Make Time for Them—When you love someone or
something, you spend time with them. You nurture
your relationship with them. You can’t nurture busi-
ness relationships sitting at your desk, just as you
can’t spend quality time with your spouse if you are
watching television. So the key is to come out of your
office and get to know your team. Spend time with
them. Meet with them individually. Get to know them
as people, not numbers. Just as you would tend to a
garden, you need to cultivate your team with love.
And while you are with them it is important to be pre-
sent with them. Be engaged in the present moment.
Don’t be thinking about 10 things you have to do that
day or the 10 other people you need to meet with.
Really be with that person and focus your energy on
them. They will feel the difference.
Listen to Them—One of the most important factors
that determines a high management approval rating is
whether the manager listens to the employee. Does
the manager hear what the employee has to say?
Does the manager listen to the ideas and needs of the
employee? Your employees and customers just want
to be heard, so listen to them and hear them. We’re
not talking about some active listening class tech-
nique, either. We’re talking about really sitting down
