Everything is a skill set.
I have learned so many crucial brain science facts from working with two neuroscientists for the past two years. We have been on a mission to help coaches become better coaches by teaching them how to apply neuroscience into their coaching.
One of my favorite lessons is that our brains are capable of unlimited growth and that ANY skill set can be improved with deliberate practice. “Deliberate” meaning with desire, feedback, intention, and attention.
I love coaching successful leaders who want to become better leaders.
The pandemic has forced all of us to change how we interact and communicate. While it’s been tough for many of us, it also has revealed the importance of going back to basics of what makes a strong leader and a strong company culture.
As this Fast Company article shares, the wacky perks that many newer companies concocted like beer on tap and ping pong tables definitely added to a fun company culture. But when we had to shelter in place and most of us are working from home, those perks do not matter anymore.
So what does matter?
As the article confirms, the most important factor workers want is to feel valued and respected for who they are…beyond their position.
The ability to have others feel valued and respected is a skill. And while some of us are better at it than others, we can all benefit from practicing this skill and honing it.
And while this skill set seems more elusive than a more tangible skill like the ability to correctly crunch numbers for a budget, the “Helping People Feel Respected” skill set is proving to be a crucial skill that we all must put effort into practicing if we desire to be a better leader and have a better business.
A good place to start is:
- Ask yourself what helps you feel valued and respected for who you are.
- How often do you let those you work with know that you value their contributions and respect them for who they are?
Of course question 2 is the harder question to answer because it entails:
- How often do you reflect on exactly what you value about the people you work with?
- How often do you get to know what amazing things they’re doing outside of work? (This shows respect for who they are.)
In the spirit of neuroscience, we create stronger neural pathways in our brains for the skill sets that we intentionally put effort into building; we get better at what we practice.
So if you’re not yet that confident and competent in the “Helping Others Feel Respected” skill set, ask yourself:
- Do you have a desire to improve that skill set?
- If yes, what’s the biggest change you need to make in yourself in order to help others feel valued and respected?
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