Every business around the globe, has experienced economic jolts. However, nothing compares to what has transpired over the last two months. Whether you are leading a company that was shut down overnight or leading a company that is experiencing a huge upturn and just can’t keep up with demand – we are all in a crisis. Regardless of what battle you are fighting in this storm, it is critical to have a strong leadership team, a clear message and the ability to lean in on your core values with a healthy culture that will get you through.
What does a strong leadership team look like? The team’s members have complementary skills, experiences, and styles necessary to fulfill the needed roles and responsibilities. People know each other’s strengths, weaknesses, preferences, and aversions. They use this knowledge to create synergy. Members see the value of each person’s presence on the team. Right now, more than ever, we need to self-assess our leadership style.
As a Certified DISC Practitioner and Business Coach, it is critical to understand the unique strength of each leader. A strong team has a leader who can solve problems and make decisions quickly and own it, a leader who has an analytical mind to look at facts and figures and provide data, and a leader who holds a high level of emotional intelligence that keeps the team in check with how the mental health of the company is doing. In times of crisis, we tend to lean in on our natural behavioral style.
Don’t be fearful of over communicating to create clarity. You need to stream a clear message to your team whether they are safe at home on furlough or they are battling on the front lines. Confusion causes anxiety. My favorite author Patrick Lencioni who wrote The Advantage suggests six critical questions to look at:
- Why do we exist?
- How do we behave?
- What do we do?
- How will we succeed?
- What is important now?
- Who must do what?
Each team member will handle this radical change differently. Those who are steady and conscientious tend to not adapt to change well and will be affected the most, especially if they have moved to working at home. Check in and out daily, be creative and have fun. Having a plan and sharing that plan to the entire team will create trust and allow the team to see a glimmer of hope during uncertainty.
Lastly, let your core values lead you to the end. When a company leans in on using their core values, the leaders will drive better decisions and strengthen the culture in which they have created before this pandemic. Organizational health will surpass all other disciples in business as we improve and pivot. As my grandma always said, “This too shall pass” and when it does, we will be stronger and wiser.
