Do You Provide the Tools Your Employees Need to be Rockstars?

Cathie Leimbach • November 18, 2020

As a leader, you want employees to be productive at work. You want efficient production and quality results. And, chances are, your employees want the same thing.

To be rockstars, each employee has to be provided the tools they need to be incredibly productive, and less frustrated. Sometimes, the simplest thing can make a huge difference. 

When looking at what isn’t working, think about this. There are rarely bad people. There are often, okay, almost all of the time, bad processes. Your team members’ daily output may be limited by realities such as these.

·        The summer intern was responsible for a weekly accuracy cross-check of a 200-page warehouse inventory that was printed on unlined paper. But there weren’t any rulers available to help him focus on one line at a time. It was a month before a new ruler was purchased for him.

·        The admin assistant was frequently asked to format training and promotional documents attractively. The only software available to her was a free online word processor. 

·        Staff who worked remotely for months during the pandemic were instructed to join the weekly team ZOOM meeting from their work computers. But only a couple of them had webcams. They quickly felt isolated. Their energy and productivity dwindled.

Highly effective managers ensure their team members have the materials and equipment necessary to achieve production goals.

It is actually a simple fix. Just ask if they have the supplies and equipment they need. Make sure that your staff members are comfortable letting you or IT know when ink cartridges need to be ordered or their computer is blue screening? Quickly respond to their needs so that they are empowered to be as productive and engaged as possible rather than learning to make do as long as possible despite increased frustration and decreased productivity.

Want simple tools to ask those questions and more? Get in touch with me for a free assessment of what your employees are really thinking. 

By Cathie Leimbach January 6, 2026
This is a subtitle for your new post
By Cathie Leimbach December 30, 2025
As the New Year approaches, it’s a natural time to look forward and ask what you want the next chapter to bring. One simple way to reflect to ask yourself three questions to create a stronger year ahead, what should you: Stop?, Continue?, and Start? Stop focusing energy on habits, meetings, or expectations that no longer serve you or your team. This might mean letting go of outdated processes, unnecessary urgency, or ways of working that drain momentum without adding value. Continue the practices that helped you gain traction this year. Think about what worked—perhaps clear communication, strong collaboration, consistent follow-through, or time spent developing people. These are the behaviors worth protecting and reinforcing. Start being intentional about what will move you forward in 2026. This could include setting clearer priorities, investing in leadership development, building healthier team rhythms, or creating space for innovation and growth. Taking time to reflect now helps you enter the New Year with purpose rather than pressure. Small, thoughtful shifts can create meaningful impact over time. Ready to turn reflection into action?  👉 View our Stop • Continue • Start Worksheet for a simple, practical way to reset priorities, build on what’s working, and step into 2026 with clarity and momentum.