As a leader, you spend a lot of time evaluating the performance of team members. However, if you do not have someone evaluating your performance, how do you know if you are effective in the workplace? Here are three ways you can reflect on your work and create goals for improvement:
Be Open to Feedback
When you allow your team members to provide you with feedback, you are telling them that you are not perfect and you are always aiming to improve yourself. Suggestions should be done promptly so that any issues can be addressed right away. Your team will appreciate the open communication you have with them. They will feel comfortable approaching you with any concerns or suggestions they have for the business.
One way to promote the sharing of feedback is by asking the right questions. Try not to be too vague. Instead, talk about specific events. For example, ask a member of the sales team if you handled a client concern in an effective way. If there are any concerns, ask them for their recommendations for changes instead of simply stating that you will work on improvement.
Use Self-Reflection
While feedback is useful, you do not need to rely on it all of the time. Instead, take some time to reflect on how you are doing at work and what you think you can do better. After situations such as gaining a new client or handling an employee issue, think about what went well and what you would do differently next time.
Remember to take the time to quietly self-reflect. You can stop to think for a few minutes at the end of the day in the office or at home in the evenings. It is a good idea to write down your thoughts that way you can go back and look at your suggestions.
Review Your Vision
If your team understands the vision of the company, they will know what is expected of them and what their goals are. If your expectations are vague, you are setting people up for failure, which causes frustration for everyone. While you may not get feedback on this part of your leadership, keep it in mind as you guide your team to reach their goals.
In Conclusion
An effective leader knows that there is always room for them to improve. They are human just like everyone else on the team, so they should be open to feedback and suggestions. When you take the time to reflect on your performance and communicate with your team, you are setting a positive example that growth and improvement are welcomed in the workplace.
