Almost daily our inboxes are filled with newsletters, articles and tips on how to improve our digital marketing strategies. Lately, I’ve been paying more attention to articles that expand on a different subject. Anything with tips for managing, motivating or organizing a team sparks me to open, read or bookmark with excitement.
As many managers and business owners know, managing a team is a very unique, but rewarding challenge. It takes understanding, planning, patience and many more characteristics that I work to improve on a daily basis. While it is challenging to be a good leader, I can’t let that take away from how rewarding managing a team has been for me. A leader’s attitude towards gratitude can be both internally and externally inspirational and an overall beneficial trait to bring to the business. In the words of Voltaire, “Appreciation is a wonderful thing. It makes what is excellent in others belong to us as well.”
This Thanksgiving, take some time to reflect on being a more gracious leader. It will make your team more productive and inspired and you a better leader. Below are five reasons why I am personally appreciative of my team:
1. Personality
I am thankful for the opportunity to work with many different personalities. Every team member has a very unique and interesting personality, which makes the day-to-day more fun and productive. From the Go-Getter, to the Innovator, to the Executer and more, each personality type allows us to be a stronger, more charismatic team. The best football coaches tailor their game plan to their players, and I feel it is my responsibility to understand each personality and lead based on what resonates with each personality.
2. Energy
Introvert vs. extrovert – I think I am somewhere in the middle. But, the team brings me energy on a daily basis to continue to push the limits and focus on what I need to do to help lead Venta towards our goals. I can think of many days where I have been a little burnt out, and a member of Venta has brought something to the table that inspired and motivated me.
3. Collaboration
I am extremely grateful for the ability to brainstorm with a team. One person can develop ideas, concepts, and strategies, but it’s not nearly as fun and inspiring. I did it solo for years, and it’s not easy. It’s so much more rewarding to bounce new ideas around on a whiteboard when everyone is engaged and driving the concepts to new heights. It’s an amazing accomplishment when four or five bright minds all collaborate on a client’s strategy, and it is successful. Five minds are better than one, and I am thankful to have the ability to put them to use.
4. Individual Strengths
I cannot be thankful enough for each member of our team. Each of their individual strengths has pushed Venta to the next level. If it is a struggle for any future-business owner or leader to give up the fact that they are not the expert at everything, give it up and give it up as fast as possible.
You will never be the expert at everything, and it is your job as a leader to find the holes that can be filled by someone who has the talent and passion to be an expert at their craft. If you are able to do this, you will reap the rewards of better work and a stronger team. It is amazing to have a team filled with talented individuals that are the best at what they do. It’s an even better feeling to know that I can trust each one of them to do their job because they are talented and passionate about producing great work.
5. One Mission, Together
I am thankful to lead a team that has bought into our company and made it apart of their lives. Our culture, goals and mission have all been developed over time with help from everyone. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that I am leading a team that truly cares about what we do and buys into our beliefs. I know this buy-in has helped Venta continue to grow and get better on a daily basis, as well as has made Venta a great place to work each day.
As Thanksgiving comes to a close and we continue on with the holiday season, we will be surrounded by rituals of expressing gratitude and giving thanks. Let us learn to maintain the spirit of gratitude constantly and apply it to how we lead and manage. This will be essential for your leadership success. Happy Holidays!