Get All Access for $5/mo

Want to Be a Better Leader? Stop Emailing So Much! Business guru Jeffrey Hayzlett offers this tip to energize and empower your staff.

By Dan Bova

Including your employees in conversations surrounding your business is vital to its success. In his book The Hero Factor, author Jeffrey Hayzlett offers this advice for getting those important conversations going in a constructive way:

"Get your butt out of your chair, walk over to a desk, and ask a question to someone's face! Ask a question that opens people up and requires a thoughtful answer—the more personal and less work-driven, the better."

It's one thing to send an employee an email saying "do this task," but to get the best results, talk about it face to face. Answer questions, and ask questions. Having a deeper dialogue lets your employee knows how this one task is part of a bigger plan -- and opens the possibility of them offering insights on how to make it even more effective.

Learn more great leadership lessons by picking up The Hero Factor, on sale now.

Related: 15 Mistakes Successful Leaders Know to Avoid

Dan Bova

Entrepreneur Staff

VP of Special Projects

Dan Bova is the VP of Special Projects at Entrepreneur.com. He previously worked at Jimmy Kimmel Live, Maxim, and Spy magazine. His latest books for kids include This Day in History, Car and Driver's Trivia ZoneRoad & Track Crew's Big & Fast Cars, The Big Little Book of Awesome Stuff, and Wendell the Werewolf

Read his humor column This Should Be Fun if you want to feel better about yourself.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

More from Entrepreneur Exclusives

3 Simple Ways to Boost E-Commerce Sales

Why Your First 1,000 Customers Are Your Most Important

How to Grow Your Business By Finding New Customers

How to Beat The Working From Home Blues (60-Second Video)

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

5 Rule-Bending AI Hacks to Make Your Mornings More Productive and Profitable

By 2025, AI will transform productivity by streamlining workflows and cutting costs. Major companies like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI are leading the way, advancing AI into "Phase 3," where tools act as digital assistants. Discover 5 AI hacks to boost efficiency and redefine your daily routine.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Science & Technology

5 Automation Strategies Every Small Business Should Follow

It's time we make IT automation work for us: streamline processes, boost efficiency and drive growth with the right tools and strategy.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.