When the going gets tough, true leaders take action.
Your people also need to know that you’ve got their back. Are you all talk? Or are you willing to put yourself out there for them?
Musk’s offer is one of the best ways to do this. When a manager takes the time to work alongside a frustrated team member, with a goal of better understanding that person’s perspective, good things happen. This exercise, although time-consuming, builds empathy and rapport, and can prove extremely motivating.
Unfortunately, few managers are willing to make that type of investment.
So, ask yourself today:
What is my team’s biggest challenge or pain point?
What can I do to make things better?
If you can answer those two questions–and follow through–it won’t matter what your job title is.
Michael Sauers is the Director of Logan Library in Logan, UT. Prior to this he was one of the founding staff and Technology Manager for Do Space in Omaha, NE. After earning his MLS in 1995 from the University at Albany's School of Information Science and Policy Michael spent his first 20 years as a librarian training other librarians in technology along with time as a public library trustee, a bookstore manager for a library friends group, a reference librarian, a technology consultant, and a bookseller. He has written dozens of articles for various journals and magazines and has published 14 books ranging from library technology, blogging, Web design, and an index to a popular horror magazine. In his spare time, he blogs at TravelinLibrarian.info, runs The Collector's Guide to Dean Koontz website at CollectingKoontz.com, takes many, many photos, and typically reads more than 100 books a year.
Unless otherwise stated, all opinions are my own and are not to be considered those of the City of Logan, UT.
View all posts by Michael Sauers
