Last updated on Jul 9, 2024

How do you show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals?

Interpersonal leadership is the ability to influence, motivate, and collaborate with others in a positive and respectful way. One of the key skills of interpersonal leadership is showing genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals. This can help you build trust and rapport, foster a supportive and productive team culture, and enhance your own learning and development. In this article, you will learn some practical tips on how to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals.

1 Ask open-ended questions

One of the simplest and most effective ways to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to ask open-ended questions that invite them to share more details, insights, and opinions. Open-ended questions are those that cannot be answered with a yes or no, such as "What are you working on right now?" or "How do you feel about the progress of the project?" or "What are some of the challenges or opportunities that you face?" Asking open-ended questions demonstrates that you are curious and attentive, and that you value your colleagues' perspectives and experiences.

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2 Listen actively and empathetically

Another important skill of showing genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to listen actively and empathetically to their responses. Active listening means that you pay attention to what they are saying, without interrupting, judging, or giving unsolicited advice. You can show that you are listening by nodding, making eye contact, and using verbal and non-verbal cues, such as "I see" or "That's interesting". Empathetic listening means that you try to understand their emotions, motivations, and challenges, and that you express support, appreciation, and encouragement. You can show empathy by using statements such as "I can imagine how you feel" or "That must have been hard" or "You did a great job".

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3 Follow up and follow through

A third way to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to follow up and follow through on your conversations. Following up means that you check in with them regularly, ask them how they are doing, and offer your help or feedback if needed. Following through means that you keep your promises, deliver on your commitments, and acknowledge their achievements. Following up and following through shows that you care about your colleagues' success and well-being, and that you are reliable and trustworthy.

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Donia Robinson

Senior Staff Engineering Manager @PayPal | ex-Oracle; ex-Salesforce | Full stack developer before it was cool
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Checking in with them regularly can be as simple as remembering what they are working on and what their goals are. They may not always want or need you to be an active participant, but if you check in with them and ask specific questions about their work (not just "how's it going?"), it means a lot.

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4 Share your own work and goals

A fourth way to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to share your own work and goals with them. Sharing your own work and goals means that you open up about your projects, challenges, learnings, and aspirations. Sharing your own work and goals can help you create a mutual understanding, a common ground, and a sense of connection with your colleagues. It can also invite them to show interest in your work and goals, and to offer their support or feedback. Sharing your own work and goals shows that you are confident and authentic, and that you respect your colleagues as equals and partners.

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Cristina M.

Strategic Business Executive | SaaS Expert | Mastering L&D Best Practices | Knowledge Management & Knowledge Exchange | Revenue Acceleration| Growth Catalyst | Strategic Coach | and Transformational L&D Leader
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One thing I’ve found extremely helpful is to convey your own goals but also the impact that it has to the company - once an individual sees their piece of the pie, it creates meaningful momentum and “aha” moments of genuine interest. I also found helpful to share objectives within the goals - anything that I would ask feedback from other colleagues and ask for their input. Being vulnerable creates trust and bond.

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5 Seek feedback and learning opportunities

A fifth way to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to seek feedback and learning opportunities from them. Seeking feedback means that you ask them for their opinions, suggestions, and critiques on your work and performance. Seeking feedback shows that you are humble and open-minded, and that you value your colleagues' expertise and experience. Seeking learning opportunities means that you ask them to teach you something, to mentor you, or to collaborate with you on a project. Seeking learning opportunities shows that you are curious and eager to learn, and that you appreciate your colleagues' skills and knowledge.

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Juhee Goswami

Talent Delivery Manager @ Randstad
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Active Listening: Pay attention when they discuss their projects. Show genuine curiosity by asking questions and reflecting on what they share. Offer Support: Offer assistance or resources that could help them achieve their objectives. Celebrate Achievements: Acknowledge and celebrate milestones, no matter how small. Seek Feedback: Ask for their input on projects or decisions. This not only shows respect for their expertise but also reinforces their importance in the team. Stay Updated: Stay informed about their progress and challenges. Check in regularly to show ongoing interest in their development. Encourage Development: Support their growth by offering opportunities for learning or advancement that align with their goals.

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6 Celebrate and appreciate

A sixth way to show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals is to celebrate and appreciate their achievements and contributions. Celebrating means that you congratulate them, praise them, and recognize them for their accomplishments, big or small. Celebrating shows that you are happy for them, and that you acknowledge their efforts and results. Appreciating means that you thank them, express gratitude, and show kindness for their help, support, or input. Appreciating shows that you are grateful for them, and that you recognize their value and impact.

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Zeyad A. Alogla

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"𝘈 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘰𝘧 200,000 𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘢𝘨𝘦𝘳𝘴 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘦𝘮𝘱𝘭𝘰𝘺𝘦𝘦𝘴 𝘧𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘵 79% 𝘰𝘧 𝘱𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘸𝘩𝘰 𝘲𝘶𝘪𝘵 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘪𝘳 𝘫𝘰𝘣𝘴 𝘤𝘪𝘵𝘦 𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘬 𝘰𝘧 𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘪𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘴 𝘢 𝘮𝘢𝘫𝘰𝘳 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘴𝘰𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳 𝘭𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨." * Yes, show your [genuine] appreciation to your people as often as humanly possible. From experience I can assure you that it neither "gets old" nor does it "diminish your prestige and authority" as some unqualified-to-lead people tout. It's the absolute opposite, in fact. If experiences lie sometimes, the numbers rarely do. * 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘺 𝘸𝘢𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘖. 𝘊. 𝘛𝘈𝘕𝘕𝘌𝘙

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7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?

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Samuel Penneçot

Railway expert & innovation integrator
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Gemba walk ! Rien de tel que d'aller sur le terrain, et passer du temps avec les gens. J'apprécie par dessus tout de remonter les manches, et donner un coup de main. Alors, les langues se délient ...

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How do you show genuine interest in your colleagues' work and goals?

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1 Ask open-ended questions

2 Listen actively and empathetically

3 Follow up and follow through

4 Share your own work and goals

5 Seek feedback and learning opportunities

6 Celebrate and appreciate

7 Here’s what else to consider

Interpersonal Leadership

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