When it comes to supporting a team and being a good leader, it’s the little things that can make a big difference, says Shandel McAuliffe, editor of The Adviser sister brand HR Leader. We find out more about what workplace leaders could be doing to ensure a happier and healthier work environment
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic forced many companies and businesses to change and adapt. With the concept of hybrid working environments becoming the norm for many workplaces, there has also been a shift in the relationship between employee and employer as demands, attitudes, and expectations change.
The introduction of hybrid working environments has made things like in-office attendance less stringent, for example, with workers demanding more flexibility from their employers so that they can work in a way that best suits them and their lifestyle.
This content is available exclusively to
The Adviser premium members.
Responsibilities such as caring for children or elderly relatives have been top of mind for a lot of people, too, which come with the expectation that employers will find ways to cater to their workers’ needs.
Speaking to The Adviser for a recent In Focus podcast, Shandel McAuliffe, the editor of The Adviser sister brand HR Leader, said there were various ways employers can exhibit better leadership skills and foster strong workplace culture.
According to Ms McAuliffe, there are two schools of thought emerging now: those who want things to go back to the way they were prior to the pandemic and others embracing the change and finding ways to move forward.
“I’m a very passionate advocate for learning from what we’ve gone through, and then moving forward,” she said.
“I don’t think we can ever go backwards. And I think that trying to fight the current is not going to work.”
She explained that, as a leader, understanding what your employees want is key. These days, people don’t play coy when it comes to leaving workplaces and won’t shy away from jumping ship to potential competitors.
Indeed, with the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics stats showing that the unemployment rate is at near-record lows of around 3.5 per cent, employees have the luxury of being able to pick and choose what role they want and have much higher expectations from their employers.
Checking in
According to Ms McAuliffe, communication in the workplace is an important factor when it comes to employees feeling like they’re being listened to and having their wants and needs considered.
“We say it time and time again, communication is key,” Ms McAuliffe said.
“… If you’re looking to make some resolutions around how you are as a leader for the new year, create some new habits around checking in with your people. If it’s not daily, if it’s weekly, just something that’s on a regular basis so that they know that they’ve got you there when they need you.”
Asking about your employees’ lives outside of work can make a world of difference, Ms McAuliffe suggested, even if it was asking about their weekend or how best they can be supported.
Another strategy employers can utilise to ensure employee retention is to ensure their teams are continually developing and giving them opportunities to do new things. This could include formal training or something as simple as putting them in a different working group in the company to learn something new.
This can help employees connect to the business in a new way by learning new ideas and getting to see more from the business that they might not usually see.
“Quite often, you’ll hear people saying, when they’re leaving an organisation: ‘I feel like I got as much as I could out of that role. And that’s why I’m moving on’,” Ms McAuliffe said.
“If you can find a way that you keep giving people more where they are, I think that’s a really good retention strategy.”
Top tips
Showing a bit of vulnerability with employees is a great way to open up a line of communication and help employees feel like they can come and talk to you if there are any issues they face.
Although not everyone will be comfortable with this concept, it’s important to be as ‘human’ as possible, she said. Gone are the days of leaders being infallible, instead, employees want to know they can relate and trust their employer on a personal level.
Other top tips from the HR Leader editor include:
- Having a good understanding of what else is being offered in the market to ensure you’re remaining competitive
- Providing regular pay reviews and performance management to give employees an indicator of what they can work towards
- Setting goals and actions to work towards
- Keeping employees in the loop to help them feel like they’re a part of the business growth
The old adage of “people leave managers, not businesses” still rings true to this day, she said, and leaders who can understand the wants, needs, and personalities of the people they work with can help create an environment where employees feel seen, heard, respected, and — ultimately — happy.
You can find out more top tips on becoming a better leader in 2023 in The Adviser’s In Focus podcast, here:
