Most people are fairly adept at recognizing facial cues. In fact, studies have shown that it takes as little as 200 milliseconds to infer emotion from someone’s facial expression, which means your employees likely already know your true thoughts before you ever say a word – or have a chance to hide them.
But, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Great leaders strive to be open and honest with the people they lead, and perhaps more importantly, to show they truly want to understand and appreciate their individual points of view.
“No one cares how much you know, until they know how much you care” – Theodore Roosevelt
Empathy is a powerful emotion, and it can also be a powerful motivator. Your employees want to see you are just as invested in their success as they are. That their trials and tribulations weigh just as heavy on your mind as theirs. And, that their successes will be met with genuine appreciation and excitement.
The shared experience of working toward a common goal and all the blood, sweat, and tears along the way is an essential part of building a strong, productive team. And it’s a key component of not only showing respect, but also receiving it.
How do you show your employees that you truly care about the work they do? Let us know in the comments section below.
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