The Top 3 Qualities of a Great Employer (and a Great Leader)

I recently joined the lovely Laura Mairesse on her podcast, Vet Vibes, and during our time together we pinned down the top 3 qualities of a great employer, and the top 3 qualities of a great leader.

The Top 3 Qualities of a Great Employer

1) They do what they say they do.

It is no longer acceptable to draw someone in to your practice with promises of support for professional development, admin breaks throughout the day, or personal wellbeing schemes, to not deliver on those things, consistently. The things that are really important to people about work, and the reasons people choose your practice, are often the things to fall by the wayside when a practice gets busy, or when things get tough.

A great employer will go to great lengths to ensure they follow through on their promises.

2) They show up for their people.

Great employers show up for their people professionally and personally. Not just when its easy, but when it COUNTS. Whether someone is going through a hard time at home, or they’ve had a complaint from a client, great employers show up in meaningful ways; ways that make a significant difference to that person’s happiness.

3) They give their employee’s a voice.

There are many people in this profession with so many amazing ideas, but people can feel hesitant to speak up for a variety of reasons, whether it’s because they are lower down in the “hierarchy” and don’t feel their opinion is valued, or they work for a leader who has fixed ideas about how things should be done and shuts people down before they can reveal their greatness. The people in the profession know what to do with it next and employers really need to lean into that.

The Top 3 Qualities of a Great Leader

In order to be a great leader, and therefore a great employer, you need to embody these qualities:

1) Self-Awareness

If a leader doesn’t connect with and explore their strengths and weaknesses, and do the work to uncover their blind spots and grow, they directly limit their success and the success of their team. A lack of self-awareness leads to ego-led leadership, which sees the focus on the leader instead of the people they are serving. They lead with their own individual agenda and make decisions based on what they can get out of it, rather than lifting other people up.

2) Walking Your Talk

Truly inspirational leaders walk their talk. They do what they say they do (even when nobody is watching), and they lead by example to inspire and motivate their team. Whatever they expect of their team, they expect from themselves first.

3) Humility

Humility is not typically the first trait that comes to mind when you think about great leaders. But humble leaders make the best leaders. They understand they are not the smartest person in every room, nor do they need to be. They encourage people to speak up, invite different opinions and champion ideas, regardless of that person’s role in the practice. Humble leaders can admit their mistakes and don’t let ego get in the way of them taking responsibility for their actions.

What would you add to these lists?

What makes a great employer, and what makes a great leader?