Employees often seek out the best of leaders through their behaviors and actions. Amongst the top qualities sought after are likability, being able to relate to others, and the ability to motivate and excite employees about upcoming projects. Here are 3 methods to apply to your leadership style in the workplace.

1. Allow Research and Development
   Organizations that abide by the same processes year after year become monotonous and stuck in their ways. Don’t become one of these! Allow your employees to shine through and get creative. Ask for their opinions, seek out new ways to do something, or have them implement a new strategy.
   
   Will they fail? More than likely, they will. Most people have failures in the workplace, but think of what is achieved. They learn a great lesson and most likely, you will too. Having someone look at business issues from a different perspective gives you insight into diverse solutions and understandings.
   
   Maybe a better solution is not created, but a closer relationship is formed with your employee. Allowing them input and to test out ideas will only encourage them to be more open with you regarding business practices. As they think of ideas or different methods, they will feel more comfortable letting you know about them in the hopes of trying them out.
   
   
2. Keep Lines of Communication Open
   Everyone knows that communication is key, but most struggle with following through on it. The important thing to remember is that everyone is different. Due to this diversity, statements are often interpreted differently. Keep this in mind when relaying information. The most effective messages are clear and simple.
   
   However, don’t be the excessive communicator. Everyone has met people that like to tell you how to do things. Things so specific that they leave no room for innovation. Not everyone needs micromanaging. Many times, things could’ve been done better had the specifics not been laid out in detail. Be clear in your goals, but allow for some creativity to reach them. Nobody likes to have a micromanager hovering over their work.
   
   Position yourself as a relatable and approachable leader. If a mistake occurs, sit down with that employee to understand why it happened. Learn from it and move on (if it’s a first time offense). Lecturing or talking down to employees over simple errors will only distance yourself from them. Clearly communicate your objectives and ask them if there is anything they think that should be changed about it. Always remain open to ideas.
   
   
3. Create an Environment of Growth
   Don’t allow your employees to get complacent. Constantly challenge them with new and diverse opportunities. Create a work environment where employees are always thinking in terms of the next big thing. Make it easy for employees to contribute ideas. Implement a company Intranet within your content management platform to foster collaboration among your staff. Other people have found enterprise social media to help encourage brainstorming. At the end of the day, you want your employees to want to come back for more. Keep them on their toes.

With these methods, you can then begin to mentor and train leaders on your team. With a team of leaders in place, the company can count on a strong pattern of growth for the future.