Growing into a strong HVAC, plumbing, or electrical team leader that wins the trust of his team requires practice and work in many areas; two of these important areas are reassurance and recognition. In this blog, we will further explore how a great leader reassures his team and ensures that his team knows his “voice in the dark.”
Just as handling objections on a sale or service call, the best time to handle team questions or objections is before they occur. But it is also important for a company team to trust their leader’s overall game plan during both the good times and the bad times that the company will pass through. Difficult times will come for every company at some point but it is important that every leader has the ability to answer “Yes” to the question posed in Ron Smith’s Book, HVAC Spells Wealth: “Do your men (team) know your voice in the dark?” Here are ways that you can provide positive reassurance to your company team:
Instill Trust in your Ability to Plan
Whether every member on a team will admit it or not, everyone wants to know their company leaders have a “game plan” in action. Team members want a leader that puts logical, intellectual, and insightful thought into his company’s plan of action. Although business leaders have to be flexible and willing to transform their plan, it is vital that they create a solid, attainable, and feasible plan. Company leaders should passionately and confidently present their “game plan” to their team after the plan has been solidified then broken down into measurable and feasible action steps. A team wants to know that their leaders believe in the plan of action before they will “follow suite” and support the plan whole-heartedly.
Instill Confidence in your Ability to Guide
Along with the skills and abilities to plan; strong leaders must prove their superior ability to guide. Guidance comes in many forms and fashions such as; leading by example in difficult situations, explaining each employee’s individual tasks that will work to make up the company plan, or making the integral decisions in order to propel the company forward. A leader’s ability to guide takes time. Even though your leadership and guidance skills may be strong, it takes time to work through different types of company and team situations in order to build each team member’s confidence and trust in your ability to successfully lead them as well as the company.
Instill Rapport in your Ability to Listen and Answer
While a leader’s ability to guide builds a team’s confidence; showing that you have the ability to listen and answer questions as a leader builds individual and team rapport. While leaders may have more foresight in their business model and the action steps to make up their plan, great leaders will take time to listen to their employee’s concerns, questions, and suggestions. All employees, whether managers, CSRs, dispatchers, or technicians, want to feel that they are part of the team and by having their needs and questions heard works to build a more united team.
Instill Hope in your Ability to Encourage
A leader’s ability to encourage his team goes hand-in-hand with his ability to listen. Encouragement comes when leaders empower their employees to have the ability to attain success inside the company. Encouraging your team can come in many shapes and sizes; it could be an employee appreciation luncheon, an encouraging word, or a form of monetary incentive. Encouragement and team motivation will go a long way to benefit both the company as a whole as well as all the individual members that make up the company team. Taking time to encourage, appreciate, and recognize your team shows the depth and maturity of your leadership skills and abilities.
When leaders successfully combine the four skills from above they will win the respect, loyalty, and reassurance of their team. Leader’s that have the skills to reassure and lead their team through both good and bad times will begin to build a team of strong, capable followers who will work to become great leaders in the company because they have experienced the security of being on a team where they knew their leader’s “voice in the dark.” Here at Service Excellence Training we have great resources for growing leaders, no matter the stage. So let us join you on your journey to great leadership. Thank you for following our weekly posts. Here at Service Excellence Training we turn learning into earning!
-Resource curated by Whitney Stewart of Service Excellence Training.
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