Listening to Your Team Members

Cathie Leimbach • March 1, 2022

Listening is a skill that adds great value to every aspect of our lives. Yet, few workplace leaders leverage the power of listening. Why should we make it a priority to be attentive and active or reflective listeners?



The most important factor in employees enjoying their job, and therefore, not becoming part of the Great Resignation, is feeling valued and respected by their supervisors and their peers at work. If one of your 2022 goals is to have good employee retention and morale, then listening effectively is critical.


People feel valued when they feel others care about them. When we ask questions about what is going well with their work this week, what we could do to help them succeed, and how they think they could do an even better job, we are curious about their current job satisfaction and offering to support them further. When we ask questions about their weekend or their family, they believe that we think of them as people with an interesting life outside of work. Human beings are emotional beings. We are wired to seek positive relationships with others in all areas of our life. And, since we spend more of our awake hours at work than anywhere else, quality workplace relationships are important for our mental, emotional, and physical health. Asking questions, listening to the answers, and reflecting what we heard, help our team members have an enjoyable and productive workplace experience.


Another aspect of listening to our team members is being accessible and attentive when they come to us with questions or suggestions. When employees tell you that the equipment they use all day long is not working properly, stop what you are doing and listen to them. Ask how the problem is impacting their work.  Ask what they think the problem might be and what help they need to get it resolved. If it is simply time to replace the five-year-old laptop, ensure the new computer gets ordered.


When they figure out a quicker way to get a job done, ask how well the end result meets the company standards. If it meets the standards, doesn’t use more resources, and doesn’t negatively impact colleagues or production schedules, encourage them to implement their innovations.  Engaged and empowered employees frequently find ways to enhance workplace culture and profit. Encourage this by listening.


Collaboration is valuable in workplace satisfaction and productivity. When leaders ask questions an listen to others’ suggestions to truly learn more about their employees as people and their strengths and needs in the workplace, they will bring out the best in people and enhance the organization’s bottom line.   

The Empty Chair Is Trying to Tell You Something

By Cathie Leimbach • August 18, 2026
An empty workstation gets your attention. What caused it should keep your attention. When attendance becomes a problem, the first response is often to review the policy, document the absence, or find someone to cover the shift. Those things may be necessary. But they don't tell you why the problem is happening. A conversation might. Instead of starting with “Why do you keep calling off?” try “I've noticed you've missed several days recently. What’s going on?” Then listen. You may hear about something outside of work. But you may also discover frustration with a supervisor, conflict with a coworker, unclear expectations, scheduling difficulties, or an employee who no longer feels valued. Understanding the reason doesn't mean ignoring attendance expectations. It means you know what you're actually dealing with. Also, look for patterns. Is absenteeism higher on one shift? In one department? Under one supervisor? Did it increase after a schedule or leadership change? Those patterns may tell you where another conversation needs to happen. Most importantly, don't wait until attendance becomes a disciplinary issue to start talking. Check in with employees. Ask what's making their work harder. Ask what they need from their supervisor. And when someone raises a concern or makes a suggestion, be sure to tell them what action you are taking or why their idea won’t be implemented. The goal isn't to eliminate accountability. It's to address problems before accountability is the only conversation left. Conversation is Where Leadership Happens™ You Don't Need to Go It Alone. Bring your workplace people challenges to the FREE Workplace Conversations Clinic on September 21. Gain insights from Cathie Leimbach and other attendees. Register here for the FREE Workplace Conversations Clinic 

Is Absenteeism a Pain in Your Pocket?

By Cathie Leimbach • August 10, 2026
Absenteeism is expensive. Every unexpected absence costs more than a day's wages. Someone else may need to work overtime. Priorities get reshuffled, service slows, projects fall behind, and customers notice. Before long, absenteeism starts taking money right out of your pocket. That's why many organizations turn to attendance policies, incentives, disciplinary action, or tighter oversight. But what if those approaches are addressing the symptom rather than what's really going on? Most people don't wake up one morning and suddenly decide they don't care about their work. Disengagement usually happens gradually. People stop sharing ideas. They stop feeling heard. They begin doing only what's required. Eventually, some stop showing up. By the time absenteeism is brought to your attention, the real issue may have been growing for weeks—or even months. If absenteeism has become a recurring challenge, don't just ask, "How do we reduce call-offs?" Instead, ask "What happened before people stopped wanting to show up?" That question may lead you somewhere an attendance report never will—and may ultimately save far more than overtime costs. Attendance problems. Accountability. Difficult conversations. Team conflict. Every leader faces workplace people challenges, and few have been taught exactly what to do when they arise.  Talking through your challenges with others can be helpful. Ask questions of your network. Get some ideas online. Sometimes another perspective is exactly what you need to see the situation differently. You Don't Need to Go It Alone. Bring your workplace people challenges to the FREE Workplace Conversations Clinic on August 17. Gain insights from Cathie Leimbach and other attendees as you explore practical ways to handle the situations you're facing. Register here for the FREE Workplace Conversations Clinic