Trust & Empathy: Traits That Can Transform Your Team
Your team is the backbone of your organization, and successful leaders understand that their team's success depends on their trust and compassion. Leaders who trust their team allow room for innovation, growth, and success. Empathy, on the other hand, is essential for building trust with employees, fostering better communication, and promoting a positive work culture.
In this interview with Amanda Jones-McNay of AJM Design Studio, we'll delve into the importance of trust and empathy as positive leadership traits that can transform your team.
What do you think is your greatest strength as a leader & why?
I believe my greatest strength as a leader is trusting my team. I put great attention into hiring the right fit, patiently onboarding them, then trusting them to do the job I hired them for (while always being available for questions and collaboration!).
What is one characteristic that you believe every leader should embody & why?
All leaders must have empathy. We all care greatly about our business, but we must first care about the people helping us build it. Showing empathy for the people on our team builds trust, ensures strong communication, and inspires them to show up as their best self every day.
What are the most important decisions you make as a leader of your organization?
The most important decisions I make are choosing which clients we work with and how we engage with them. My employees are contractors who often work directly with my clients, so it's imperative that I set clear expectations with the customer and set my team up for success.
Meet Amanda: I’m Amanda Jones McNay. I eat, sleep, breathe, talk, walk, & rock creativity. From my childhood homemade picture frame business and my growing tattoo collection to becoming a freelance graphic designer then founding AJM Design Studio in 2016.
Since then, I’ve honed my specialty as a brand identity and Squarespace web designer, refreshing brands across industries and launching more than 100 websites. I hold a BFA from UGA (go, DAWGS!) and live in Denver with my three dogs.
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