5 Ways to Be a Better Leader
In today’s climate, leaders have more pressure than ever to keep teams on track while maintaining business as usual. Leaders are responsible for creating an environment where everyone feels valued, heard, and supported. However, this can be challenging during layoffs, budget cuts, and downsizing. How can leaders be expected to build belonging during layoffs? How can leaders ensure everyone is heard or valued when there isn’t enough management to support team members? How can leaders motivate team members to adopt new processes when the old way worked?
Leaders must remember that the goal isn’t to solve all these issues in one day. The goal is to make progress through small, gradual changes. In this blog post, we share five things leaders can do today to make progress with their teams during challenging times.
Practice Active Listening
Active listening is the foundation of building an inclusive culture where people feel seen and heard. Especially during change, leaders need to actively listen to their team members' perspectives, experiences, and concerns. By actively listening, leaders can create a safe space for employees to share their thoughts and ideas and build trust within the team. It also enables leaders to shape a culture that reflects the teams’ needs.
To practice active listening, leaders need to:
Be fully present in the moment and give your full attention
Show empathy and understanding by acknowledging feelings and experiences
Ask clarifying questions to ensure they understand what is said
Avoid interrupting or dismissing thoughts and opinions
Communicate Clearly and Often
Clear and frequent communication is critical during times of change or any other situation that may impact team members. Effective communication helps to build trust, foster collaboration, and create a sense of shared purpose. Here are ways leaders communicate clearly and often to their employees:
Develop a comprehensive communication plan that outlines the key messages, channels, and timelines for communicating.
Use multiple communication channels, including email, company intranet, social media, and video conferencing. Consider the preferences of your team members and use the channels that are most likely to reach them.
Provide clear and honest information about the situation, and be upfront about the impact it may have on everyone. Avoid withholding information or sugarcoating the situation. Be empathetic and understanding, and acknowledge the concerns and emotions that people may be feeling.
Encourage feedback from your teams and allow them to share their thoughts and concerns.
Provide regular updates on the progress of the change initiative and any other relevant information. This can help to keep everyone informed and engaged and can also help to reduce anxiety and uncertainty.
Provide Emotional Support
Organizational changes can be emotionally taxing. As a leader, it's important to provide emotional support to your team. Acknowledge and validate their feelings and emotions, and offer resources and support to help them cope with the stress of the transition.
Encourage team members to take care of themselves by getting enough rest, eating well, and exercising regularly. Offer mental health resources such as counseling or therapy, and ensure that employees know how to access these resources if needed.
Offer Opportunities for Growth and Development
During times of change, it's important to offer opportunities for growth and development to your team members. This helps people feel more engaged and committed to the organization and helps them develop new skills and experiences that may be valuable in their next role.
Offer training and development opportunities relevant to the employee's interests and career goals. Encourage employees to take on new challenges and responsibilities, and recognize and reward team members who go above and beyond.
Maintain a Positive Attitude
As a leader, it's essential to maintain a positive attitude during times of change. Your attitude sets the tone for how your team responds to the change initiative. Stay optimistic and focused on the opportunities that the change may bring. Communicate with confidence and clarity, and be a role model for resilience and adaptability.
Encourage your team to embrace the change as an opportunity for growth and development. Celebrate successes and progress, and recognize and acknowledge the contributions of team members who helped make the transition successful.
In Practice
Emotional intelligence is required to lead others effectively. Leaders need to be able to recognize and manage their own emotions and the emotions of others. Make sure life is good so work can be good. Organization and keeping a game plan are what will help leaders lead their teams through change.
By developing a comprehensive communication plan, using multiple communication channels, being transparent and honest, encouraging feedback, and providing regular updates, leaders can effectively communicate with their employees and help them navigate the situation successfully. Remember, effective communication is critical to building trust, fostering collaboration, and creating a sense of shared purpose.
