Think and refer to your employees as professionals. Even the janitor or custodial staff who keep our factories and work place clean and safe to work in are professionals. If you respect them as professionals, they will respect you in your role as a manager. Management often thinks humor has no place in the corporate world. Those companies that have had a shift in their humor attitude have experienced an impressive increase in performance that is passed on to the bottom line.
Leadership exists on a continuum from managing self to managing others to managing the organization.
Natural leadership does not mean that you either have it or you don't. It does mean that you are willing to assess your style and behavior, and that you are willing to learn and grow. Every employee needs to know that whether they are emptying trash cans, setting the presses, or selling the large accounts, their work is worthwhile and valuable. One role of the manager is to teach, but in today's workplace where knowledge workers reign, teaching must be attended by a subtle awareness of what it takes to stimulate, intrigue and learn, especially in complex task areas. If you feel you're not a good motivator as a manager, find someone on your team who is and delegate this part to them.