Everyone wants and needs to feel worthwhile. They need to feel as if they somehow matter.
Of course, everyone does matter. Everyone is significant. Everyone is special and brings value into the world. The problem is, sometimes we forget just how significant we are.
The world at times beats us up. We work and live around people who may sometimes take us for granted. Worse, they may sometimes tell us that we are insignificant, that we don’t matter. They may try to bring us down, they may injure our morale as a way of making themselves feel superior.
They make our little shortcomings seem insurmountable and treat us as a failure.
As a leader you must realize that your people live in the same world you do. You should take steps to ensure your people’s need for significance is fed. You must go out of your way to make certain they know that they matter and because they may have doubts, you must tell them why they matter.
Telling them that they matter is good, showing them that they matter is better. As a leader I’d bet that you would be quick to say that your people are your organization’s greatest asset.
When was the last time you went further then just saying it and actually showed it?
Leaders get busy and they forget the absolute importance of engaged team members. They get busy and figure that their people “just know” how important they are. Even people who have high self-confidence need to hear they are valuable once in a while. They need confirmation that other people see their value and significance. They need to know, without a doubt, that they are not being taken for granted.
Authentic leaders are intentional in feeding their team members’ need for significance. They are careful to never go too long without verbalizing how important each individual is to the organization. They periodically put that importance on display so everyone can see their individual significance.
What have you, as an authentic leader, done recently to ensure your people have no doubts about their value? The key word in that question is “recently;” your kind words in 2011 hold no water today.
Helping your people feel worthwhile is an ongoing and unending process. If you’ve fallen short in this vital aspect of leadership then the sooner you start the better!
Oh, and to have them do it individually, with specificity! Some leaders think that saying, during an all-staff meeting, “Remember, you’re all doing a great job!” Completely meaningless.
And, by the way, YOU are a significant person, and this is a great article!
Thanks and you make a great point – the “group hug” lost it’s meaning a long time a go…
It’s important for the leader to know how each individual wants to be recognized.
Some want to be shown they’re appreciated in front of the team. Others would prefer a nice thank you behind closed doors. Others a token of your appreciation.
Let others know how significant they are in a way they’re comfortable with.
Great point – INDIVIDUALS require individual recognition and appreciation. Great leaders know how to recognize and motivate each member of their team.
Significance is different than success. People too often combine the two ideas when significance is much more critical to one’s life than success. Success is often measured in dollars and conquests, while significance is measured in the people you influenced and the lives you changed, beginning with your own.
Great point Kevin, our significance comes from who we are, not what we have.
I can approach this from my role as a parent and the matriarch of my family. I seem to be in the lead position, who sees that things run smoothly around my home. I think self worth/value needs to be shown when children are small. I do positive value comments with my oldest, who sometimes has esteem issues.
Great blog!
The roles of parent and the head of a family are perhaps the most important roles of all. You can be certain in those roles that you are influencing the future. Thanks for your comment, I’m glad you enjoy my blog.
Reblogged this on Gr8fullsoul.