers and foster an environment of trust in your organization.

Tips Leaders may use to become more approachable:

Basic Communication:?Just?greeting everyone conveys the message that everyone matters. Making eye contact, using people’s names, and giving them your undivided attention all help create a bond, according to Joel Garfinkle, an executive coach. “Show you care,” he adds. “Ask how about their tasks, about barriers they’ve encountered, about troubling factors and distractions from outside work.”

Share Your Failures:?Admitting failures may be embarrassing, but admitting to your own enables team members to talk about theirs, says John Hall, a seasoned Leadership solutions provider. “Putting pride aside and realizing it’s okay to admit your failures will only strengthen communication within your company.”

Ask for Help:?“Some think that taking the lead means never requiring assistance,” says Garfinkle, “but asking for help provides opportunity for others to shine in addition to making sure you get the best solution and the right person doing the job.“

Physical Communication:?“Non-verbal communications are all of the things you’re saying with your body and posture without speaking,” says Camarote. “It’s your relaxed position in your chair, your smile, your nods, and eye contact. Make sure that these are positive and encourage the person to speak with you.”

Be Optimistic:?“Great leaders can acknowledge that there are troubles, says Garfinkle, “while expressing confidence in the team to make the most of it and get things done. Acknowledge issues, but commit to helping find solutions; people are most likely to resonate with a leader who feels at their level but with the power to make their jobs easier and more successful.”

Get Feedback:?on the unintended impact you have on others. “There is often a gap between what you’re trying to say or achieve and how others experience what you’re saying or doing,” says Riegel. “Ask a few people you trust to give you honest feedback and share how they experience you — especially under stress. One example she offers is saying, “I need a few uninterrupted hours to wrap this project up. I am going to close my door until 3 p.m. so that I can focus, and then I’ll be available.” This way, you’ll be viewed as assertive and considerate, rather than unapproachable.

Be a Sounding Board:?Approachable leaders understand that people will come to them with good and bad news. “Show compassion and empathy; let people know they can always come to you,” says Lolly Daskal, an executive leadership coach. “As a leader, you don’t only lead — you must also stay open and listen. You must embrace compassion and engage empathy.

Stay Curious:?Approachable leaders stay open and ask lots of questions. Stay curious and interested — there is always room to learn something new.

Address Unapproachable Behaviors:?in your team; make sure that everyone is seen as easy to do business with, says Riegel.

Earn Total Trust?:Approachable leaders possess a lot of information, adds Daskal. “Be intelligent and ethical in your use of this information, and give your people reason to trust you.”

Team members who have approachable leaders feel able to contribute ideas in a safe working environment. They're not scared about being knocked back. They know their manager is open to their suggestions and will consider them fairly. In short, to be effective as a leader, BE APPROACHABLE.

NB: Use was made of www.mindtools.com, www.lindauerglobal.com and www.skillpath.com in researching for this article.

Keep It Simple and Short!