Loyalty
Definition
Reliable, trustworthy, and committed to the success of the team and organization
What is it?
Loyalty is a commitment to one’s company or organization is spite of its faults and flaws. Managers who are loyal work hard for the success of their company because of a deep sense of honor, obligation, or gratitude.
Why is it important?
Employers are very aware of who is loyal and who isn’t. They know who is engaged and committed. They know when a manager is willing to sacrifice in the short term for the success of the organization. When executives are looking to promote a manager, loyalty is usually part of the equation. They can be trusted with mission-critical tasks and important responsibilities.
Suggestions for Improvement
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Don’t Trash the Company
In an effort to bond with employees, some managers trash talk their boss or their company in an attempt to bond with employees. While it might engender a sense of camaraderie in the short term, it will sabotage your authority in the long run. Eventually, employees will take your lead and do to you what you are doing to those above you. This doesn’t mean we have to agree with everything that comes down from on high, but we need to be loyal and trust that company leaders are making the best decisions they know how to make.
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Build a Positive Culture
Employees often see policies and procedures from the perspective of how it impacts them. As a result, they may get frustrated and complain frequently. We need to create a culture that values our organization and appreciates what it is doing for customers and employees. We need to intentionally educate our direct reports about the positive things that are going on. People want to work for companies they believe in so we need to give them the information that creates those positive beliefs.
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Have a Service Orientation
Managers need to adopt a service orientation that says, “How can I help you?” This means making a strong commitment to serve our colleagues, our company, and, most of all, our customers. Showing deep concern for those around us may just come back to us in the most surprising ways. Taking the initiative to serve others instead of waiting to be served will send a powerful message to your employees.
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