The Importance of Catching up with your People

You can have the best leadership in the world, but your business won’t run smoothly unless all the gears are turning.

Unfortunately, it’s apparent that not all leaders truly understand the importance of quick chats and checking in on their peoples’ wellbeing. Catching up regularly on a personal level is a small gesture that can go a long way — not only in your relationships with your people, but in terms of your success as a business. After all, your people are your most valuable assets, and they should be treated as such.

Regular catch ups will allow you to build a strong intrapersonal connection with your people — promoting open, honest communication in the workplace. It will also become easier to notice when someone is having a rough go. This is especially important during The Great COVID Hangover; considering we've experienced a noticeable setback in mental health, company culture and workplace productivity.

Your quick chats are also a great way to show that you, as a leader, care about the quality of your workplace. We’re currently suffering a labour shortage, meaning that a focus on attraction and retention will be crucial to build a successful workplace and business. You will likely have to promote the advantages to your workplace over others, as the decision will be in their hands.

Catching up with your people is also a great way to find inefficiencies within your system. Simply asking: “If you were me, what would you be doing differently?” can be a great icebreaker for your people to give feedback without feeling they’ve overstepped any boundaries. If someone is suffering from a lack of training or understanding, it becomes easier for them to speak up, preventing avoidable errors and/or any potential embarrassment. The fear of asking for help can lead to property damage, injuries and missed deadlines.