First and foremost it’s important to understand how people are living. Every one of us has a personal life that affects our work life, whether good or bad. Therefore, if we can foster knowledge and empathy about what’s happening beyond the work environment, we have the opportunity to encourage personal growth, which leads to professional growth.

Here are 4 simple questions to ask yourself about your colleagues and employees in order to know them on a deeper level and figure out how to fight for their highest possible good:

1.) How well does your co-worker or teammate live?

This question refers not to an economic standard of living, but rather how fully they live. Are they healthy and thriving? Or are they saddled with fear and frustration?

2.) What is their life like?

Do you really know what they are dealing with? Maybe there’s a health crisis in the family, or some sort of family drama that never seems to end, continually wearing on his or her psyche. 

3.) What does your teammate value?

Can you make a list of the things some of your co-workers value? Do you know their likes and dislikes, the things that give them a sense of purpose and intrinsic motivation? Try learning these things about your colleagues and you will find yourself more prone to communicating with greater intentionality.

4.) Based on the above, how do you think your teammate’s life affects their work?

The process of understanding how your teammates are living is vital to the process of leading. To know your team is the first stage of leading your team. When people know that you are for them then your influence multiplies and your leadership capacity grows.

Living well is a process.

You can help others live well by being “for” those around you.

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