Leadership is all about setting an example and inspiring others to follow your lead. A great leader is someone who is transparent, ethical, and accountable. When it comes to maintaining standards, a leader needs to set clear goals and objectives, provide ongoing feedback, and hold employees accountable for their performance.
Setting Clear Standards
Clear goals are set with intention. They must be communicated in a way that establishes all the details. Vague or overly broad standards can be confusing for employees. This can lead to inconsistency and a lack of clarity about what is expected. Make sure that each standard is clear and actionable. Make sure employees understand exactly what they need to do to meet those standards and, most importantly, why it matters.
Once you’ve established the specifics, make sure you set a time for discussion. I’ve spoken with many workers over the years that say they’ve heard a new policy through another coworker. Others told me they were emailed information and left with so many questions, they didn’t know how to get started.
The Ongoing Effort of Maintaining Standards
Maintaining standards as a leader involves a continuous effort. Is staff meeting standards consistently over time? Here are some key ways to maintain standards as a leader:
- Lead by example: As a leader, you must set an example for your team by adhering to the standards you have set. This means modeling the behavior you expect from your team. Consistently hold yourself to the same high standards you expect from others.
- Provide feedback: Regular feedback is crucial to maintaining standards. It provides employees with a clear understanding of how well they are meeting the standards you have set and allows them to make any necessary adjustments. As a leader, it is your responsibility to provide ongoing feedback that is specific, actionable, and constructive.
- Hold employees accountable: Accountability is an important part of maintaining standards. When employees fail to meet the standards you have set, it is important to hold them accountable and address the issue promptly. For example, you can do this by providing additional coaching, training, or support to help them meet the standards, or taking more serious action if necessary.
- Recognize and reward good performance: Recognizing and rewarding employees that consistently meet or exceed the standards you have set is another important way to maintain those standards. For example, utilizing formal recognition programs, bonuses, or other incentives that demonstrate the value you place on high performance.
- Continuously review and update standards: Leaders can’t write standards in stone. Regularly review them and update as needed. This means being aware of changes in the industry or business environment that may impact standards and taking action to adjust them accordingly.
Driving Success
Overall, maintaining standards as a leader requires a combination of clear communication, ongoing feedback, accountability, recognition, and continuous improvement. By prioritizing these key elements, you can help your team consistently meet and exceed the expectations you have set, and drive success for the business as a whole.
Has your organization set concrete standards around customer service? Baird Group offers several customer service training options including:
- The Power of One is a training designed for healthcare workers at all levels.
- You’ll Have Them at Hello, a training specifically designed to enhance phone skills
- A+ Service Recovery, a complete train-the-trainer program designed to establish and train for the inevitable service recoveries.
Learn more about these trainings by setting up a free 30-minute consultation here.
Tags: goal setting, Leadership, management, Standards
