Removing barriers to an employee's success is an important role of a leader.
If you are a leader, have you ever asked your employees "Are there any barriers hindering your success, and what could I do to help remove them?"
This is a great set of questions to show your employees you care about their well-being. It is probably a set of questions they have never been asked before. Note: If you ask these questions you must be sincere and willing to act on what you learn. You must listen carefully and be sure you take the time to understand what they want or need. If their request is reasonable and within your power, then do it. If the request is not reasonable or not within your power, then you must carefully explain the "good business reasons" why you cannot do what they have requested. Sometimes the timing is not right given other business priorities. You need to be able to explain that as well.
Here is a real life success story. I asked an Executive Director what the Board of Directors could do to help her remove any obstacles to her success and improve her job satisfaction. She was spending a Herculean amount of time doing in the work of three people, her job plus that of two other people. She was drowning and burned out. One of the positions was approved in the budget but remained vacant. The other position was not in the budget, but it was definitely needed. The Chairman of the Board and I got the approvals needed to hire both of the needed positions and to get them filled immediately. This took some "thinking-out-of-the box," but we jumped through some hoops and got it done. There was a happy ending to this real story. She could see a light at the end of the tunnel, and it was not another train.
Thak you for taking the time to read this post. I would value your comments, either positive or negative. My posts fall into four categories: 1) Spititual Law, 2) Christian Principles, 3) Servant Leadership, and 4) Life Lessons. My goal is to "help people learn how to live a truly blessed life."
Great advise!!