I'm trying to develop my leadership skills. I'm great when working with customers, but I believe that I rub coworkers the wrong way sometimes. How can I become a more down-to-earth leader on my team?

Here are a few tips that could help you become a more down-to-earth leader:

Listen actively: Make sure that you're actively listening to your coworkers and that you're considering their perspectives. When your coworkers feel heard and valued, they're more likely to respond positively to your leadership.

Practice empathy: Try to put yourself in your coworkers' shoes and understand their perspectives, challenges, and motivations. When you can empathize with your coworkers, it will be easier for you to relate to them and build stronger relationships.

Be approachable: Make sure that your coworkers feel comfortable approaching you with questions, concerns, or ideas. If you come across as unapproachable, it can be difficult for your coworkers to connect with you.

Communicate clearly: Make sure that you're communicating your expectations and goals clearly to your coworkers. When everyone is on the same page, it can help to build trust and respect.

Build relationships: Take the time to build relationships with your coworkers outside of work. When you get to know your coworkers as people, it can help you to relate to them on a more personal level.

Lead by example: Set a good example for your coworkers by exhibiting the kind of behavior you want to see from them. If you want your coworkers to be respectful, kind, and hardworking, make sure you're embodying those qualities yourself.

Seek feedback: Finally, ask for feedback from your coworkers and be open to constructive criticism. If you're willing to learn and grow, your coworkers will respect you more as a leader.

Leadership in customer support is a tough path to navigate efficiently. You have to balance the day to day of doing your job (handling customer interactions), and also understanding what the future looks like. Something I always look for in growing agents is how they present problems. Presenting a problem that needs to be escalated and fixed by other departments is ok, but identifying an issue, and presenting a solution and implementation process shows you have an understanding of the process. That will help you move up the ladder.
Also, making sure you have a team centric mindset is critical.

I think it's important to be humble and open-minded when leading a team. I try to make sure that I'm approachable and willing to listen to others’ ideas.

I make sure I'm proactive in finding ways to collaborate with my team members and offer guidance where I can.

I make sure I'm showing appreciation for the hard work my team does, so everyone knows their efforts are valued. Goes a long way in maintaining healthy relationships at work

Start by listening more to your coworkers' ideas and perspectives - it's a great way to show that their opinions are valued.

Try to be more open and collaborative by setting up team meetings and brainstorming sessions to work together to solve problems.

Practice being positive and encouraging - this will create a positive work environment and help build trust between you and your team.

To become a more down-to-earth leader, I have been trying to focus on active listening and showing my colleagues respect.

I have been working on being more open to feedback and criticism and being more approachable. Shows that I care

I have been trying to build relationships with my coworkers by showing that I care about their ideas and successes.

Understanding your followers/subordinates and their perspective is vital for maintaining their respect. And that is key.
Because a leader cannot be a leader alone.

Good leadership is influence. Good leadership is action. Good leadership is inspiring others to be the best version of themselves possible. If you want to be a good leader, some of your key areas of focus will be personal development, and motivation.

You have to dedicate yourself to personal development, and become consistent in growing daily through reading, audio, mentors, and building healthy daily habits. The whole point of being a leader is to “Be a model that others can follow!” The number one motivational principle in the world is: People do what people see. I read this in a book by John Maxwell called “Developing the Leader Within You”. I recommend this book to anyone looking to sharpen their leadership skills, and inspire others through committed, visionary leadership.

My personal observation over my short 30 years on this earth has been, that all effective leaders have a vision of what they must accomplish. They then use that energy to inspire those around them. So create your vision, build yourself, and be the example of change that people want to see in themselves!

Hope this was helpful!

Leadership skills are very rare. It is an innate ability that can be cultivated but not created from scratch. One in a thousand would be a generous guess.

Leadership must be exercised in proper context to be effective.

A person with leadership skills is seldom given the chance to demonstrate them, and when they are demonstrated, most people disregard them in favor of their own agendas.

Positioning is more determinant than leadership ability; being in the right place at the right time is more effective than having the right skill set.