Leadership by Walking Around: The Power of Informal Assessment
Great leaders don’t wait for formal meetings to understand their teams—they observe, engage, and listen in real time. Leadership by Walking Around (LBWA) is a simple yet powerful practice that allows leaders to gather insights, strengthen relationships, and proactively address issues before they escalate.
Unlike structured evaluations, LBWA relies on casual interactions, open-ended conversations, and direct observations to assess morale, team dynamics, and operational challenges in an authentic, non-threatening way.
Core Principles of Leadership by Walking Around (LBWA):
Be Present & Approachable – Engage naturally with individuals without an agenda.
Observe Team Energy & Interactions – Take note of morale, stress levels, and group dynamics.
Ask Thoughtful, Open-Ended Questions – Encourage candid feedback without formal pressure.
Listen More Than You Speak – Make employees feel heard and valued.
Take Action on What You Learn – Show that informal feedback leads to real improvements.
Practical Exercise: “Leadership by Walking Around” (LBWA) Method
Walk & Observe → Spend time casually walking through the workplace, observing interactions, workload balance, and overall morale.
- What’s the energy level? Are people engaged, overwhelmed, or disconnected?
- Who seems to be struggling or excelling?
Ask Open-Ended Questions → Engage with individuals in low-pressure conversations.
- “What’s been going well for you lately?”
- “What’s one thing that would make your work easier?”
- “How are you feeling about your workload and support?”
Listen & Act → If patterns emerge (such as team burnout, communication gaps, or process inefficiencies), take proactive steps to address them.
- If an officer is feeling overworked, explore ways to redistribute workload.
- If a team member shares a recurring frustration, follow up with leadership to find a solution.
Action Step:Commit to “Leadership by Walking Around” at least twice this week. Observe, engage, and listen—then act on at least one insight to strengthen your team’s morale and effectiveness.