Emily Rakela’s Post

I am honored to have been selected to be part of cohort one of Costa Farm’s Servant Leadership program. While reflecting on our first session, two things really stuck with me. As a new leader, I tended to focus so much on ensuring that team members would never feel overwhelmed to reduce burnout and turnover; however, the birds must leave the nest! Delegating and allowing autonomy is key for driving development and creating an autonomous, engaged, and fullfilled team. If your team can run without you, you are doing something right! “Team performance takes priority over your individual performance.” As a new leader, sometimes (all the time) it feels like there just is not enough time in the day to get everything done. This can feel very demotivating for someone who thrives on checking off boxes; however, it is important to take a step back and look at your team as a whole. A servant leader is there to provide the tools their team needs to succeed. If you are still bringing in wins through doing this, that takes priority. I am still trying to remind myself of this daily! Looking forward to session two! #CostaLeadershipStyle

"As a manager, you often find yourself at the center of challenges and triumphs. When things go wrong, it's you who faces the bricks, but when everything goes right, it's the team that receives the bouquet." This wisdom was shared with me by my HOD during college, and it stayed with me. However, it wasn’t until I began working that I truly understood its depth. In that fast-paced environment, I learned firsthand that leadership is more than just guiding your team—it's about understanding what they need to perform at their best. A crucial part of my growth came from the mentorship I received from my manager. Their guidance helped shape my approach to leadership, teaching me the importance of being a supportive system for my team. I learned to recognize each team member's strengths, provide the right resources, and create an environment where they could thrive. These experiences taught me that true leadership is about accountability, trust, and recognizing the value each person brings to the table. I’m still learning and hope to become a better manager each day. When you lift your team, you lift the entire organization. #Leadership #Teamwork #Management

Effective leadership involves more than delegating tasks and managing deadlines. It requires building a strong relationship with your team based on trust, respect, and open communication. By getting to know your team members on a personal level and understanding their strengths, weaknesses, and motivations, you can effectively guide them toward achieving their full potential. This involves active listening, providing constructive feedback, recognizing their accomplishments, and addressing any concerns they may have. Ultimately, building a positive relationship with your team will not only improve productivity and morale but also create a more collaborative and supportive work environment. #leadership #management #leadershipdevelopment #employeeengagement #leaders #people #leadershipfirst #leadershipfirstquotes #executivesandmanagement #inspiration #giffordthomas #entrepeneurship

True story from a recent client session: Team Leader: "But they're all great at their jobs! Why isn't it... working?" Me: "What word would you use to describe the tone of your team meetings?" Team Leader: *long silence* "...Oh." Here's what many leaders miss: Technical skills aren't enough in 2025. The game-changers are: - Psychological safety - Trust-based innovation - Aligned purpose One of these is usually the "missing ingredient" in even the most talented teams. Which one means the most to your team? I'd love to know! #TeamDevelopment #Leadership #CompanyCulture

Regularly connecting with team members should be a top goal for exceptional leaders. Take the time to learn about their needs and discover what motivates them. Teams and employees are motivated to perform at their highest level, frequently beyond company goals and expectations, when they feel truly appreciated and acknowledged. #hashtag, #Leadership, #hashtag, #Teamwork, #Team, #Trust, #management, #innovation, #hashtag, #humanresources, #creativity, #Future, #Careers, #SocialNetworking, #education, #creativity, #personaldevelopment, #motivation, #mindfulness, #inspiration, #selfhelp,

ARE YOU A MANAGER ASPIRING TO BECOME A BETTER LEADER? It’s time to elevate your leadership game and inspire your team! Here’s how: 1️⃣ Communicate Clearly Set clear goals - Share honest feedback - Listen as much as you speak. 2️⃣ Empower and Delegate Trust your team - Give them ownership - Foster creativity and build confidence. 3️⃣ Lead by Example Your actions matter - Show the work ethic you expect - Be a positive role model. 4️⃣ Embrace Growth Never stop learning - Encourage team development - Lead with a growth mindset. 5️⃣ Celebrate Success Recognize wins, big and small - Reward achievements - Motivate your team to do more. Great managers keep things running – GREAT LEADERS INSPIRE! What’s your best leadership tip? Drop it in the comments! 👇 #Leadership #Management #InspireYourTeam

Happy Monday everyone! Leaders, how do you feel about receiving (𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐧𝐲𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐬) 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤? Receiving feedback from my teams helped me a lot to improve and grow as a leader. It was a bit "uncomfortable", but I decided to create anonymous surveys yearly in every team I've managed for me to develop and learn about what my teams appreciate about me as a leader, what works effectively AND also where they think I'm 𝐧𝐨𝐭 effective and what they suggest I need to improve/develop as a leader. I remember one of the things most team members (in different countries) shared that they appreciated the most was the training and workshops I conducted for the team and they suggested I conducted more of. This one was about 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐁𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐜𝐞 and we had a lot of fun and they learned a lot about each other which is helpful for team collaboration. 𝐇𝐎𝐖 can these training and workshops be so powerful? An important factor leading to our business turnarounds? In our cases it worked so effectively because it helped our team members, 𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐧 𝐮𝐩, 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲, 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 towards each other and of course these helped us 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐥 𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐠𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐋𝐄𝐀𝐑𝐍𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐍𝐃 𝐃𝐄𝐕𝐄𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐦. #leadership #people #teamdevelopment #trustandrespect #turnaroundmanagement

Leadership is a multifaceted skill, and to be a successful leader, one must be able to inspire, see people for who they are, bring people together, and synthesize disparate ideas to align around a common purpose. These qualities are essential for effective leadership and creating a positive impact on the team. As a leader, it's important to understand that everyone has unique strengths and weaknesses, and it's your job to create an environment where everyone can thrive. By recognizing and utilizing individual strengths, you can create a cohesive team that works towards a common goal. Remember, inspiring leadership is not just about telling people what to do, but rather empowering them to be their best selves. #leadership #leadershipcoach #leaders #empowerment #teambonding #leadershipdevelopment #lead

🌟 The Art of Great Leadership 🌟 A great manager isn’t just someone who oversees tasks—they’re the ones who inspire, guide, and uplift their team to achieve more than they thought possible. 👥 What Makes a Manager Exceptional? 1️⃣ Empathy: They understand their team’s needs and challenges. 2️⃣ Clarity: They communicate goals and expectations effectively. 3️⃣ Support: They empower their team with trust and resources. 4️⃣ Growth-Focused: They invest in their team’s personal and professional development. The best leaders create an environment where everyone feels valued, motivated, and aligned with the bigger picture. A well-managed team isn’t just productive—it’s happy and resilient. Here’s to all the managers who inspire us to be our best every day. 🙌 #Leadership #TeamManagement #Inspiration

An empathetic leader prioritizes understanding and supporting their team members on a personal level 👼 . They actively listen 😇 , show genuine concern, and consider others' feelings and perspectives when making decisions 😎 . This fosters trust, loyalty, and collaboration within the team 🤝 . On the other hand, a leader without empathy may focus solely on task completion and overlook the emotional needs of their team. They might be more directive, less understanding of individual challenges, and less responsive to the emotional well-being of their team members. This can lead to disengagement, resentment, and lower morale among team members. #empatheticleadership #empathymatters #leadership #leaders