3 Leadership Lessons From Elementary School Valentines
Posted on February 14, 2012 by Baxter Dickson
Love it or hate it, the social obligations of Valentine’s Day are hard to ignore. Husbands and wives exchange gifts, casual daters wonder how much they should spend on one another, and children (and some adults) celebrate a new stash of candy.
With all the romantic implications and pressure of the holiday, I often wish I was still in elementary school. Valentine’s Day was simpler then. And I didn’t worry about consuming half my body weight in candy.
As I reflect back on my youth, I realize that a grade school Valentine’s Day offers more than nostalgia. It offers lessons in leadership.
#1 Include Everyone
It’s generally expected that schoolchildren will buy Valentine’s for all of their classmates. Although I barely spoke with some of my fellow students, I knew I would be writing their names on Valentines. It’s important in the early years that no one is excluded.
Much like schoolchildren have best friends, bosses have employees they naturally relate to more than others. It’s hard to avoid giving preferential treatment, but you will be deeply resented if you show favoritism to certain employees.
To avoid jealousy, make sure to interact with every worker on a regular basis. Likewise, get input from as many employees as possible during meetings and take every idea into account. You don’t need to agree with every individual, but taking the effort to hear them out will enable them to feel included and improve your long-term relationships.
#2 There Are No Universal Solutions
Being a typical boy, I didn’t like valentines with Barbie on them. I was far more interested in superheroes and sports stars and I purchased valentines accordingly. Not surprisingly, the other kids felt the same way, so I got mostly sports valentines from the boys and Barbie valentines from the girls.
There was one exception. One girl (or her parents) knew third grade boys would cringe at the sight of Barbie and gave the boys valentines featuring Spiderman. Needless to say, she was our favorite classmate that day.
We all think differently. In VoicePro®’s Leading Relationships™ workshop, we use the DISC assessment to determine the participants’ personal communication styles. Managers quickly discover why their managerial style doesn’t work with every single employee. Knowing how to adapt one’s style to the needs and personal styles of others is an incredibly valuable skill and results in increased productivity for all.
#3 Use Treats
If you get trick-or-treaters at Halloween you don’t want to be the one house without candy. The same rules apply for third grade valentines. Everyone wants candy. As an eight-year-old, my favorite valentines had a small pack of Skittles or M&M’s attached.
Many leaders forget how important positive feedback and rewards are to employees. Salary increases are important but, as Inc. Magazine columnist Jeff Haden states: “Getting a raise is like buying a bigger house; soon, more becomes the new normal.”
Use rewards to set you and your company apart. Everything from simple compliments to the handout of annual awards shows you value your workers and their contributions. A variety of treats will give you an increasingly motivated and happier workforce.
Though some may boycott the “greeting card holiday”, it’s hard to imagine anyone turning down an unexpected display of affection. Surprise your office with a Valentine’s Day’s gift. Use these lessons from elementary school to show your employees you care.
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