Small talk is huge

"Mr Wong likes to go with his deparment heads for coffee every morning after the ops briefing," Shirley said.
"My ex-GM doesn't like to see his staff sitting and chatting together over coffee," Rae replied.

Too many leaders dismiss small talk as a waste of time. To me, "small talk" (conversation with subordinates that is not exclusively focused on business or a particular project or task) is vital to creating a bond between the leader and his/her people.

This does not mean faking interest. It means a genuine interest in the things that interest them.

In identifying with my subordinates, I give them the opportunity to identify with me.