Communicate and Stay Connected

Success isn’t an instant process. It’s a step-by-step journey that allows you to encounter people from all walks of life, experience different things, and have failures along the way. But as aspiring leaders and future entrepreneurs or CEOs of your company, you must learn to connect with the people who work with you and help you reach success.

Bobbi Rebell, Certified Financial Planner and host of the Money Tips from Financial Grownups Podcast, believes that with teamwork, hard work, and the ability to listen, achieving success is possible.

Be prepared

Being prepared lessens your fear and anxiety over the unknown. Whether it’s a personal agenda, something to do with school work, a work interview, or simply with your business plan, stay prepared. Turn this habit into daily practice or part of your approach to whatever you do. Don’t just wing it.

Take that extra step to make sure all bases are covered. If you’re meeting someone for the first time, learn more about them to engage in a meaningful conversation, even if it is in a professional environment. It shows respect for the person you’re meeting with, that you took the time to do your research and prepare for your conversation.

It’s also good practice to have a plan B. Stay prepared even in the calmest, most controlled situations. It will give you an advantage because you didn’t slack off or have that “come what may” attitude.  Who knows, something might go wrong despite an already full-proof plan, so it’s good to always have a backup plan.

Learn to listen 

Listening is an important skill. The more you mature and the higher you go on the leadership ladder, the more crucial this skill becomes.

All of us want to be heard and learning how to listen actively can help you be efficient. If you’re a budding entrepreneur, listen intently to what your consumers want to help grow and establish your brand. Or if you’re the CEO of your company, listening to the needs of both your internal and clients will help you avoid miscommunication.

Show appreciation

By showing appreciation and thoughtfulness, you create a positive impact in the workplace and influence people’s work ethic and performance. Try giving out simple gifts or thank you notes to your teammates, colleagues, and peers - a small act of kindness or good deed goes a long way.

It’s important to draw the line in the relationship between a boss and an employee for professional purposes. But that doesn’t mean a boss or leader can’t initiate healthy, friendly conversations with team members. As a leader, find ways how you can support your team to achieve it. Just make it personal and creative and surely they will appreciate you.