How to Be the Leader Everyone Wants to Work For
Have you ever looked around and wondered, Does my team actually want to follow me?
Not just respect your title or respond to your emails, but truly believe in you?
In today’s workplace—especially in fast-paced industries like banking and finance—people don’t stay because of perks or pay alone. They stay for leaders who bring out their best.
But how do you become that kind of leader?
The best way to find out isn’t by reading a textbook. It’s by listening to your team. Here’s what they say and do that makes the biggest difference:
- Be clear and confident. Great leaders don’t need every answer, but they do need direction. People want someone steady, especially when markets shift or pressure builds. Confidence gives teams focus.
- Get involved in the work. Respected leaders don’t lead from the sidelines. When you jump in and help—whether it’s reviewing a commercial client proposal or solving a service issue—it shows you understand what it takes.
- Set the right example. Leaders are always being watched. When you own mistakes and stay honest, it signals that growth is more important than perfection.
- Make goals clear. People need to know what success looks like. A strong leader sets clear targets, supports progress, and celebrates wins—big and small.
- Give feedback that builds up. Feedback shouldn’t sting. The best leaders offer truth with care—clear, kind, and helpful. It shows you're rooting for your people, not just evaluating them.
- Strive for excellence, not just execution. In banking, the difference between good and great can mean millions. Great leaders build cultures where excellence isn’t a stretch goal—it’s the standard. That mindset trickles down to every call, every meeting, every team member, every outcome.
Ultimately, being a leader isn’t about charisma. It’s about responsibility—for results, for people, and for the tone you set. And when you do that well? People follow. Not because they have to—but because they want to.
One question to ask yourself:
If your team was asked why they love working for you, what would they say?
About Author:
Casey Cunningham is the CEO and founder of XINNIX, a company specializing in sales and leadership training with decades of experience in banking and financial services. Under her leadership, XINNIX has transformed the careers of thousands of executives, managers and professionals by providing programs that drive measurable results. Visit XINNIX.com or call (678) 325-3500. Reach Cunningham at casey@XINNIX.com.