In this episode we talked with author Chester Elton and discussed the top 10 most important things that a leader needs to do to create a workplace culture where leaders and team members truly care for each other.
Chester has spent two decades helping clients engage their employees to execute on strategy, vision, and values. His work is supported by research with more than one million working adults, revealing the proven secrets behind high-performance cultures and teams.
He is co-author of the multiple award-winning New York Times and #1 USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling leadership books, All In, The Carrot Principle, Leading With Gratitude and Anxiety At Work.
His books have been translated into more than 30 languages and have sold more than 1.6 million copies worldwide.
Join us as we discuss how to create a high performing culture with Chester and get his insights into the power of assuming positive intentions, the power of our personal story, as well as how important it is to be an organization that sees kindness as a strength.
Here is a link to Chester’s website:
Chester’s Website
Here is a link to Chester’s book:
Anxiety At Work
Here is a link if you want to connect with Chester on LinkedIn:
Chester’s Linkedin Profile
Chester’s Top 10
1. Lead with Gratitude
When leaders show gratitude for their employees and the work their employees do, they create a work culture where the employees feel appreciated and valued. Along with this, leaders who lead with gratitude set the tone for the entire workplace and create higher levels of gratitude among coworkers.
2. Assume Positive Intent
“I am convinced that 99.9% of the people on the planet are good and decent people, and we should give them that grace, we should give them that optimism.” – Chester Elton
3. Be a Great Listener
When we aim to listen first, we also aim to understand first. By focusing on listening and understanding our employees we not only provide them with a place that their thoughts feel valued and heard, but we also allow ourselves as leaders to better understand those who we are leading.
4. Know Their Story
Getting to know the personal story of each member on your team allows you to better serve and understand them. The better you understand and serve your employees the better your employees will understand and serve your customer.
“The only people you really don’t understand or care for, are the people whose story you don’t know.” – Chester Elton
5. Tell Your Story
In order for your employees to feel safe telling their story, you will need to tell yours. Personal stories are often transactional where when you share, others feel more inclined to share with you.
6. Be An Ally At Work
We often think that to be an inspiring leader, we have to have one-of-a-kind thoughts and insights or be an amazing person. However it is much simpler than that. Leaders who prove to their employees that they are an ally who wants the best for each team member will inspire their employees to do an excellent job.
7. Walk In Their Shoes
The more we understand our employees the better we can employ empathy as we lead. Many decisions will affect members at every level of an organization and it is important to take each of their personal perspectives into consideration.
8. Be Kind
When a leader is kind to the people within the organization, they show by example that kindness is a core value of the organization and should be given to every employee and customer.
9. Random Acts Of Kindness
Performing random acts of kindness adds to the culture of a workplace but also changes the mindset of leaders and employees alike. When you set a goal to perform random acts of kindness, your mind naturally starts to focus on what the next kind act you can perform will be. This shift in mindset not only is a more positive way to think, but also helps you focus on being gratuitous and appreciative of employees’ efforts.
10. What Are Your 3
“We have a wonderful practice in our family, at the end of the day we ask ‘what are 3 things you are grateful for today’ and often it is many more than 3. Research has been done that shows ending the day in gratitude is helpful in a lot of ways.” – Chester Elton
