Despite its many successes, electric vehicle and solar energy producer Tesla (NASDAQ:$TSLA) isn’t perfect. The company has struggled largely with its workers’ safety concerns over the years — just recently, Californian worker advocacy group Worksafe made media headlines when it reported that in 2014 and 2015, Tesla’s Fremont-based automobile manufacturing plant had a injury rate 30% higher than the industry average.

CEO and co-founder of Tesla, Elon Musk, has claimed that the company has taken steps to lower the injury rate by hiring more employees to prevent overworking. Despite this, Musk still sent out an email to his employees that showed just how seriously he takes the issue — reflecting how determined he is in keeping the company’s word to keep safety as its number one priority. The email, originally reported by tech news site Electrek, stated:

No words can express how much I care about your safety and well being. It breaks my heart when someone is injured building cars and trying their best to make Tesla successful.

Going forward, I’ve asked that every injury be reported directly to me, without exception. I’m meeting with the safety team every week and would like to meet every injured person as soon as they are well, so that I can understand from them exactly what we need to do to make it better. I will then go down to the production line and perform the same task that they perform.

This is what all managers at Tesla should do as a matter of course. At Tesla, we lead from the front line, not from some safe and comfortable ivory tower. Managers must always put their team’s safety above their own.

Musk’s email itself illustrates great leadership ability from the CEO. His opening makes his concerns personable — stating how he feels about the situation and addressing the hard work of his employees. However, it is Musk’s promise to take action to fix the situation that is the most powerful.

If Musk does pull through on the promises stated in his email, it will be quite an example to other company leaders as it shows that Musk is a CEO unafraid to do whatever it takes to solve the problems that his employees and company face.

Effective leaders must practice what they preach. While they shouldn’t be afraid of delegating leadership responsibilities, they have to also know when to step in and take ownership of their responsibilities and the problems that the company faces. If a serious problem persists — like Tesla’s worker safety concerns — leaders shouldn’t be afraid to be more involved in the situation and work hard to find a solution to the problem.

Like what Musk says in his email, leaders should be willing to put themselves out there for their workers. When a manager takes the time to better understand whatever perspectives a frustrated employee has, it can only lead to a more effective and better working environment. While the action is time-consuming, it builds trust, empathy, rapport, and motivation among the workforce.

While it is incredibly beneficial, many managers do not practice this type of leadership. This is why Musk’s email came as a surprise and impressed many people even though he has yet to take action on his promises.

If you are a leader, ask yourself: what can you do to make help solve your team’s biggest challenges or problems. Then, once you’ve answered it, follow through with actions. Your team will appreciate you — and it will benefit all of you as a whole.

Featured Image: twitter