Now is the time: Leading Change in Uncertain Times
The world is in a period of extraordinary change and business leaders are adapting to a new reality. As humans, we have a love-hate relationship with change. Our brains are wired for consistency. It’s why we always brush our teeth with the same hand. Our habits save energy that can be devoted to what we perceive as more important matters. We can change but like to do so within safe parameters. The COVID-19 crisis has taken away these parameters for many people, who are having to change a lot at once; the result being that people are often feeling overwhelmed and exhausted. If leaders want to get the best out of their people through this period, they need to be aware of this and adjust their approach accordingly. Following these strategies will help:
Put on your own life jacket first
Leaders are not immune to stress yet in a crisis many make the mistake of putting their own needs to one side, while they focus on the needs of the organisation. If you want to lead your people well, you need to invest in your own health and wellbeing. Prioritise sleep; take breaks; exercise; eat right; lean on your support network; be mindful of decision fatigue. This investment will give you the energy to sustain high performance over a longer timeframe.
Re-set expectations
The environment has changed. People are working in new settings and adapting to new distractions – kids; makeshift office spaces; noisy neighbours; overworked internet servers. Now is the time to be patient as a leader. Productivity may be impacted in the short-term but being understanding and empathetic now can support engagement into the future.
Help your people feel safe
The most important thing leaders can do at the moment is help their people to feel safe – easier said than done at such an uncertain time. Leaders can do this by providing as much certainty as possible; communicating on a regular rhythm; and telling them what you want them to do, not what you want them to avoid.
Narrow your priorities
When stressed people struggle to process complex information. Leaders need to focus their teams’ attention on a small number of priorities and keep messages simple. ‘Repeat, repeat, repeat’ is a key mantra in the current environment. Rather than change the message, leaders should get creative in how they reinforce the same message to their teams in different ways. Use video, texts, email, audio, visuals, stories – anything that you feel will help to reiterate your core messaging in a fresh way.
The word crisis originates from the Greek word krisis, which means ‘a time when difficult or important decisions must be made’. We are in the midst of the biggest crisis any of us have ever, or are ever, likely to face. Now is the time to adapt, survive and thrive – it’s periods like this that will help shape our legacy as leaders.
