The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Leaders Presented by: Greg Brannan New Jersey Employee Advisory Service

Overview of The 7 Habits Be a Positive Leader Get to Know Your Employees Well Engage Your Team Practice Supportive Management Techniques Become an Effective Coach Interact Well with Your Staff Skillfully Manage Difficult Situations

Habit # 1: Be a Positive Leader Your Frame of Mind Each Day is Important - manage your own attitude and emotions well – remember, you set the tone for the team! When Times are Tough, Employees Look to Leaders for Encouragement - communicate optimism during challenging situations Don’t Join in When Employees Begin to Vent Negativity - steer the conversation back to something constructive

Habit # 2: Get to Know Your Employees Well Make Spending Time with Your Employees More Important than Your “To Do” List (focus more on people than tasks) Get to Know your Staff as Individuals - Their Needs, Their Interests, and Their Strengths Proactively Reach Out to Employees to Make Sure They Have the Tools and Resources Necessary to Succeed (support, training, opportunities for advancement, etc.)

Habit # 3: Engage Your Team Solicit Employee Input Into Department Goals, Project Plans, etc. (people support what they help to create) Seek to Assign Projects, Tasks, etc. to Employees in the Areas of Their Strengths & Interests Whenever Possible, Assign the “What” (project, task, goals, etc.), but Let the Employees Decide the “How” (specific work plan, methods, etc.) Provide Continual Feedback about How Your Employee’s Work Contributes to the Company’s Success - gives them a sense of purpose

Habit # 4: Practice Supportive Management Techniques Shift Your Paradigm from “Being the Boss & Dictating”, to “Coaching & Supporting my Employees” - creates an environment that improves motivation and initiative Listen More than You Speak When Interacting (Covey – “seek first to understand, then be understood”) Proactively Keep Employees Informed About what’s Going On in the Organization (knowledge is power) Provide Consistent Encouragement & Recognition - research shows that employees believe that providing recognition is the most important characteristic of a good supervisor

Habit # 5: Become an Effective Coach Coaching is a collaborative process between the supervisor and employee that occurs both formally & informally It creates a respectful environment that improves employee engagement, motivation, and initiative Coaching empowers employees by giving them input and encouraging them to improve their performance, solve problems, etc. Supervisors practice asking for input, instead of giving direction -employees respond better to this approach than to being directed or micro-managed

Habit # 6: Interact Well with Your Staff Good Employee – Supervisor Relationships are the Most Important Aspect of Job Satisfaction - represent 80% of the reason employees are happy in their jobs Practice Courteous Communication with Your Staff - be cordial before getting down to business - ask if the employee has time to listen, help, etc. - then make your request, express your opinion, etc. Don’t Micromanage Your Employees - 80/20 rule of relationships (focus on what’s important and overlook the little things)

Habit # 7: Skillfully Manage Difficult Situations Always Disagree Agreeably (it’s not what you say, it’s how you say it) - research study on conflict Take a Thoughtful, Positive Approach to Difficult Conversations (conflict, sensitive issues, etc.) - choose the right time & place - speak the truth in a caring way - always be respectful & open to the employee’s opinions Don’t Pull Rank (unless you absolutely have to)

Additional Resources The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People - Stephen Covey Now, Consider Your Strengths - Marcus Buckingham The Carrot Principle - Adrian Gostick Employee Engagement 2.0 – Kevin Kruse

About EAS The Employee Advisory Service is a State sponsored program designed to help employees and their dependents with personal, family or work related issues that may adversely impact their work performance. EAS helps to restore the health and productivity of employees and the workplace as a whole. Problems are addressed in the quickest, least restrictive and most convenient manner while maximizing confidentiality and quality. Call us at our toll free number 1-866-327-9133, to schedule a confidential appointment. Email us at EAS_Help@csc.nj.gov