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Great Leaders Say These Things
Justin Mecham
May 27, 2024
In partnership with
Hey Full Potential Zoners!
Top leaders don't just lead—they inspire.
They celebrate team successes.
They provide regular feedback.
They encourage development.
They show genuine interest.
They lead by example.
They are accessible.
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Simple, yet impactful phrases can make a world of difference in how team members feel and perform.
Let's back this up with some data:
Employees are 4.6 times more likely to perform their best when they feel heard. (Salesforce)
Teams with accessible leaders innovate 59% more. (Harvard Business Review)
Engaged teams show 21% greater profitability. (Gallup)
As you can see, every interaction counts.
Today we are going to help leaders master this by using:
‘Phrases Top Leaders Use to Inspire Teams'.
Let’s dive in!
The “Why” and The “How”
What do you think about...?
Shows you value their input.
Regularly ask team members for their thoughts on projects.
It's okay to make mistakes
Reduces fear and nurtures innovation.
Share your own mistakes and what you learned from them.
I have complete confidence in you
Boosts morale and self-confidence.
Delegate tasks and offer support instead of micromanaging.
I'm proud of you
Reinforces positive behavior and hard work.
Give specific examples of what they did well when offering praise.
I noticed you've improved in...
Shows you are paying attention and appreciate their development.
Regularly track and mention individual progress.
How can I make your job easier?
Demonstrates you care about their workload and well-being.
Follow through on suggestions to remove obstacles.
I appreciate your hard work
Motivates and maintains high performance.
Be sincere and timely with your appreciation.
How do you like to receive feedback?
Ensures feedback is received effectively.
Tailor your feedback approach based on their preferences.
Your ideas are welcome here
Encourages creativity and engagement.
Create brainstorming sessions where all ideas are heard.
Pro tip - use “Silent Brainstorming” where you have everyone write down their ideas before the meeting.
How can I improve?
Shows humility and a willingness to grow.
Actively listen to their suggestions and make necessary changes.
What can I do to support you better?
Enhances team support and performance.
Regularly check in with team members to identify new needs.
Your contributions make a difference
Reinforces the value of their work.
Highlight specific examples of how their work benefits the team or project.
Thank you
Shows appreciation and creates a positive environment.
Frequently express thanks for both small and large contributions.
I was wrong, you were right
Builds trust and respect.
Own up to your errors promptly and learn from them.
It’s Okay to Make Mistakes
One of my teams was working on a critical project with a tight deadline.
A team member made a mistake that caused significant delays, and the team's fear of making additional errors created a tense and unproductive atmosphere.
Everyone was on edge, second-guessing their decisions, and this hesitancy slowed down progress even more.
I knew something needed to change to get us back on track.
I called for a team meeting and addressed the issue head-on.
I emphasized that "It's okay to make mistakes" and shared a personal story of a past error I made and how it led to valuable learning.
I assured them that mistakes are a natural part of the learning process and crucial for innovation.
Here are the steps I took to solve the issue:
Open Discussion:
We had an open discussion about the mistake, focusing on what we could learn from it rather than assigning blame.
This helped to diffuse the tension and created a more supportive atmosphere.
Encouragement of Risk-Taking:
I encouraged everyone to take calculated risks and assured them that any mistakes made would be viewed as learning opportunities.
This helped to reduce the fear of failure.
Support System:
I set up a peer-review system where team members could review each other’s work before final submission.
This collaborative approach ensured that mistakes could be caught early and fixed without fear of individual blame.
Positive Reinforcement:
I made it a point to acknowledge and appreciate the efforts and progress of each team member regularly, reinforcing that their contributions were valuable even if mistakes occurred along the way.
By implementing these steps, we not only resolved the immediate issue but also created a more positive and productive work environment.
Here's how you can make it real over the next 4 days:
Day 1: Observation and Reflection
Choose one of the 14 phrases you want to work on this week.
Pay attention to your interactions with your team today.
Note instances where you could have used your chosen phrase.
Reflect on how using it might have changed the interaction.
Keep a small notebook or use your phone to jot down these moments.
Reflection will help you understand the impact of your words.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today, I want to focus on observing my interactions with my team. Help me identify moments where I could have used the phrase [insert chosen phrase]. How can I reflect on these moments to understand their impact?”
Day 2: Intentional Practice
Use your chosen phrase at least once today.
Plan a specific conversation or meeting where you can naturally incorporate the phrase.
For example, if you chose “How can I support you better?”, find a moment to ask a team member this question and listen carefully to their response.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today, I plan to use the phrase [insert chosen phrase] in a specific conversation or meeting. Give me advice on how to naturally incorporate this phrase and tips on how to make it feel authentic."
Day 3: Seek Feedback
After using the phrase, seek feedback.
Ask the person you interacted with how they felt when you used the phrase.
Did it help them feel more supported or valued?
Be open and listen without defending your actions.
Feedback will help you understand the effectiveness of your communication.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "After using the phrase [insert chosen phrase], I want to seek feedback from my team. How can I ask for feedback in a way that is open and non-defensive? What questions should I ask to understand the impact of using this phrase?"
Day 4: Feedback
Reflect on the past three days and plan for the future.
Write down what you’ve learned about using the phrase and its impact on your team.
Plan how you will continue to use it.
Set a goal to use the phrase consistently in relevant situations.
Regular use will reinforce positive behaviors and improve your leadership skills.
ChatGPT Prompt to Help: "Today, I want to reflect on the past three days of using the phrase [insert chosen phrase] and plan how to continue using it effectively. Help me create a plan to keep integrating this phrase into my leadership style."
Your words have the potential to inspire, motivate, and uplift your team.
By thoughtfully integrating these phrases into your daily interactions, you create a culture of support and positivity.
Each of these phrases is such a small thing for a leader to say.
But such a BIG thing for a team member to hear.
Years from now you might not remember that kind thing you said to your team member.
But that team member will remember it forever.
Until next week and with lots of love,
Justin
This Week’s Growth Recommendations
Book To Read:
"Leaders Eat Last: Why Some Teams Pull Together and Others Don't" by Simon Sinek (see it here)
TED Talk to Watch
"How Great Leaders Inspire Action" by Simon Sinek (see it here)
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