The 8 Things I Learned From the 7 Things Your Team Needs to Hear You Say
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I recently swiped a copy of David M. Dye’s “The Seven Things Your Team Needs to Hear You Say” from Captain Reman. It got me thinking about my interactions with coworkers and what I can contribute to foster an even better team than we already have. And after reading and thinking about the key points more, I wanted to share them with you. Maybe you’ve lead a challenging group in the past. Maybe you’re struggling with your own team today. Here’s what I took away from Dye’s seven things that may relate to your business right now:
1. You can.This could be one of the most powerful things you can say to a team member, especially when they find themselves feeling overworked or maybe just too stressed from a big project. Saying “You can” shows your faith and belief in their abilities to get the job done.
2. Try It! When someone from your team comes to you with an idea and a plan, why not tell them to try it? When it’s on a manageable scale, see what kind of results you can get. If the idea is something you’ve tried before and it didn’t work or just plain failed, hear them out. Pose questions or scenarios where this idea didn’t work in the past and see if they find a solution to something that maybe you yourself have racked your brain over for years.
3. I Believe…When you tell your team that you believe in them, you’re adding to the motivation they need to be successful in what they do – and accomplish more than they thought possible.
4. How can I help? This one is the tricky one because of course, you don’t want to help too much and end up taking over the task yourself. Instead, help them by removing obstacles that are in their way. This could be as simple as letting them talk it through with you until they have that light bulb moment, or cutting through the red tape to acquire the information or goods they need.
5. I’m Sorry.This I think is truly one of the most under-used yet powerful phrases that a leader can say to their team. Whether you are the owner or the manager, mistakes happen and the best way to rebound is to man up and apologize. Saying this reminds your team that you’re human, and makes it all the more likely for them to own up to their mistakes.
6. That will not happen here.All workplaces have rules and regulations that must be followed, some more serious than others. When a member of your team does something that they shouldn’t, let them know that their actions will not be tolerated. By enforcing this policy fairly and to everybody (including yourself), you set the standard of what is and isn’t acceptable.
7. Nice! Compliment your team for the hard work they put in, plain and simple. Especially the extra hours they work to finish that project, make them feel appreciated for being part of your staff and company.
Bonus phrase: This one isn’t singled out in Dye’s book, but the message is there. Over the years, it has gotten me further with both the teams I’ve been a part of and led than anything else.
To tell you the truth…Always be up front, whether bad or good. Lies or omissions always have a way of getting out. And if it turns into team gossip, it isn’t good for your business culture or morale.
Whether in a book, listening to a keynote speaker at a trade show, or in conversation with a mentor, learning how to better help and communicate with your team encourages those around you to follow suit. Just a few words in the correct situation can change a mood or point of view, leaving both people energized and inspired to do great things. Ready for a more productive, energized, innovative team? Everything flows from the top down.
In this week’s article, Nick Carreiro, aka the 6th Man, shares his thoughts after reading a management book that he swiped from Captain Reman’s library. Do you say these 7+ things to your own team? Why or why not? Leave a comment below for Nick or email him directly.
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