Getting the best out of your people is vital if you want to make the best progress in your business or organization. Much of it comes from the way you personally interact and here are just ten key actions you need to take to build great, satisfying and productive relationships…

This might be a bit obvious to you.

If you have any role in managing people, you need to ensure that you develop excellent people skills.

By building rapport, you’ll develop ongoing and productive relationships with all of your people, giving you a tremendous return on your efforts.

Here are ten things you can do, all easy, that will dramatically change the response you get from your people, the key asset you have in your business or organization:

1. just have conversations

   About everything! Talking and more importantly listening to your people on a regular and informal basis is a huge advantage. No matter what it is, your understanding of them and their trust in you will be magnified if you spend priority time on this each and every day.

2. Listen and show you’re listening

   Take the time to really listen to each of your people, instead of just telling them. If you really listen, they will respond. Hearing is more: it’s about what you do with what you’ve heard. And by using your face, your body language, your eye contact, and what you say (see 3 below), you’ll go a long way to show that you’re listening carefully.

3. ask another question

   Such a simple tactic. Ask secondary questions about what you have been told. Nothing, but nothing builds a relationship and relationships like this. It shows that what they have been telling you is valuable, is interesting, and increases your confidence. And you have been there to make it happen.

4. Support

   Your people need you to help them along the way. With your support, they will flourish and grow. Support is what they hear from you – it works both ways.

5. coach

   Don’t get bogged down with technicalities. Coaching is about helping them see where they want to go from where they are now. It’s about exploring the possibilities, their possibilities, not yours, and calling them to action. Simple as that.

6. clear expectations

   By making sure all of your people know exactly what you expect of them, they will tune in to deliver it. Confusion about performance is demoralizing and drains energy. Take the time to be clear.

7. pay attention

   In any conversation with your people, take the time to give them your full attention. Do your best to avoid being interrupted or distracted and truly value them for what they are saying to you, or the message you are giving them.

8. show interest in them

   These are real people and if you dig a little deeper, it will show up. Taking a real interest in who they are, their hopes and fears, their passions, and what’s important to them makes a big difference in how they perceive you. Know your dog’s name, if your dog is your most prized possession!

9. Go ahead

   During conversations, you can offer actions that will be valuable to them. Answers to what they told you. Be sure to hand these out. Monitoring and reporting. Take the steps you say you will take. If you can’t, tell them why.

10. remember conversations

    When you have subsequent conversations, remember something that was said earlier and bring it up. This is hugely gratifying to them and lets them know they said something of value.

Great managers truly understand their people and find ways to bring out the best in each of them.

Maximize the value of the most valuable asset you have in your business.

Your people.