There is no doubt that this year has been one of the most surprising and challenging years for
business leaders around the globe. Where growth and innovation was once the major focus for
many companies, it has rapidly shifted to controlling costs and maintaining liquidity and team morale.
When times get tough your response is crucial. You may have many on your teams in positions
of responsibility who have not yet developed their leadership muscles, or you yourself may be
stuck with what to do now – scrambling around trying to hold it all together.
Here are 4 things you can do to navigate the change required when challenges present themselves:
- Adapt quickly – behavioural flexibility is essential to being able to lead effectively. Adjust
your focus, your leadership style with your team and your ability to pull yourself up above
what is going on in the moment to get a long-range view of what’s required to keep
moving forward. - Get very clear on the priorities – when challenges like we have experienced hit, what was
important at the start of the year may need to go on the back-burner while you deal with
the current circumstances. Don’t let go of your vision, just transition it through the urgent
tasks needing your attention right now. - Be reliable for your customers – when the world is in such a flux of change the best thing
you can do is sure up your processes to be reliable and dependable. The discomfort of
not knowing what is to come is an experience of your customers too, so if you can
reassure them of your delivery this will develop a greater sense of connection, trust and
loyalty to your company. - Be empathetic towards your team – your team is also in a state of insecurity, not knowing
if they will keep their jobs, how their families will cope during the changes, and obvious
fears around health and safety, plus the threat of economic meltdown. Everyone’s a little more stressed than usual. As a leader providing appropriate support and maintaining team morale is essential to your future success.
This too shall pass, but get support for your own position right now. Surround yourself with advisors and a coach who can walk alongside you and strengthen your resilience. You do not need to go it alone and your leadership will be strengthened through this time if you choose to allow it.
