What did the Queen of England know about successful staffing? With her passing we thought we would take a look at leadership style.

When the queen reigned, she had loyal employees working for her. (Also, we can tell you she didn’t call SC Staffing & Consulting to find them. Which is fine, we don’t place people in England.)

As an employer or a boss, Queen Elizabeth II was perhaps the best example of company culture and branding: The royal wave, the hat, the coat, the jewelry, and the corgis.

We felt like we KNEW her. But for the millions of us who didn’t know her, what made us feel that way?

Your staff’s loyalty starts with your example

Queen Elizabeth carried herself authentically to her brand. She was loyal to her dignity, to her presence, and to her demeanor. She was reserved but not distant. Unwavering in her self-confidence, she was not unsympathetic. And she was surrounded by a team that believed in her mission. She led the team by example.

You’re together on the team

Her staff were confidants on her team. They communicated with a “members only” system. For example, they were entrusted with signals that let her communicate to them when she was in public. If she randomly applied lipstick, it was time to leave. If her handbag was switched from hand to hand, it was time to end the chat. And so on. You can read more about that in Glamour’s article here.

Trusting your employees with key responsibilities that are crucial to you and your company lets your team know you value them. And that trust is how new hires become loyal employees.

And when it comes time to hire, people are attracted to an organized, efficient, authentic team.

Leadership Lesson

The lesson we learned from QEII: When you see your leadership role clearly, share your mission consistently, and enforce expectations fairly, your staff will feel like an important part of your team. Because some days you must adjust your crown, and you’ll need your loyal employees’ help to handle it.