9 October 2023direct connection and attention from you. Create a committee at your organization that specializes in celebrations, work anniversaries, or just spreading sunshine on dark days. Find like-minded people who want to lift others as well and support them in doing so. Give them the means and resources to spread positivity. Let your team know and feel that you care about them by hearing their concerns and following them up.YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS ARE YOUR BONDSNot only do your words mean something to your team, but your actions are being observed all the time. Planning events is important, but being an active part of these events is even more necessary. Attending functions, engaging with your team members, scooping the ice cream, hanging the Halloween decorations, and spreading out the sweet treats individually--every action, seemingly small, makes a difference.MEASURE YOUR IMPACTIt has been two years since our staff returned to work on-site. Since then, I have worked hard to implement the "lead with compassion" approach. Initially, my focus was to build trust. I wanted the team to know that I was a leader who would advocate for them while also bringing about change and supporting new workflows since the pandemic changed many of us operationally. We started a sunshine committee, and many creative events and activities flowed from there. I have an open-door policy and remain accessible to my team for as much of the day as I can. I reach out to staff individually, often letting them know when we get great feedback from clients. Our staff reports feeling happier in their positions, seven out of nine of our behavioral health interns over the past two years have been hired within our agency, and our Sunshine Committee continues to grow.GOING FORWARDIf you are just starting or have been in a leadership position for many years, it's never too late to lead with compassion and make meaningful change. Start small and don't overwhelm yourself. Send out a quick survey to your team to gauge their needs. Every team is different and has its own personality! Start by listening to and hearing from your staff about what they need to not only survive but thrive in their environment. Find other like-minded people to help lead your initiatives so you aren't alone, and build the capacity of natural leaders on your team by asking them to play a role. Implement activities during lunchtime, take one staff meeting a month and plan something fun, or implement that sunshine committee you've always wanted to see happen.As leaders, we're required to manage many priorities. But our top priorities are the members of our teams. We must listen and show that we care. We must lead with compassion. We must follow through and participate. And, we must have faith that true change will happen, which often starts with one small step in the intended direction. I have an open-door policy and remain accessible to my team for as much of the day as I can. I reach out to staff individually, often letting them know when we get great feedback from clients
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