how to be more approachable at work

Think about the type of work environment you would like to be around. Smile and make eye contact. Even though you might be nervous, avoid the habits that go along with the feeling. It also helps to foster a healthy work environment, according to an article on the AllBusiness website on secrets to being an approachable manager. Everyone is busy, and as a small business owner, you’re busier than most. However, while they may find you approachable, they may not realize lower-level employees don’t feel the same way. 8. Are your words saying one thing to your employees, and your body saying another? 10 Ways to Become More Approachable 1. People will notice your smile and think you are friendly, pleasant, and open to having a conversation with. I am also in the agreement of 'checking' the understanding. By adopting a calm attitude in the workplace, you’ll find that you’re more creative, happy and approachable, and this will effectively put you in a better position to succeed in your career. Paying attention to your vibes is pretty much all it takes to appear more approachable, and attract more people and opportunities to you life. Whenever the other person is smiling. Adopt an open posture. This posture leaves your face confidently exposed to the world, rather than closed off and unwelcoming. Being personable is a leadership strength, while being unapproachable, prickly or guarded shuts people up and shuts them down, cutting off information flow and collaboration vital for … You can improve how approachable you are by breaking down barriers and creating an environment of trust. © Copyright 2003 - 2021, Small Business Trends LLC. When you do get a chance to talk about something you’re passionate about, be sure to not dominate the conversation but find creative ways to work the other person into the conversation and pivot back to their subjects. Our mission is to bring you "Small business success... delivered daily.". However, positive feedback isn’t the only thing employees want. Keep your hands relaxed at your sides or use them to gesture when making conversation. If your manager asks you to help out on an urgent project, for example, consider how it will benefit the team or your career, rather than simply thinking, "Oh no, not more work!" However, allowing others to help you is just as important. As a result, small issues spiral out of control. She outlines strategies to make yourself more approachable both … This means it is of utmost importance to be present and available to fellow coworkers as we all move through these turbulent times together. Be the one to say hello or ask employees about their weekend. Make eye contact and smile.. You’ve just met a new person. 10 Natural Brain Boosters to Enhance Memory, Energy, and Focus, 12 Healthy Brain Foods To Improve Your Concentration, 10 Ways Social Media Dramatically Improves SEO, 4 Keys to Setting up a Sale at the Right Moment, 7 Actionable Tips To Help Your Brain Function At It’s Highest Level, Science Says People Who Talk To Themselves Are Geniuses. They’re reluctant to come to you with problems or tell you bad news. How to Become More Approachable. People who project warmth and interest in others are far more approachable than people who don’t. It sounds obvious, but when you’re occupied with your business and all the things you have to do every day, it can be easy to spend the day with a frown on your face. They are telling a joke, or the story they’re telling indicates something amusing. Don't just talk; make an effort to listen. But Don’t Do So at the Expense of Teaching. Watch your body language. Marvel’s cinematic universe has given us an amazing example of warmth in action. … In today's Thrive, we will discuss how to make yourself more approachable, both in-person and virtually. It boils down to this: When you’re unapproachable, you miss out on a lot of important information that can help your business. However, don’t push this self-deprecation too far—keep it light. Being more approachable 1. 1. However, when you check your email, scroll through your phone or glance at your watch while an employee is speaking, you’re telling them you can’t be bothered to listen. You don’t just want to assume other people like you. Keep your posture open and relaxed when you talk to employees.eval(ez_write_tag([[580,400],'smallbiztrends_com-large-leaderboard-2','ezslot_3',151,'0','0'])); 3. It’s becoming less common for the boss at a small company to be sealed off in the corner office — or even in an office at all. Keep your legs uncrossed. Do you become irritable or angry when employees tell you something negative or have problems understanding directions? Cannot agree more with #6. Smile! 3. If you want to extend your circle of influence you must learn how to work with and through people. 11 Red Flags in a Relationship Not To Ignore, Easily Misunderstood by Others? That means a lot of potentially profitable ideas are never acted on. Then, if you’ve committed yourself to finishing a job by 10 a.m., you’ll be more … All right, maybe they don’t cower in fear when you enter a room—but are they comfortable coming to you with questions or problems? Keep your head up and your shoulders square rather than slumped forward. Being approachable is the foundation of building good relationships with your colleagues, and of creating a strong team in which confidence can grow and ideas can flow. You want to make them feel liked in return. Bosses can be approachable and smile but they can shut down ideas like a madman. Have a friendly facial expression This includes avoiding frowning, having a friendly smile, making eye contact, and being expressive. Expensive clothes are not necessary , but ascertain that your clothes fit! [1] X Research source Studies have shown that smiling also helps reduce anxiety, blood pressure, and your heart rate, which will put you at ease in social situations, too! 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Just saying “good morning” builds your approachability and reputation in small increments every day. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your feet firmly on the floor to prevent nervous rocking. Are your employees afraid of you? If you’re worried you are unapproachable — or if you know that one of your managers has this problem — here are some steps to make employees feel more comfortable.1. 4. "Small Business Trends" is a registered trademark. Make the first move. Keeping your shoulders up and not slouching. When someone comes at you with tough feedback, fight off your emotional response and try these instead: Thank them for sharing their concern with you. Break the ice by reaching out to your employees on a regular basis. Employees who feel devalued in this way eventually stop trying to communicate with you. And so, in the interest of being liked, it’s tempting to just share what someone’s doing right. Be a good listener. All Rights Reserved. Show you care. Best, Utpal Sunday, April 25, 2010 at 11:02:00 AM EDT Do you frequently feel blindsided by problems in your business? People want to work alongside, and for, other people – not bosses. But even if you aren’t hidden away on the executive floor or behind an office door, you may come across as intimidating to your team. Helping others is great. The next step to being more conscious with your work time is to plan out your hours. To appear more approachable: Work on your posture so that you look confident but not stiff. And even if you personally are approachable, you may have some managers who aren’t, which can cause the same problems.eval(ez_write_tag([[468,60],'smallbiztrends_com-medrectangle-3','ezslot_14',149,'0','0'])); You can try asking key managers if they think you’re intimidating. They don’t feel they can make suggestions or share their ideas. When you get the heaviest and most important work done, you will feel lighter, accomplished, and more satisfied. Don't Make These Cybersecurity Mistakes in 2021, At NextCon17, Carol Roth Suggests Ways to Create Customer Loyalty 3.0, How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Your Back Office Operations, 15 Non-Intrusive Ways Employees Can Help With Branding, 8 Helpful Places to Find Potential Employees, 7 Ways to Keep Your Email From Ending Up in the Trash. He speaks and writes as a national expert on leadership and creating positive workplaces. Personal branding expert Dorie Clark helps you first determine whether you are sending signals that might be off-putting to others—whether through body language or some other kind of communication. Don't fidget with your pen or the change in your pocket. Being approachable helps to build positive relationships with other employees and fosters more open communication. What Is Assertiveness And Why Is It Important? These are all signs you might be intimidating your employees. Acknowledging what you have listened to will add necessary spices in leader being more approachable. For being approachable, you have to have strong listening skills. You’ll make others uncomfortable if you run yourself down too much. Maybe it just means you’re concentrating, but your employees see it as threatening. Aim Higher: How to be a more approachable leader. Do you sometimes feel like others know more about your business than you do. You can tell your employees, “Come talk to me any time!”, but if you fold your arms across your chest, jiggle your leg impatiently, or sigh while they’re talking to you, they’ll get a completely different message. They’re afraid to come to you with questions about their work, which leads to errors, unsatisfied customers and costly waste. Set aside time in … But you should show your interest in the people who work for you. It is said that exercises and workout will make you more productive at work, and this is backed by … Make room for others. Making eye contact makes other people way more likely to approach you. Phil Wilson is the Chief Evangelist of Approachable Leadership. Have your hands down and at your side, avoiding crossed arms or putting your hands in your pockets. Once you establish those initial touch points, people feel more comfortable coming to you when there's issues. Focus on the other person and really listen to what they’re saying instead of thinking about your to-do list or what you’re going to say next. People who are in authority must be approachable individual. A warm, inviting smile can put anyone at ease and makes you look like you're having a great time. This may be the most intelligent decision you ever make as a manager. Get out of your office and walk around. Let your arms hang loosely by your sides when you’re standing up. Required fields are marked *, Founded in 2003, Small Business Trends is an award-winning online publication for small business owners, entrepreneurs and the people who interact with them. 8 ways to become a more approachable leader Greet everyone. “Of course not,” you scoff. Use open body posture.. WikiHow suggests that an open body posture is one of the … bosses must take responsibility for being approachable to their employees. The Key To Being More Approachable: Projecting Warmth. Showing vulnerability and a sense of humor make you more likable and approachable. 2. People are drawn to those who share a genuine care and concern for others. This video will help you develop good posture. When employees find you intimidating, it causes many problems. Exercise And Workout. 3. Naturally, when you tell an employee how great she is, she’ll beam more than when you share what she needs to work on. In other words, are you approachable? Times like now can prove to be more challenging socially, physically and mentally. Join the conversation below and let us know how you stay calm at work. The more they get to know you, the less intimidating you’ll be. parents must make themselves approachable to their children’s and spouses must be approachable to each other. But your nerves could actually work to your advantage; as we discussed last time, it’s easier to approach a small group of people than a large one, and it’s easiest of all to approach someone who’s alone. On top of that showing your appreciation provides an extra motivation boost. How to Be More Approachable If you’re worried you are unapproachable — or if you know that one of your managers has this problem — here are some steps to make employees feel more comfortable. While sitting, lean back slightly and make yourself comfortable. Develop Your Skill Set. You don’t have to be BFFs, and you shouldn’t play favorites. Stop touching your face or playing with your hair. Having approachable managers means the workforce will be more loyal and engaged and should decrease employee turnover. By opening up to your colleagues, you can be more authentic, more approachable and … List all the tasks for the day, calculating the amount of work involved and the time you need to do it. And it will be the beginning of your transformation from manager to leader. He is the author of multiple books, including his most recent, The Approachability Playbook: 3 … And if they don’t find you approachable, they may be afraid to admit it. You should not bring your home life at work so you can focus on your job and you will be more pleasant to your colleagues. Let’s face it: Simply being the boss is enough to make you intimidating to many employees. Begin with some of these ideas from my guests, and then begin to work approachability into more complex areas of your leadership journey, including how you schedule your time and even think about office planning. Dress well. To be approachable you need to act approachable The more helpful responses are easy to identify and hard to do, but I know you can do them. They are telling a... 2. I met a guy who kept saying things like, “I’m an idiot,” “I have the most boring job ever,” etc. Learn about their interests, hobbies and families. UPDATED: Some content was updated on October 22, 2020, from the original posting date. Smiling puts the other person at ease as well as makes you more attractive. Smile often. Actually, the most effective way to become more approachable is to rid yourself of the “boss” moniker altogether. In today’s work environment, people's relationship with their boss is the #1 reason for staying with or leaving a company.

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