The Forgotten Phrase In Leadership (Never Forget!)

There’s a two-word, eight-letter phrase that’s often forgotten by leaders in many organizations.

It’s the phrase, “Thank you.”

Sometimes it’s difficult to say, simply because leaders often have their nose down, diligently grinding out results day after day.

I’ve seen this happen many times with leaders. They are often very good at what they do, and they expect everyone else to be as well.

Should leaders have high standards and expect excellence?

Absolutely!

However, leaders should also realize that sometimes a team member’s “best” is not equal to the leader’s “best” in that particular area.

Leaders sometimes fail to recognize that while they may be superior in certain areas, they’re deficient in others.

Leaders, you’re not the expert in all matters. We talk more about this in the article, “Recognizing Weakness In Leadership (And Why It’s Good).”

Achieving success will likely hinge less on your individual skills and more on the performance and teamwork of those you lead. Those people enjoy a pat on the back as much as you do.

Next Steps…

When was the last time you gave a heartfelt “thank you” to those you are charged with leading?

If you’re having trouble remembering, or even if you think you’re great at it, here’s your practical next step so that “Thank you” doesn’t become a forgotten phrase…

Write down the names of those you lead and the tasks that they perform on a daily basis. Go to those individuals, in person if at all possible, and thank them for what they do. And don’t just broadly thank them for all their hard work… be specific about why you’re thankful for them.

I’m pretty sure you’ll see some smiles.

And, that’s going to put a smile on your face as well.

Welcome to the true joys of leadership!