As a leader, keeping your best employees is job one, because you understand that performing well requires effective execution through others, so success means much more than maintaining headcount – it’s about maintaining the right people.
This has been especially true for leaders who have carried a complex load: the need to keep themselves calm, productive and optimistic, while simultaneously supporting their team members’ emotional well-being and engagement, as well as trying, as much as possible, to meet business objectives.
It’s important to remember that, historically, times of hardship – like high interest rates and economic downturns – have become times of creativity and new opportunities. What do canned food, microwave ovens and digital photography have in common? All of these familiar items were invented during very difficult times of war.
The most important lesson we all need to learn during times of difficulty is that mindset is vital. While some leaders see the end of the world and their business, others see opportunities for development, deeper connections and innovations. If you would like to join the second group, continue reading.
Four Tools for Seeing Opportunity during difficult times:
- Use an individual approach to address concerns, opening the conversation with questions like:
- How do you feel?
- What is on your mind?
- What worries you the most?
Your reaction as a leader has to be based on the responses you get from each team member. A one-size-fits-all mindset didn’t work well in the past and it certainly won’t be productive now.
- Clear expectations are crucial, especially during times of uncertainty. Multiple priorities are confusing and distracting; focus on achieving simple, clearly articulated, short-term goals.
- Temporary obstacles will disappear once the situation changes. Feelings of loneliness, anxiety, high levels of stress might last longer. Open, honest and frequent communication is one way to ease the burden. It doesn’t mean that leaders must have all the answers, but they need to share information and resources as quickly as possible, always keeping communication channels open and initiating the conversations instead of waiting for employees to do so.
- Praise! Celebrating the smallest achievements helps to keep spirits up, morale high, and trust strong.
Investing in your employees and their well-being is important at any time, but particularly during unknown challenges. Follow these suggestions and you’ll keep your team intact as the culture changes and things return to a more familiar routine.
Contact TAC to create no cost psychometric benchmarks of your best employees. You can then use those benchmarks to assess and compare job candidates.