As a boss or a business leader, you got a lot that’s riding on your shoulder. You have to have a pulse of the market to sustain your business, keep finances in check, adapt to several situations that arise without warning, and so on. But your responsibilities don’t just end there. You got employees who count on you. They depend upon you, look up to you for their growth.  Often, great leaders are defined by the diverse skill sets they hold; they are seen as people who can visualize, motivate and create pathways for the business and the people who work for them to walk on. But one of the biggest factors of a successful and able leader is their ability to extract talent or explore the potential of the people who carry the brand or business forward.

Having said that, here are some ways to unlock the inherent potential of your employees:

Find The Motivation Zing:

John Mackey, Whole Foods CEO, quotes, “ If you are lucky enough to be someone’s employer, then you have a moral obligation to make sure people do look forward to coming to work in the morning.” It rings so right. You as a leader got to find out what motivates each of your people because everyone gets motivated in different ways. Then, provide them with that motivation and watch them take your business to greater heights.

Constructive Feedback:

Feedback is the holy grail of growth. As a leader, make sure to give out constructive, helpful, and timely feedback to your team and/or employees to help them improve their talent and skillsets. This must be done politely and sensitively because too often leaders make the mistake of being negative or berate their employees while giving feedback that only leads to the employees clamming up or becoming defensive and uncooperative.

Offering a Collaborative Environment:

Employees must be encouraged to explore something new, something beyond their comfort zone and confines of their cubicle walls. It’s only when they converse with their work peers, will they come together or collaborate their knowledge and work in tangent. For this to happen, you have to ensure that the working environment is suitable for this activity. Large, shared desks and open working areas are some ways you can think of setting up a collaborative work culture in your office.

Hear Them Out:

The most crucial aspect of drawing out your employees’ true talent and unlocking their potential is letting them talk while you hear them out. Probably, several good ideas are brimming in their minds, or maybe they have a solution to that nagging business hurdle. How will you know if you don’t sit and hear them out? Make them a part of the bigger picture, make them feel appreciated, and then watch them deliver what you expect of them.

Understanding your employees’ potential and empowering them does more than raise their spirits, it allows you, as a leader, and your business to move ahead faster, achieve bigger goals, and derive substantial financial outcomes. Care for your people and watch them love your business.