With the Fourth of July upon us this is a good time to think about what successful political and military leaders, past and present, have done to lead our great nation. Without singling out those I personally admire, I think it is safe to say that the legendary leaders have embraced the spirit of service to those they lead.

Even in the greatly autocratic, structured military environment, the most effective leaders create a foundation of caring, trust and service to those they lead. In return, the soldiers they command willingly follow, rather than feeling as if they are being pushed in a particular direction.

It's important to remember that you can't be a leader if you have nobody following. You may be able to make people go through the motions of doing what you want, but that is not leadership, as they are being pushed, not led. Think about the act of pushing--it requires you to be behind the individual and you can't lead from behind!

Leaders who focus on serving those they lead provide three important things for each team member: 1) the sense of belonging and being valued for his or her contributions; 2) the tools and supplies needed to do his or her job; and 3) the skill and knowledge to succeed. Do you consistently provide these three things to your team members?

1. Be sure that each team member knows how he or she contributes to the success of the department or company. Be specific when telling individuals about the value they contribute. Example: "Your extensive knowledge decreases call time."
2. Make sure that team members have all the tools and supplies necessary to carry out their jobs to the best of their ability. It is not uncommon for employees to complain about inadequate tools or supplies. A recent example was housekeepers who complained about carts with broken wheels.
3. Knowledge and skill start with keeping team members informed about issues like budget changes. Being informed of these issues helps them better understand why some decisions are made. Education should be ongoing allowing employees to stay up-to-date. A common issue is training for software or machine upgrades. When employees are left to learn these updates by trial and error, both productivity and quality suffer.

Click this link to learn about Winning Workplace Cards. It's a regular deck of 52 playing cards and each card offers an idea for creating a winning workplace. Perfect for sharing one leadership tip a week during staff meetings or for personal leadership development.