As a leader, your greatest weapon is leading by example. Do your employees see you come in early, stay late, and work hard? Are you beyond reproach in your work ethic and your passion? These are all important in leading a team, but one piece that gets missed is servant leadership.

By servant leadership, I mean, that nothing that is done in your employee’s world is beneath you. From cleaning the bathroom to taking out the garbage, to actually being able to do your employees job, that is servant leadership. There is no quicker way to gain the respect of your peers and of the people you are leading than jumping in and serving them directly.

Don’t come from behind and tell someone how to do something if you have no idea how to do it yourself, that is how you get people to not follow you. If you don’t know, learn on your own or ask your staff questions to gain understanding. Come in on the weekend and clean your staff’s workspace, add a piece of equipment that can make their jobs easier, stay late and help finish a job. There are many ways you can serve your employees and lead by being a servant.

In 2019, and managing millennials, it is important to show your staff why things are important but more importantly, showing your team that it is so important that you are willing to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself!