This week, I was afforded the opportunity to speak to a group of leaders on the importance of creating great front line managers and great front lines. Obviously, that's a gigantic subject to fit in one talk. In an attempt to provide some simple "sticky" advice - one item I gave was to "connect early."
John Maxwell captured this best with his "law of connection" that states - "Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand." When I say connect early, I am referring to the need for a manager (front-line, mid-line, top-line) to connect with a new hire's heart - right out of the gate. How is this best done?
What I learned from one of our young amazing managers was to spend one-on-one time with a new hire and find out special dates in their life and create a connective schedule for them. For example - finding out if a new hire has a spouse or significant other. If so what is their name and birthday and even an anniversary date if celebrated. This manager also finds out if this person has children and if so - what are their names and birthdays. What our manager does here is give his associates the option to take those dates off. Not only does he provide the option - he encourages the option and injects his desire for his people to have strong family focus.
IF it is found out that this new associate (especially 18-20 year olds) has no spouse/signif other, no kids - he goes a different route. He will find out two dates that are important to them during the calendar year. Maybe it's a race weekend, a family reunion, a concert...whatever it may be, he gets that date and provides the option to take that time off.
While this sounds simple - it is! It most of all however it's a connect early approach. These new hires get a taste really quick that this manager cares about them and their families. Most of all, he backs up this behavior throughout their careers and all else follows those connections.
This is adaptable and scalable at any level. It makes that early connection happen and begins a productive environment.
This is not for your HR department to do for you or your managers. This is manager must.
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