Not Only A Task Leader

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Eventually in the workplace there are people who simply stop trying to do their jobs better. They don't necessarily become lazy, they simply have a feeling that it does not matter anymore and their sense of futility has taken a toll on their sense of motivation. In short I'll say burnout but not exactly burnout, more like a premature unmanaged, unnecessary, very avoidable burnout. In this situation, people try to get better repeatedly but never do and eventually they just stop trying to improve.

Of course this can be a difficult barrier for people to overcome in general but as a leader over such people, there is typically something you can do about it. You the leader can provide greater control over their work. For example, you can give them some control over the methods they employ to get their work done or give them a choice as to how quickly they have to finish the project.

I believe in the importance of having them use their strengths too. If an individual is really good at numbers, let them consider assignments and tasks that focus on people using their strengths. So it's not just about job vacancy, it's really about the right person for the right job.

Including them in decision making also helps. Include your teams and always encourage ideas. Engage in planning with people and encourage them to share ideas. Create an environment where the person feels safe and confident to share ideas without fear of consequences. You see if a leader can manage to create clear and honest lines of communication with teams, trust is inevitably developed.

I love and respect leaders that allow the workforce to explore their ideas, just as they would explore. Allowing a small amount of time, on projects for example, for their ideas could enhance the work immensely, productivity shoots through the roof. It can also create an environment where they get to feel their work means something again.

People will naturally work better when they understand their contributions mean something. Effective leaders are not only task leaders, they should also be supportive leaders, helping everyone reach their max potential.