How do I get the best from my team?

How do I get the best from my team? As a coach who works with a lot of managers, this is a question I get asked a lot. 

 Start by listening.  

 Here are two ways to do that: 

• Get to know them – ask them about themselves. Some people may not want to talk much about their lives outside of the office and that’s ok. You’ve now got some context to their lives and what might show up at work. You’ve also let them know you are approachable and it's fine to be human in the office.  

• Observe – see what tasks people do well with and where they need more support. How do they respond to certain situations? Don’t make assumptions about how confident they are. It's obvious, but so often we forget when we are at work that everyone is different, and some need more encouragement while others are happy to just get on with things. 

Do this right and the rest will become much easier.