I made a giant mistake in my first leadership role.

(source Justin Wright)

I treated every team member exactly the same way.

What worked for my more senior employees completely frustrated the younger ones.

And what motivated my Millennial teammates made the Boomers uncomfortable.

Here’s what I learned:

Great leaders don’t use a one-size-fits-all approach.

Some team members appreciate daily feedback. Others prefer monthly check-ins.

Some want detailed instructions.
Others need creative freedom.

Some love collaborative brainstorming.
Others do their best thinking alone.

The secret?

Get to know each person as an individual.

Ask them:
• When do you do your best work?
• How do you prefer to communicate?
• What support do you need to succeed?
• What kind of feedback helps you grow?

Because leadership isn’t about → your ← style.

It’s about adapting to help each person thrive.

The best teams aren’t built on treating everyone equally.

They’re built on treating everyone individually.