Behind Closed Doors - The Aloof Leader

Once upon a time in business, leaders maintained their distance from their employees.

They worked behind closed doors, were protected by a bank of secretaries, and were rarely found in the employee cafeteria. There was a hierarchy within the company that was not to be challenged or breached.

Except in a few old-fashioned industries, leaders operate very differently today.

They understand that their success as a leader depends upon the success of their team. Because of this, they also know that they can be more effective as leaders if they know their team members well, both on a personal and professional level. No longer aloof, they must work to establish trusting relationships with the individuals on their team to drive engagement and productivity.

By understanding their co-workers, leaders can also assign roles that best suit individual talents, motivate and encourage improved performance with appropriate “carrots,” support efforts with coaching and celebrate results with suitable rewards.

On the flip side, from an employee’s point of view, a trusted, approachable leader will hear of potential problems early…before they erupt into full-blown disasters. The aloof leader is kept out of the loop.

So “open your door.”