Good leaders always go the extra mile and take the extra step. They dig deeper and know more about the people they lead. Appreciating the full set of talents and skills of team members and learning about the critical experiences that have shaped them is a reflection of how much a leader cares.
Leaders who take the time to learn the personal passions of colleagues and team members show their true colors. When people genuinely matter to them, the hobbies, passions, and artful diversions they pursue are of deep interest.
By being intentionally curious, leaders invariably come to know the personal goals and pursuits of team members. But simple knowing is what good leaders do. Great leaders go even further. They facilitate, support, and advocate for the personal goals of those they lead.
When exceptional leaders know the personal goals of team members, they inquire about those goals, offer resources to support the pursuits, show up and watch them when appropriate, give them the flexibility to pursue them, and generally act as cheerleaders for what they want to accomplish. They help them mark progress on their goals and serve as a sounding board for strategies to accomplish even more.
Taking such an interest in the personal endeavors of team members does not go unnoticed or unrewarded. Those on the receiving end of this support pay it back with loyalty, commitment, and a helpful attitude regarding anything the leader needs.
Supporting the personal goals of those on the team creates a deeper connection and more resilient relationship. Other forms of encouragement pale in comparison.
Team members come to believe they can do anything when they have the full support of their leader. Leaders who extend this backing to the personal goals and pursuits of others lift them to the sky.
