How to be a successful people leader

What makes a good leader? There are many qualities that likely come to mind — someone who’s encouraging, driven, empathic, possesses self-awareness – the list goes on. In your career, you’ve likely come into contact with both good and not so good leaders.

At Pierce PR, we have the privilege of working with clients in numerous fields, each with differing goals, capabilities and audiences. Supporting a variety of clients allows us to see examples of amazing people leaders who encourage and inspire not only those inside their organizations, but their external partners, like us, as well. 

Team members Mckenzie Masters, Bri Carlesimo and Carson Brown share three examples of how our amazing clients exhibit leadership qualities that help set the bar for us and others:

Recognize success in team members

Recognition costs little but goes a long way. Being praised by your peers is incredibly gratifying, and the team we work with at Kimberly-Clark embodies the art of recognition. Whether it’s a simple email to say ‘thank you’ or kind words in a team meeting, celebrating other people’s successes is something the Kimberly-Clark team does flawlessly. 

Creating a culture of consistent, positive feedback and recognition is the first step in celebrating successes. A simple “great job!” or “thanks for the hard work!” not only serves as encouragement, but makes people feel appreciated. Carve out the time to recognize others. You may be surprised at the impact these gestures have on morale, attitude and commitment.

–Mckenzie Masters

Proactively brainstorm and engage your team when busy 

The best leaders are constantly thinking ahead and strategically planning to ensure the success of their teams. Leaders at Wold Architects & Engineers not only encourage their team members to push themselves out of their comfort zones, but they also make sure the right framework is established to effectively support their teams.  

To implement this in your organization, consider creating quarterly marketing planning documents to track progress and proactively plan for the upcoming quarter. Include everything from email campaign goals to individual social media targets, and aim to set aside time to thoughtfully discuss feedback and recognize the success of previous goals. It’s a great tracking tool and also creates accountability and alignment around shared goals. 

–Bri Carlesimo 

Cultivate closeness with team outings 

Team outings are one of the easiest ways to create a strong team dynamic, and the leaders at Wealth Strategies Partners understand this well. Providing clients with gold standard service is the firm’s top priority, and they know that cannot happen if the team is disconnected. 

Whether its team dinners, a company retreat to the mountains or a seasonal experience like braving a haunted house together, having non-work related experiences with coworkers builds trust and deepens connections. Employee and client happiness grows when leaders put time and energy into creating meaningful relationships with each other. 

–Carson Brown

Mckenzie Masters and Bri Carlesimo serve as senior account managers and Carson Brown serves as an account coordinator at Pierce Public Relations.