We will never leave people out, not communicate, take credit for work, focus more on work than people – just to name a few NEVERS that we once committed to.

Now as a manager, we realize it isn’t so easy. The demands on our time lead us to forget important communication, not follow-up like we meant to, and sometimes prioritize projects over people.

Today there are some really tough topics that we would rather just avoid than have to deal with, so we might be even avoiding some conversations we need to have.

Effective leadership is much more than a simple blog post, so let’s focus on 3 things we can do to avoid being the manager our employees complain about:

1. Connect with your employees regularly.

Have a scheduled time to talk – call it a touch base or a one-on-one. If we don’t’ schedule these we are managing by special occasion and that means our employees only hear from us when they have really messed up or there is a big problem or maybe if it is really good. Management by special occasion leads to unclear expectations, miscommunication, and conflict.

2. Be willing to lead.

A leader told me recently that one of the best things he does to create trust with his team is being willing to lead. We broke this down to being willing to make a decision – especially when you would rather not.

3. Demonstrate respect.

The platinum rule is a step above the golden rule. The platinum rule is treating others the way they would like to be treated, not just the way you would like to be treated. In order to be platinum, you have to know them enough to know what is important to them. See #1. You may not agree, yet you can always demonstrate respect by listening, maintaining confidences and investing time in people to name a few.

Can you avoid complaints?

If you are in a leadership role and think no one will complain about you – you are probably in the wrong job. Yet stopping occasionally and asking yourself, “how am I showing up as a leader and what do I want others to see from me?” is always worthwhile. It may be time to reset your priorities and BE the leader you aim to be. 

Debbie Waggoner, CEO of Nodus Performance Consulting has a solid track record of success with Fortune 500 companies, working with individuals, teams, and organizations to improve performance in the areas of leadership, talent development, and teamwork.