Feedback from those being lead can be just as important as the feedback from successful leaders in the Fortune 100. The 2020 Fortune Best Companies to Work For combines the two, and gives a well rounded picture of what makes quality human resource and leadership practices.
“I am given complete autonomy to do what’s best and if I need help, I have a strong support system.” – Cisco employee
“We are given a great deal of freedom to work and enjoy time with others. We are trusted and treated as adults. This freedom leads to a better work ethic.” – Veteran United Home Loans employee
Individuals will always clash at some point, personally and professionally. One leader cannot please everyone with every decision, and one employee cannot please everyone all the time. There are many great leadership skills listed in the website, such as compassion and purpose, but I truly believe the most effective one is trust, which goes hand and hand with freedom. If employees feel like they have autonomy, it will foster an environment of trust for their managers, because they feel that their managers trust them with the freedom. Oftentimes, leaders forget that the people they are leading already have all of the tools they need. They need someone to trust that they can do a good job, and help them find their unique skills in the process.
“I love that the company allows individuals to be exactly that: individuals. We are free to express ourselves in unique ways and are not expected to conform to any specific standard.” – Capital One employee
As we know from First, Break All the Rules, the managers job is to aid the employee in finding their unique set of skills. “They try to help each person become more and more of who he already is” (Buckingham 57). This relates to the feedback given to the Fortune 100 companies. Giving employees the opportunity for trust and individuality is far more powerful than ruling with and iron fist.
https://www.greatplacetowork.com/best-workplaces/100-best/2020