As a CEO or business owner, sometimes you might be so busy growing your business that you forget to check in with your key team members to see how they’re doing or what they need. They might be struggling with something you don’t know about, or have a great idea that they haven’t gotten a chance to pitch to you yet.
Here’s a list of five questions you can ask your team members so you can make sure their voices are heard.
What is one thing you are grateful for right now?
There are many studies that discuss the benefits of starting your day with gratitude. If you stop and think about what you’re grateful for at the moment, the problems at hand don’t seem so big. Everyone has at least one thing they’re grateful for that brings them happiness — sometimes, we just need to remind ourselves of it. Intentionally practicing gratitude at work allows me to take a step back and give thanks for the incredible people who put their heart and soul into D2 Branding. Without them, we would have nothing!
What is exciting you right now?
This can be anything — business, relationships, an upcoming trip, reaching a milestone — whatever is making you happy at the moment! You can find out a lot about a person and what motivates them by asking them this question. Plus, it makes them feel cared about and listened to.
What is working really well for you right now?
Maybe you’re utilizing a new software or computer program, hitting your stride on a new social media platform, implementing a new workflow or collaborating with another team member. Asking your employees what’s working well for them not only gives them a chance to share their positive accomplishments with the team, but it can also inspire other team members to try doing things a new way.
What are you struggling with right now?
This is a great way to quickly find out what’s going on with one of your team members. Many times, people can’t be effective in their jobs or relationships because something is weighing on them. Asking your employees this question gives them a chance to open up to you about something they might not have had you not given them the space to share.
What do you need help with right now?
We all get caught up in the things life throws at us and could use help, but sometimes, we’re too prideful to ask for it. Someone on your team may have too much work on their plate that could easily be distributed to someone else, but they feel bad admitting that. Instead, they have added stress in their life which prevents them from being the best they can be. I’m really bad about asking for help, but have learned to delegate more and more over the years. Remember, asking for help doesn’t make you weak, it’s a sign of strength that will make your organization better.
As a leader, one of the most important things to do is listen. Be aware of your current work environment and listen to your team. They are on the front lines dealing with customers and often have good ideas on the way things should be structured. I encourage you to get your team together from time to time and ask these five questions.
