A Gap For Further Connection With Our Teams

When we think about work, we typically think about one thing.

Results.

If we are not getting the results we need, then problems are soon to occur.

However, when we overfocus on specific "results", we miss opportunities that would otherwise push results faster.

What do I mean?

Typically, when we think about how we need to get results, we immediately go to the tasks that will be required to obtain those results.

It is true that Leaders need to create these tasks with their teams to get results, but it creates a different problem.

When we are too focused on tasks, we treat people as a means to an end.

Essentially, we treat our teams as if the only thing that matters is their output.

Even if this isn't how you "feel" as a Leader, if it is all you focus on then that is how you will be perceived.

As a cold-hearted individual who only cares about the bottom line.

That kind of perception doesn't inspire people to Buy-In into a vision.

It definitely doesn't make people "want" to be accountable for anything, which will drive you to "force" them to be accountable.

Nobody likes to be forced to do anything.

This will lead to an environment where people will only do the minimum to keep their jobs - if they are only a means to an end, then they will only give enough to "maybe" achieve that end.

Often, if a large number of individuals feel this way, it won't matter if they reach the "end" you want because they all don't really care.

So, how do you as a Leader overcome this?

It's really simple - don't treat them as a means to an end.

Treat them as what they are - human beings.

The easiest and most beneficial way to accomplish this quickly is to actually find out what is meaningful to the individuals on the team.

You'll quickly find that each person has things that are meaningful that are wildly unique.

For some, it could be their children or parents.

Others it may be a sport they play or watch.

Another individual may be an aficionado at some odd activity that you didn't even know existed!

What they are interested in doesn't directly impact results of course, however, YOU caring about what they are interested in will.

See, people enjoy having their lives validated, and being taken seriously, and love it when people take an interest in what they care about (even if it's just small conversations about it).

Why?

Few people in the world ever actually feel those things.

Most people feel like their lives have little value (sadly).

Most people feel like what they are interested in isn't taken seriously by others.

So many people feel alone, like nobody cares anything about what is going on in their lives.

These factors tend to leave people with little hope, and little desire to do much with their lives except what is necessary to survive.

However, when you as a Leader show a genuine interest in what is meaningful in their lives, everything changes.

They are getting something that is extremely important to human Psychophysiology - they are getting acceptance into a group with you.

This acceptance and validation drive certain aspects of our psychophysiology to extremes.

When people belong to something, truly belong, they begin to buy into the vision of the group they are in.

They start to take ownership of what they are doing, not because they have to, but because they "belong" to something that cares about them.

Self-Accountability becomes a natural byproduct of that belonging.

When people really feel like they belong, they start to think about how they can contribute the most they are able.

It stops being about minimums, and it begins to become about maximums.

This is how you can really simply connect the gaps - actually find out what is meaningful to the members of your team, and the rest comes easily.