Regular check-ins should be in place for every leader in your organization. No one can give out of an “empty well,” and leaders are the most frequently “tapped.” The healthy and the hurting are found at every level and need the undivided attention of a trusted colleague—who can also be a boss or leader they respect—on a regular basis.
With support as your goal and empathy and compassion your priorities, ask a few questions to help both of you maintain a realistic awareness of the leader’s presence and impact on their work, team and role.
Here are my top 10 questions:
- What is bringing you the most satisfaction or fulfillment in your role right now?
- What keeps you up at night right now and what would the best solution for this look like?
- How has the last year inhibited or accelerated your development and career goals? What do you want to attain in the coming year and what would that mean to you?
- Who on your team has made you proud of their performance lately and why?
- What about our organization resonates most with your personal values? How does this inspire and energize you?
- How do you like to receive appreciation and accolades? Are you receiving recognition for your work in ways that communicate that you are valued here?
- What is one thing that might be limiting trust and respect between you and your team? Your colleagues and peers?
- What things can I stop/start/continue to build trust and transparency between us?
- What do you do to relax and revitalize outside of working hours? How does your personal support network help diffuse your stress and bring release?
- Have you ever had the opportunity to engage a leadership coach? Tell me about that or tell me how one might have a positive and powerful impact on your professional growth and well-being now.
Sir Richard Branson has said, “If you take care of your employees, they’ll take care of your customers”. Let’s adapt that and be reminded today, that if we take care of our leaders, they will take care of their people.
