How to be a strong leader and help your employees meet their goals in 2024

By Lucy Mazzucco

Here are a few tips for being a strong leader so that you can help your employees meet their goals this year.

Photo: iStock by 4x6

While prioritizing your own goals for growth in your personal and professional life is important, setting time aside to help your employees reach their goals is crucial when it comes to being a strong leader.

With a new year comes new opportunities to help others succeed, particularly if they are loyal employees who have helped your business grow and thrive when you needed them most.

Be a Leader, not a Boss

When it comes to owning and operating a business, it can be challenging to find a happy medium when it comes to taking charge and leading a team. It’s important to be able to identify certain patterns and behaviours that can prevent your employees from growing.

By prioritizing leadership as opposed to just being in charge, you’ll see that employees will be more likely to go above and beyond for you. Set a good example for how you’d like them to treat people and show them the value of having a positive outlook and helping others.

Stay Humble

In the words of Drake, everyone started from the bottom (in one form or another).

It’s important to remember that while you may be successful now, there was a time in which you needed help from someone else to show you the ropes or even jumpstart your business. Hustle hard, but always stay humble. Remember who helped you get where you are and appreciate the employees that have been with you from the beginning.

Give back whenever you can because your words of advice may not mean a lot to you, but they may be just what another person needs to give them the motivation to accomplish their goals.

Prioritize Mental Health

While mental health should always be prioritized in the workplace, some business owners may not necessarily understand how they can do so. Make sure you create a safe space by showing strong leadership skills, providing an open-door policy, and encouraging communication. Ask questions and make your employees feel like they can talk to you about anything and everything without judgement.

Listen, Listen, Listen

Sometimes, all employees need is a listening ear. Show your support by being available to them when they need someone to listen. Whether they’re providing feedback, expressing concerns, or even asking for a raise, make sure you allow them to speak without being interrupted and always thank them for vocalizing their thoughts and concerns.

Even if you can’t deliver a solution right then and there, tell them you’ll take it into account and do it. While certain goals, particularly financial ones, often come with preparation and planning, it’s important to put some thought into how employees can work towards achieving them and always follow up with a plan of action.

Remember, when it comes to running a business, management styles go a long way. Validating your employees’ goals is not only a great way to keep them happy, but also maintaining a healthy work environment that they’ll feel safe working in for the long haul.