Leaders need to stay on top of the current trends influencing their industry and their employees to stay ahead of the game. As the workforce changes and progresses, so does the way we lead our people. Here are the Top Five Leadership Trends.

1.     Relationships in employee engagement

Engagement boils down to your employee’s willingness and ability to contribute to a company’s success. It’s how hard they want to work while they’re in the office. As a leader, you need to ensure that your employees are passionate about their jobs and that they are eager and enthusiastic at work. A huge part of promoting employee engagement is getting to know each of your employees as individuals. Ask for their feedback, meet with them one-on-one, set specific goals and mentor them as often as possible. A people-focused culture starts with the leaders in the workplace.

2.     Invest in your people

Besides having a business mindset with your employees, it’s important to have a personal one. Humans are social beings; we especially want to feel needed and respected at work.  Leaders need to focus on particular soft skills, such as emotional intelligence and people skills – because when employees feel comfortable toward someone who’s able to relate to their concerns, sentiments or challenges, they work harder and stay at their jobs longer. Show gratitude to your employees, encourage collaboration and build authentic relationships with your people to keep them content at their profession.

3.     Improved training and coaching

The first step in developing your people is through training and coaching. The point of coaching isn’t to make your employee feel bad about their quality of work, but to enhance their work and hopefully move them forward. Proper development requires encouragement, empowerment and patience. Everyone improves at different speeds. Be mindful and learn how to guide your employee through your training.

4.     Making use of technology

Having both talented people and advanced technology to serve customers is fast becoming the norm. If your business isn’t comfortable with technology, it’s time to get familiar. Technology lets employees interact in new ways. The days of being limited by face-to-face meetings and impersonal conference calls are long gone. Today’s teams can work remotely and across wide distances, not just in the office.

5.     Learning to lead several generations

2019 will see a major flood of workers from Generation Z (individuals born in the late 1990s and early 2000s) entering the workforce. Managing and motivating a diverse workforce can be challenging at times. As the youngest generation enters the workforce and works alongside the senior employees, a one-size-fits-all management style simply does not exist anymore. While there are a lot of differences between the age groups, there are a lot of similarities as well. Overall, remember that your employees want to be heard and need a safe space to do so. They want opportunities to develop and advance in their workplace. Don’t dwell on the differences of your employees, instead brainstorm how you can bring them together and what they mutually share.

Remember to register for our next webinar on Unlocking Happiness at Work with Jennifer Moss on November 6 at 12:00 p.m. (CDT)