LEADERSHIP TIPS: SUPPORTING YOUR EMPLOYEES IN UNCERTAIN TIMES
Navigating uncertainty, economic volatility, and global challenges requires resilient, adaptable, and ethical leadership. To effectively support your employees, focus on:
Vision and Clarity: Maintain team focus by providing a clear sense of purpose.
Agility: Ensure survival and growth by quickly adapting strategies to new challenges.
Empathy and Communication: Build trust and morale through transparent communication and understanding.
Decisiveness: Make timely decisions, even with incomplete information.
Resilience: Inspire resilience in others by remaining steadfast during crises.
Ethical Integrity: Build long-term trust and sustainability by upholding values and ethical standards.
In these challenging times, organizational leaders must support their institution's mission, their employees, and their stakeholders. Here are actionable leadership tips:
Be Present:
Connect with Leadership: Weekly, seek advice and collaboratively plan to maintain a positive organizational culture.
Engage Employees: Show you care, stay informed, and keep them updated on external pressures.
Assess Culture: Regularly gauge employee anxiety and adjust support accordingly.
Communicate Often:
Acknowledge Pressures: Let employees know you understand the challenges impacting their work.
Express Appreciation: Show employees they are valued.
Increase Personal Connection: Walk around, send encouraging messages, and be visible.
Be Accessible: Don't hide behind your title or in your office.
Be Honest:
Acknowledge the Times: Don't proceed with "business as usual." Ask: What are clients saying? What's changed? What do you need to stay focused? What has affected your work?
Manage Expectations: Be transparent about the information you can share.
Collaborate with Leadership: Share what you know with your leadership team and seek their advice.
Communicate Responsibly: Stay connected, engaged, and communicate appropriately.
Stay Aware:
Monitor Industry Challenges: Stay informed about threats and issues impacting your industry.
Know Your Employees & Communities: Understand what's happening in their lives and what's worrying them.
Be Bold – Be an Advocate – Be Strategic:
Connect: Partner with other leaders.
Be Visible: Maintain internal and external presence.
Collaborate: Work with the board and leadership to develop response plans.
Advocate: Give voice to your organization's issues.
Leading during uncertain times demands courage, compassion, and skill. Use your power wisely, seek counsel from diverse voices, and build support structures for yourself and your organization. Remember, you're not alone unless you choose to be.