As a leader, your actions and attitudes set the tone for the entire team. Kate Wood knows this well, working with employers promoting mental health and wellbeing initiatives into their organisations.

We all need to take care of our mental health!

By working on yourself to be a good example to your team, you can be the determining factor that creates a positive working environment for everyone.

Every person is different at the end of day. Something that makes sense to you might not make sense to others. Be supportive to others not just professionally but personally in their development.

As Kate says ‘not everyone is like you’! So take a small amount of time to check in on your employees as that can go a long way!

Matt Bull has met many business owners who are unsure on how to grow their business and has had many conversations about the barriers that are holding them back.

Most of the time, it’s down to the fear of change. 

The best kind of leaders are the ones who drive change and demonstrate passionately about making a difference in an organisation. When others see people who have a positive attitude and are committed to change, they are more likely to emulate that behaviour and build trust within you. 

Create an environment where employees are confident to share ideas, be innovative and open to trying new approaches.

When you give them that platform to create change, your organisation will benefit from not only bringing in new solutions and ideas but also, your employees will feel valued and motivated by you to perform at their best and go the extra mile.

Working in the education sector, Gerarde Manley knows well how small things can make an impact in changing young people’s lives. His passion for helping others is truly inspiring and as he said…

If you can put 5 minutes into paying it forward, you could be making a difference that you don’t know about yet. 

Paying it forward can be a small thing but it has to be a good deed that you can do to help someone. Internally, that can be investing in your staff’s learning development, recognising and celebrating staff’s achievements or researching new software/equipment to help your staff work more efficiently.

People are more likely to excel when they feel valued and when they feel their contribution in their work has a greater purpose. 

Outside of your team, you can pay it forward by collaborating with small organisations, supporting local charities and as Gerarde talks about, recruiting young people as they can bring in a new perspective and fresh ideas that can inspire your workforce.

By paying it forward, you can inspire your staff to contribute and expand your ideas within the organisation.