Jan 21, 20203 min read

Transform Your Team With These Simple Habits

Yep, it's 2020! And it's a great time to take a look at some habits that could make a big difference in your success. The habits could be actions you've taken in the past, but you've gotten off track and it's time to get back on track. Or, there could be new habits that it would behoove you to start now.

When it comes to management, there are a few activities that can be game-changers. Did you know that the quality of a manager accounts for 70% of the variance in team engagement (according to research by Gallup)? Read on to discover 3 easy habits that will pump up your quality!

One of the hardest things to deal with as a manager is the team that you manage. Yet one of the best returns on investment is what you put into that team. In fact, Gallup has reported that organizations that make a strategic investment in employee development, report 11% greater profitability and are twice as likely to retain their employees.

Let's be real - people can be tricky! And no I don't mean people are purposefully tricking you; I mean it can be tricky to get everyone to a common goal, given our various personalities, motivators, stressors and everything else that makes human beings unique.

Put simply, managers need to have a clear and compelling vision, align people, and help them stay on track. Aligning people is about building trust and getting people to buy-in from an emotional perspective as well as a task perspective.

Over the past 20 years working with organizations, I've found that aligning people is where to invest your time and resources, - because this is what inspires loyalty, creativity, motivation, discipline and accountability in people. I've also found there are a few very basic activities you can do as a manager that will have the greatest return-on-investment and promote your success.

These are the habits, or what I call High Value Activities, that will build trust and alignment, and set you apart from mediocre managers. This is what will pump up your quality as a manager. And guess what - bonus - these activities will help all areas of your life:

1) Take care of yourself. This seems so basic, but many people I've coached had fallen out of the habit of self-care. This is your foundation and it affects everything.

It starts with knowing yourself (the T for Truth in my GRIT model). Know what you need and be intentional about it. You can't be present if you don't take care of yourself. You'll be more stressed and reactive, rather than feeling in control and being proactive.

Consider 5 to 7 activities that promote self-care. Mine are 1) getting the sleep I need; 2) drinking enough water; 3) exercise/stretching; 4) meditation; 5) eating greens; 6) earthing/grounding; 7) laughing and having fun

Keeping mindful of these helps us make the right choices. I use the GRIT Planner to stay focused, motivated and disciplined

2) Be intentional. Model the engagement you want to see in your people - people do what you do, not what they're lectured to do. To be intentional, it starts with being present. Listen fully. Be curious and ask questions.

Being present doesn't mean you have to be engaged with people 100% of the time. You will need to manage it. When you're intentional, if it's not a good time for you to listen or chat, you let the person know, rather than carry on with the conversation only half in it and irritated to be there.

If being present is a challenge for you, you can practice. Mindfully practice being present with any activity and you'll exercise the muscle; you'll get used to being present and it will come more naturally to you. If you're still struggling with being present, you may need to dig a little deeper and find the reason for being present. Ask yourself why it's important. Perhaps you're resisting it because of a thought you have about it.

3) Trust your intuition. Get out of your head and into your heart. Most of us are spending the majority of our brain energy on the left side - very task oriented, analytical and methodical. This leaves little room for creativity and intuition. LIstening to music, daydreaming, practicing yoga and meditation are a few ways to exercise your right brain. Check out this article on 9 Ways to Tap Into Your Intuition.

These 3 habits, or High Value Activities, are simple. Start now, and watch your team improve before your very eyes.

PS - Get your free High Value Activities template in my resource library, and order your