Team Engagement Begins with You

Welcome to the Leader’s Lens: The Perspective Shift issue!

This issue offers a fresh perspective and actionable tips to enhance your leadership this week.

Send me an email and let me know how you plan on implementing this perspective shift in your leadership!

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Are you being intentional in how you show up as a leader?

In the 12 years of formal leadership, I am learning that leadership is about making decisions, driving results, and establishing a strong team culture.

I had to learn that my intentional presence means engaging fully with the team, building trust, and keeping our focus on achieving real impact.

Honestly, being an intentional leader is hard.

We all are experiencing competing priorities. I already have mounting responsibilities. Then underneath it all is an unspoken pressure to perform well.

It’s easy to lose focus on the people behind the work.

But if I desire engagement from the team, I need to take the necessary actions to earn it.

So, how do we shift? Below are the three actions I intentionally practice in my leadership.

Three Ways to Earn your Team’s Engagement

1. Listen to Understand, Not Just to Respond

Early in my leadership journey, I pushed for a workflow change that seemed logical (to me). I noticed that the team took 2 weeks to conduct a discovery for an initiative. To me that was inefficient; if we were able to bucket the type of work associated to do the discovery. I pushed to see if we can decrease the to 5 days or less. But when my team pushed back, I realized I had missed something critical: context.

I hadn’t taken the time to listen to their challenges, upstream and downstream effects, or the deeper issue beneath the surface. The length of discovery time was necessary to not only understand the request, but also time to grasp the dependencies, implementation and sustainability plans associated with the request.

Instead of driving change, I created friction.

From then on, I made it a habit to sit with my team and listen first. I worked to assumptions, make no immediate solutions.

Just active listening. 

10 years later, I have seen greater engagement from the staff, increased cross-team collaboration across initiatives, and stronger trust between leadership and staff.

Quick Action: In your next meeting, challenge yourself to listen without thinking about your response. Instead, ask: What am I missing? What’s truly being said?

2. Connect Beyond the Work

People want leaders who are competent and real.

I used to admire those leaders who always had the perfect soundbite, the ones whose words went viral. But being a quotable isn’t always seen as substantial.

Oddly enough, I felt as if it was performative.

When I started prioritizing real connections (such as learning about my team’s backgrounds, asking about their experiences, and engaging with them beyond tasks), the work relationship became more of a partnership than a transaction.

I didn’t push to have staff members share their personal lives with me, but I did work to create a space where it was acceptable to do so.

Quick Action: This week, make it a point to connect with one team member beyond work. A simple “How’s your family doing?” or “What’s been exciting for you lately?” can go a long way.

3. Follow Through with Intent

One of my direct reports once told me, “I appreciate that you actually followed through on what you said you would do.”

It was a small moment, but a big lesson.

A mantra from my high school football days sticks with me: Be where you’re supposed to be. Do what you’re supposed to do.

Intentional leaders don’t just talk about supporting their teams. They act using their strengths to help initiatives move forward. Leaders are there to remove obstacles, ensuring resources are available, or championing initiatives, following through builds trust and shows that you mean what you say.

Quick Action: Identify one commitment you’ve made to your team and ensure you follow through this week. Even a small action can reinforce trust and reliability.

So now what?

How will you be an intentional leader and shift how you show up?

I am reminded that by listening, connecting, and following through, I can create an environment where people feel heard, valued, and supported. And when that happens, the team isn’t just more effective. They’re more engaged, resilient, and motivated.

Your Leadership Challenge

Here are three questions to reflect on this week:

• How can you be a better listener in meetings?

• How can you connect with people more deeply?

• How can you ensure you follow through on your commitments?

The action: Have a conversation where you listen to understand, not just to respond.

I’d love to hear your thoughts! Drop a comment or hit reply: what’s one way you’re practicing intentional leadership this week?

And if you want help building a culture where team engagement and intentional leadership hand-in-hand, schedule a call with me!​

Let’s build better leadership together.

— Ray

Whenever you are ready, here are ways you can work with me:

• 🎤Speaking - As a Speaker and Facilitator, I will engage your team on how belonging and inclusivity can increase your team dynamics! ​Book Ray Now

• 🤝Coaching - As a Coach, I will help you enhance the power of inclusivity and empathy to be an effective leader through an equity lens! Book a Call Now

• 📘Consulting - As a Consultant, I will help strengthen your organizational culture to increase the employee experience and retention! Book a Consultation Now

P.S. - Thank you to those who have filled out the survey letting me know more about your leadership journey! I am excited to dive into the results over the next couple of weeks to provide you with resources and content that will support your leadership! If you haven’t filled it out yet, do so by clicking the link here!