Be Accessible
Connect With Your Employees

by Aniruddha Banerjee
(Kolkata, India)

Employees are more engaged and therefore more productive when they feel a connection with their leader.

Earlier in my career I was the head of a department with officers located in various areas.

In the main office there were about 10 officers. As the leader, I would often walk up to their offices for casual conversation or go to the main lunch room where employees would tea together either in the morning or evening.

Mostly we discussed business, but often the conversation would turn to more casual personal issues. I believe that over time this type of open interaction made employees feel more comfortable around me. It was a way for me to create a stronger bond and connection with my team members.

By connecting with them on a more personal level, they were able to approach me with more confidence to discuss issues, whether personal or business related.

We also had monthly meetings where all officers from other locations would attend. During the meeting we would purposefully schedule time for networking and team building activities.

Again after the meeting, we all had tea and snacks together. This helped to create an atmosphere of fun rather than having to be so serious with my colleagues all the time.

By taking the time to get to know one another better, we were able to diminish any personality tensions, express opinions openly, and be more productive in reaching our targets.

In summary, I would strongly recommend leaders to walk up to their employees, initiate a casual conversation and express a sincere interest in them. Don't just wait for them to come to you.

As the leader, set a great example by taking action- initiate the conversation.