This is a record breaking downturn in the US Economy. Wall Street, Housing, unemployment and a host of other indicators of economic health have worsened at record rates … and here you are working every day to keep your Team moving forward despite all the bad news.
How can you adjust our Leadership Style to accomodate the negative environment and the effects this may be having on your team members?
In the Jan 19th edition of Business Week, executive coach/guru Marshall Goldsmith recommends leaders make four specific adjustments these days. Here is my spin on his suggestions:
1) “Judge Less” - Goldsmith says crank up your empathy meter a couple of notches. If anyone on your team is struggling and underperforming, realize their could be contributing factors outside the team. Be more empathetic and tolerant than usual ESPECIALLY if empathy and tolerance are not one of your core skills.
2) “Help those that are down” - When you actively reach out and help Team Members who are down now, you are building increased loyalty and even higher levels of performance in the future. A few small steps now can make a big difference when the economy turns back up again.
3) “Focus on the Future” - It is always important to focus forward and let your collective vision “Pull” the Team to your goals. It is very tempting to focus on what is “bad” here and now … don’t you do it and don’t let the Team “waller” like that either. All eyes on what is ahead, what you are building today, where you are going now …
4) “Understand your own emotions” - If YOU are the one feeling stressed, anxious, upset or angry … make sure you do not bring that into the Team’s environment. Get help if you need it. Exercise more to blow off some steam. Do what you need to do to take your emotions out of the picture. If you do NOT do this, you will find it very difficult to execute on suggestions 1 - 3 above.
I recommend you write these four down and look at them once a day before you start work. Making these small tweaks in your Leadership Style could make a big difference for You and your Team.
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Hayli @ Rise Smart 02.06.09 at 6:18 am
Terrific ideas. True empathy can go far - all employees want to find a job where the boss really cares about them! And even leaders need someone to empathize with them, but someone from outside the office! Great post, haven’t seen too much advice like this out there.
Jim Abbondante 10.06.09 at 3:23 pm
I am certainly in total agreement. It’s important to remember as leaders that we are first and foremost in the people business and that our people depend on us for any number of things, not the least of which is enthusiasm, optimism, encouragement and personal empowerment. Making that personal connection that you are describing will often times be the very thing that will turn someone around and get them headed in a much more healthy and productive direction. Thanks for a very timely and ‘right on target’ article. Jim Abbondante