A guest post on Michael Hyatt’s blog reminded me how much energy a leader can bring to staff members and donors when they choose to “walk the workplace” and stay connected to the day-to-day operations of the organizations and causes they lead.
Staying connected begins with getting out of the four walls of your office. Did you know Starbucks’ CEO Howard Schultz visits no less than 25 Starbucks stores every week? He didn’t always do that, but when Starbucks’ numbers began to level off in 2008, Schultz got serious. And that was the key to the reformation of Starbucks.
Effective leaders get in the trenches and see what’s going on with their own eyes. They connect with employees face to face and have conversations with them. There’s something about a leader being visible in this way
Don’t miss an opportunity to hear what your employees are saying. Stay connected with the people helping your organization or cause achieve its goals. Don’t become so far removed that it’s awkward for you to step in and help with the grunt work. I look forward to the times when I get to travel with my team to fit children and adults all over the world with a pair of shoes. It reminds me why I started Soles4Souls.
Is connecting with your staff and donors a challenge for you? What do you do to combat isolation?